Malaysian skimming gang arrested at Thai border

[webfact]

Malaysian skimming gang arrested at border



BANGKOK: -- Four Malaysians were apprehended by police while they were using cloning cards to withdraw cash from several ATMs at a commercial centre in Sadao district of Songkhla province today.

The arrest came after the police were alerted of a card skimming gang was withdrawing cash from ATMs of several commercial banks in Hat Yai and Sadao at the weekend.

Foot patrols were stepped up and five Malaysians were seen withdrawing cash from an ATM in front of Oscar Palace hotel in the Oliver Plaza shopping centre on Kanchanavanich road in Sadao district.

They were seen using several cloning cards to withdraw cash while also assigned one gang member to act as a lookout to watch for police.

They later returned to a hotel room they rented not aware of being tracked by plainclothes police.

After they entered the room, arrest was then ordered.

Four members, two are women, were arrested in the room and 20 skimming cards were seized.

They were identified as Fan Xian Lung, 32, Check Malian, 29, Ms Lim Giashing, 22, and Ms Yong Pui Yi, 21.

Another collaborator identified as Jamaldadin bin Subo, 55, was arrested later. He was said to be a person who facilitated the gang members to return safely across the border. He was paid 2,000 baht for facilitating the return.

The gang members said they used skimming cards to withdraw and transfer to their accounts in Malaysia.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/malaysian-skimming-gang-arrested-at-border


-- Thai PBS 2015-03-17

[Strangebrew]

Quality tourist Why do some names have that quality Chinese tourist ring to them?

[Barin]

There are a lot of ethnic Chinese living in Malaysia, much more than there are in Thailand.

[joboss]

The lookout didn't detect the plainclothes police.

Good bust. Go police.

[lvr181]

Well done, Police.

[Seastallion]

Nice bit of policing work from the sound of it. Well done.

[sunshine51]

FWIW....These "Four Malaysians" who were apprehended in Danok (Sadao) are not

Malaysian Chinese. Malaysian Chinese do not need anybody to facilitate their return

into Malaysia as being Malaysian citizens they either have their Malaysian passports

with them or their Malaysian ID cards with them...or both. What forms of ID they carry

depends upon where in Thailand they desire to go. If a Malaysian (Chinese, Indian or

Malay ethnicity) is a resident of the Malaysian states bordering Thailand they can enter

Thailand to a distance of around 20 Kilometers. If they decide to travel further North

then they need their passport.

The only people who need anybody to facilitate their re-entry into Malaysia are foreign

nationals who may have entered Malaysia legally, decided to do a border run (sound

familiar?) for another visa chop and need a "fixer" who is a person who has connections

with the Malaysian Immigrations where some money changes hands and the foreign

national(s) get a new chop in their passports.

This Mr. Jamaldadin bin Subo...is a so called fixer. Whether he's an accomplice in the

skimming scheme is another matter altogether.

The Oscar Palace Hotel is easily spotted as it is on the Eastern side of the highway (4 lane

road actually) and all lit up at night. Easily spotted in daylight also for that matter. It's a

big place. The ATM is right out in front. I have used it a few times...but never spent a

night at the hotel...opting for Hatyai instead.

Still...some good police work though.

Edited March 17, 2015 by sunshine51