CRIME
Police nab international 'phone scam' gang
- Published: 10/02/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Police have busted a gang of Iranian, Taiwanese and Thai men who allegedly lured victims into transferring money through ATMs to their bank accounts.
From right, suspects Iranian Matin Arami, 37, Charoenchai Kitpimolkul, 31, and Aidet O-anurak, 54. The three allegedly operated telephone scams to lure people into transferring money to their bank accounts. KOSOL NAKACHOL
Central Investigation Bureau police on Monday arrested Matin Arami, a 37-year-old Iranian, Charoenchai Kitpimolkul, 31, and Aidet O-anurak, 54, with 19 ATM cards and 270,000 baht in cash.
CIB commissioner Tha-ngai Pratsajaksatru said the gang operated a call centre and had staff call victims using internet telephone technology.
The gangsters lured victims into making transactions at ATMs by claiming the victims had outstanding credit card debt or had not claimed tax refunds.
The scammers hired more than 1,000 Thais to open bank accounts and hand over the ATM cards. The gang used the accounts to receive deposits from the victims and withdraw the funds.
Police caught a Taiwanese gang member identified as Hsieh Yung-tung when he was withdrawing money at a department store in Pathumwan district last Thursday. They seized a number of ATM cards and withdrawal slips in the arrest, which led to Monday's raid.
Information from Mr Hsieh led police to the other suspects, including two Thai women identified as Maleejan Lakhon and Pranom sae Mo, who are currently at large. The CIB has sought arrest warrants for both women.
Pol Lt Gen Tha-ngai urged people who had opened bank accounts for the gang to report to police so they would not be prosecuted. The gang paid the people 1,500 to 2,500 baht to open each account.
Mr Arami has lived in Thailand for 10 years. He ran 47 million baht through his bank account last year, while Mr Charoenchai funnelled 10 million baht through his accounts, Pol Lt Gen Tha-ngai said.
