Police on Friday swooped on a suspected illegal financial company providing online loans bankrolled by a Chinese national.
Pol Maj Gen Maitree Chimcherd, commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Division, told media that his team, armed with a search warrant, made dozens of arrests during the raid on the company that had been operating out of a commercial building near Rama III Road in Yannawa district. The search followed a tip-off that gave the location of the gang accused of illegally offering loans via an application developed by a Chinese national.
Police arrested about 50 Thais allegedly hired to contact customers to offer personal loans. However, police have yet to find the Chinese owner.
Seized during raid were company computers, guidelines detailing how to provide services and track down customers to collect debts, financial documents, receipts and the contact details of Chinese financial backers.
Police said one of the suspects had just applied for a job with the company via a job seeking website. The ad clearly stated the company provided financial services, personal loans and comprehensive loans to customers.
The firm was offering two positions that required Chinese language skills: an examination and operations assistant and a tele debt collector.
The suspect thought it was all above board until police showed up during the job interview.