Key figure in call scam gang extradited

Key figure in call scam gang extradited

Tzu Yuan Kuo (second right), a Taiwanese national suspected to be a call centre gang, was escorted by Thai prosecutors and police after arriving at Suvarnabhumi airport from Albania on Wednesday. (Photos: Immigration Bureau)
Tzu Yuan Kuo (second right), a Taiwanese national suspected to be a call centre gang, was escorted by Thai prosecutors and police after arriving at Suvarnabhumi airport from Albania on Wednesday. (Photos: Immigration Bureau)

A suspected key member of a call centre gang has been extradited from Albania to stand trial in Thailand, said the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG).

Prayuth Petchkhun, the OAG's deputy spokesman, said on Wednesday the handover of Tzu Yuan Kuo, a Taiwanese national, proceeded smoothly.

The suspect was escorted by Thai prosecutors to Thailand and he arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport on Wednesday morning, he said.

Mr Kuo is believed to be the second-in-command of a Dubai-based gang which allegedly made VoIP (voice-over-IP) calls to deceive victims in various Asian countries including Thailand.

While pretending to be affiliated with a government agency, the scammers would contact the victims, claiming their bank accounts were linked to an ongoing narcotics case, before offering to help with the matter.

As they pretended to offer their help, they would ask for their victims' personal information, which they would then use to drain their money or deceive them into transferring money into the scammers' bank accounts, according to the police.

Mr Prayuth said Mr Kuo was indicted by Thai prosecutors earlier in 2018 for his involvement in cross-border criminal activity, fraud and colluding to launder money, among other charges levelled against him.

A warrant for his arrest was issued by Phra Khanong Court, and he was placed on Interpol's Red Notice list, he said.

According to Mr Prayuth, Mr Kuo was arrested by police in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Sept 27 last year, who then alerted Thai authorities and initiated the extradition process.

In another case, a 20-year-old Thai man was arrested at an immigration office in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district as he crossed the border back from Cambodia, local officials said.

Identified only as Nikhom, the man was wanted by police in Chanthaburi's Tha Mai district for fraud and alleged involvement in a call centre gang.

His arrest warrant was issued by the Chanthaburi provincial court.

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