BANGKOK, THAILAND – Police arrested a 45-year-old Hong Kong national on October 18 after disrupting an elaborate fraud in which a Thai citizen was coerced into transferring cash and buying gold worth millions of baht.
Raid at arranged handover
Investigators from the Phlapphla Chai 2 police station moved in around 5pm on Song Sawat Road in the Samphanthawong district, detaining the suspect, identified as Tang Ming Yin, during a planned handover. Officers had mounted a covert operation after receiving a tip from the victim.
“We caught the suspect in the act,” a police spokesperson told the press. Officers recovered gold bars and other material evidence at the scene.
Victim pressured into transfers and gold purchase
The case began late on the evening of October 17, when the Thai victim was contacted by people impersonating officials. Under the pretext that the victim’s bank account was frozen, the victim was persuaded to transfer 410,000 baht and then pressured to withdraw life savings and buy gold valued at around 14 million baht.
When the victim grew suspicious and feared for their safety, they contacted police. “We did not want to take any risks,” an investigator said, adding that officers secured the gold and placed the victim in a safe location before arranging the operation.
Hidden in milk cans — a calculated handoff
The suspect had instructed the victim to hide the gold bars inside Anlene milk tins and leave them at Samitivej Chinatown Hospital for collection. Police used the planned exchange as an opportunity to stage a trap; Tang arrived at the agreed meeting point and matched the victim’s description, and the arrest was carried out without incident.
Search revealed further evidence and immigration breach
A subsequent search of Tang’s room at the Delta-9 Hostel in Phra Khanong turned up the seized gold bars, a Hong Kong passport and an iPhone 13 Pro. Police said the passport check showed Tang had overstayed his visa.
Officers found the gold to be from the Hua Seng Heng brand: four 50-baht bars, two 20-baht bars and four 5-baht bars — a total weight of 260 baht (a Thai gold weight unit). Investigators said material on the phone pointed to other similar frauds and that they were examining all leads.
“We are reviewing all traces and contacting possible additional victims,” a police spokesman said, noting that evidence was being analysed and that authorities were cooperating with international partners to establish the full scope of the scheme.
Suspect held and investigations ongoing
Tang was taken to the Phlapphla Chai 2 station for questioning and was being held on charges including fraud by false pretense and immigration overstaying. Police said they were preparing formal charges and expected more victims to come forward in the coming days as enquiries continued.
Authorities urged anyone who believed they had been targeted in related scams to contact the Phlapphla Chai 2 police station and provide information to assist the investigation.