PATTAYA, THAILAND – Police have smashed a criminal network in a hotel in Bang Lamung, arresting three Nigerians and a Thai woman over a large-scale online love scam. The gang used straw accounts to funnel stolen money abroad.
Razzia im Hotelzimmer
Investigators from the tourist police and Region 2 stormed a hotel in Bang Lamung district on Tuesday evening. Officers detained four suspects during the raid.
Police seized extensive evidence. Investigators confiscated a total of 12 mobile phones and 12 bank books belonging to the suspects.
Geständnis der Komplizin
Among those arrested was 41-year-old Patcharin, a Thai woman. She gave a full confession to police after her arrest.
Patcharin admitted to obtaining bank accounts for the Nigerian men. She also handled withdrawals and transfers for the group.
Hohe Gewinne durch Betrug
For each account she procured, the woman received a payment of 2,000 baht. Additionally, she earned a 10 percent commission on the money sums.
On some days her earnings reached up to 30,000 baht. The money came from online scams where victims were emotionally deceived.
Geldwäsche über Strohkonten
Investigators believe the network deliberately targeted victims on the internet. The stolen money first flowed into Thai straw accounts.
From there, the perpetrators transferred the amounts abroad. This process served to disguise the criminal origin of the funds.
Harte Strafen drohen
All four suspects have been handed over to Bang Lamung police for further processing. Investigations into the network are still ongoing.
The accused face charges of participation in a criminal organization. They are also accused of aiding the illegal use of bank accounts.
Gefahr durch Liebesbetrug
This case once again shows how ruthlessly criminal gangs exploit the feelings of lonely people online. The perpetrators act with high professionalism and often cause enormous financial damage.