The Cyber Police Task Force in Thailand conducted raids on five suspicious locations including residences, shops, and apartments in Bangkok and Longzai Cuo Prefecture, aiming to arrest two suspects involved in fraudulent activities.
During the search of the aforementioned locations, the police seized a large number of items, including 30 Lego bears, 11 mobile phones, one apartment ownership certificate and rental contract each, six passports, a safe, several branded clothes, and two cars, with a total value exceeding 20 million Thai Baht.
Additionally, the police arrested a 34-year-old Chinese man, Mr. Lin Chao, and a 21-year-old Thai woman, Narisa, in apartments in Rama III and Sathorn districts respectively.
The two individuals were charged by the police with fraud, money laundering in partnership, and involvement in transnational crimes. This operation was initiated because victims had received invitations from the two to invest in digital currencies, a type of cryptocurrency, promising high profits and returns.
The police revealed that the two suspects used an application to create a platform for committing fraud, where the victims' transferred funds could not be retrieved. Initially, 28 victims reported the crime, resulting in losses of 30 million Thai Baht.
Thai media reported that the police discovered a romantic relationship between the two suspects, despite the man having a wife and family. After coming to Thailand and falling in love with the woman, she opened a cryptocurrency account for him to use, and the two also opened a shoe store in the Chinatown area. Although the business was not very successful, they still lived a luxurious life.
Further investigation by the police revealed that the Chinese man had been in Thailand for three years and had records of entry and exit from China and Cambodia, suggesting possible connections with Chinese grey production and telecom fraud gangs. Important information was also found on his mobile phone. Currently, the police are investigating the seized mobile phones and electronic devices to trace more individuals involved in the case, and have ordered the closure of the application used for the fraud.
