Three M’sians, Taiwanese arrested over scam syndicate in Bangkok

BANGKOK: Three Malaysians and a Taiwanese linked to a crossborder call centre scam syndicate were arrested here yesterday, following last week’s joint raid by Thai and Cambodian police in the Indo-China country.

The Thai police believe the three Malaysians, including a 20-yearold woman, and the Taiwanese were hired by a scam syndicate to withdraw money they allegedly siphoned from two local victims.

“We found two ATM (automated teller machine) cards belonging to the two victims who lodged a police report recently, alleging they were cheated and incurred financial losses amounting to 6.19 million Baht (RM793,000),” said electronic fraud head, Gen Thanisak Teerasawat.

According to him, the police also found eight other ATM cards and 232,000 Baht (RM29,743), along with several other foreign currencies as well as five SIM cards from the two Malaysian men and a woman aged 19 and 20, and the 34-year-old Taiwanese man.

The four foreigners were nabbed as part of a follow-up operation following a joint operation involving Thai and Cambodian police in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville last week where a total of 26 Thais, six Taiwanese and five Cambodians were detained by the authorities. The 37 suspects, according to a high ranking Thai policeman last week, were part of a larger call centre scam syndicate responsible for cheating nearly 100 million Baht (RM12.8 million) from various Thai victims.

The police believe the crossborder scam syndicate was masterminded by Thais, Malaysians and Taiwanese but was based in Cambodia.

Meanwhile, Thanisak said during the period from December 8 last year until Sunday, the Thai police had picked up 231 suspects wanted for call centre scam activities, involving financial losses amounting to 187 million Baht (RM24 million).