Cops arrest duo for B13m hotel scam

Pair ‘in cahoots with staff’ in card fraud

Police have arrested a Chinese man and a Thai for allegedly colluding with hotel staff in Udon Thani to cheat banks out of 13 million baht with fake credit cards.

They allegedly bought products and services at a hotel in Muang district with the cards last December through to January this year until a bank employee noticed irregularities, Pol Col Phadon Chandon, head of the Economic Crime Suppression’s Subdivision 5, said after their arrest yesterday.

The Chinese man was named as Liu Chi-Chung, 48, while his Thai accomplice was named as Thappaphop Ruangpradit, 38.

The pair, who were wanted on court arrest warrants issued on June 12, were nabbed at a condominium in Bangkok’s Klong Toey district.

“We’ve also summoned the hotel owner and two employees to acknowledge charges,” Pol Col Phadon said.

They are Thanawut Israngkura na Ayudhya, who runs the hotel, manager Sakda Phongphetra and his subordinate Panisa Siho.

The name of the hotel was not disclosed.

Police believe there are four more suspects who took a share of the illgotten gains. They are still at large.

The nine of them worked a wellplanned scam, using the “key-in” payment to dupe hotel and bank staff, Pol Col Phadon said.

With this method, card holders are not required to have their cards swiped through a reader. They only give 16-digit card numbers, an expiry date and CVV (Card Verification Value) numbers on the back of the card while paying.

The scam was allegedly assisted by the hotel owner and employees who facilitated monetary transactions.

“Up to 144 transactions were made,” mostly for booking accommodation, Pol Col Phadon said.

According to investigators, the suspects claimed they paid for reservations in advance for foreign tour groups which planned to stay in Udon Thani.

They gained the trust of unsuspecting hotel staff by presenting guests’ documents, including photocopies of their passports as well as room booking forms.

These would be used as evidence if banks ran a check on the payments.

However, it was later found the guests’ names were false.

Police charged the suspects with various offences, including fraud and counterfeiting.

“The suspects have denied the charges,” Pol Col Phadon said.