S'porean man among 24 arrested in Thailand scam bust: Thai media

A Singaporean man was arrested near Bangkok, Thailand on Oct. 29, allegedly part of a group suspected to be involved in a Myanmar-based scam network.

According to Khaosod English, he was among 24 people arrested during raids conducted in Bangkok and the Samut Prakan province.

Authorities believe the groups used Singapore-registered numbers to lure victims into investment scams.

Alleged scammers fled Myanmar after scam crackdown, planned to operate in Cambodia

Thai authorities confirmed on Oct. 30 that officers arrested 22 people, allegedly members of an international scam syndicate, who were living in a luxury villa in Samut Prakan, south of Bangkok.

Among those arrested were Filipino nationals, aged between 23 and 38, who had left Myanmar following an earlier major crackdown on scam centres there.

According to local immigration checks, many of them had either entered Thailand illegally or overstayed their visas.

The Singaporean man and two Filipinos were in the country with valid visas, but may face revocation due to their alleged involvement within the syndicate.

Local police lieutenant general Natsak Chaowana said that officers carried out the arrests following data analysis indicating that scam networks were shifting operations from Myanmar to Thailand.

Investigations revealed that the suspects were allegedly working as scammers in Myawaddy, a Myanmar border town known for crime networks.

They later fled the area around Oct. 21, with their manager assisting their escape to Thailand and renting the villa from Oct. 27 to 31.

The group was supposedly planning to resume their operations in Cambodia.

Malaysian and Chinese national arrested in Bangkok

A 37-year-old Malaysian man and a 33-year-old Chinese woman were also arrested following another raid at the Furama Exclusive Pratunam Park Hotel in Bangkok.

Five other Malaysian men, aged 29 to 55, are at large.

Khaosod English reported that authorities have named “Lin,” a Chinese national, as the leader of the syndicate.

He is alleged to be operating three scam companies in Myawaddy, which supposedly target victims in investment scams using Singapore-registered phone numbers.

Thai authorities are working alongside Singaporean officials for further investigation, Khaosod said. Mothership has contacted the police for comment.

Top photos via Khaosod English