A scam call centre which used Dubai as its base to swindle victims in Thailand has been busted in a joint operation between Thai and United Arab Emirates police.
23 Thais and their Taiwanese boss, identified only as Kevin, were arrested n the operation, said deputy commander of the Tourist Police Bureau Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakphal yesterday after his return from Dubai.
The gang swindled victims in Thailand of over 50 million baht, he said.
He said the call centre had been operating for about six months with over 50 million baht moving through their accounts.
In early March alone, he said the gang cheated seven Thais of up to one million baht.
Most victims are residents of Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Prachuab Khiri Khan and Khon Kaen, he said.
He said the gang members would claim themselves to be either state or bank officials, and would deceive their victims into telling them their OTP or one time password before dwindling cash from their victims’ bank accounts.
He said the arrest of the 23 Thais and their Taiwanese boss Keven came after recent arrest of their Taiwanese boss Chi Khea in Bangkok in December last year.
He said Kevin was Chi’s right hand man.
He said following the bust in Dubai, police in Bangkok would expand investigation into 200 others who helped this gang to operate and arrested all involved.
These suspects were responsible for opening bank accounts, drawing cash from ATMs, operators at call centre, he said.
He said with confidence that the joint operation this time would either put an end or reduce the call centre frauds sharply.
According to Thai police investigators, the 23 Thais were recruited and sent to the UAE by Chi who was caught last year in Thailand after fleeing arrest in Taiwan 20 years ago.
They were given lists of potential victims and names of high-ranking state officials.
Investigators are examining whether these officials’ names were used when extracting money from their victims.
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