On Thursday, January 9, 2025, the Police Commission of Thailand’s House of Representatives convened to assess ongoing efforts to combat call-centre scams. The meeting featured Charlotte Austin, a beauty queen who recently fell victim to such a scam, alongside representatives from pertinent agencies.
Prior to the session, Commission Chairperson Chaichana Detdecho reported on a call-centre operation allegedly run by a Chinese group from the 27th floor of a building in Poipet, Cambodia. The 25th floor is purportedly used for managing mule accounts to launder funds obtained from Thai victims.
Ms. Austin’s case involved individuals impersonating officials from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). Chairperson Chaichana disclosed that his own daughter had been targeted by a similar scheme.
He further detailed that the 27th-floor operations are led by a Chinese national known as “Xiao Ma.” Efforts by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) to dismantle the operation have faced challenges, as Cambodian authorities require valid warrants for arrests, and building access is limited to tenants.
Recruitment for these scams often involves intermediaries luring individuals with promises of casino employment. Recruits are instructed to prepare bank accounts, identification cards, and phones before being transported to Aranyaprathet district. From there, they are taken across the border through informal crossings and escorted to the designated building in Cambodia.
Chairperson Chaichana explained that funds obtained through these scams are funneled into mule accounts, transferred to financial institutions, and eventually converted into cryptocurrency. He noted that the nature of the scams has evolved, with Chinese nationals now targeting not only Thai victims but also their fellow citizens.
He assured the public of the CCIB’s dedication to resolving all cases, emphasizing:
“Ms. Charlotte’s status as a Miss Grand contestant does not influence our investigation. We treat every case with equal importance and ensure thorough action. The government, under Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is committed to combating call-centre gangs.”
The Commission continues to collaborate with international authorities to address the cross-border nature of these scams and to develop more effective preventive measures.
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