Two Thai men linked to a call centre gang based in Cambodia’s Poipet have been arrested for defrauding Thai victims of 12 million baht. The suspects, Somsak, 37, and Waramet, 20, claimed they were forced into the criminal operation under threats of violence.
Police revealed details yesterday at a press conference in Mueang Thong Thani, led by Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiwphat and other senior officers.
The gang, led by a Chinese national and operating from Pu Li Casino in Poipet, impersonated officials to dupe victims into transferring money or investing in bogus cryptocurrency schemes.
Between July and October 2023, cyber police investigated hybrid scams after victims reported losses via thaipoliceonline.go.th. One case involved a victim tricked into a fake relationship and crypto investments, suffering losses of over 308 million baht across 147 transactions to 79 mule accounts.
Authorities issued warrants for 76 suspects, arresting 46 so far. The group, which employed more than 100 people, ran various scams, from posing as police officers demanding bribes to pitching fake investments.
Somsak was arrested in Phuket on a warrant from September 2024, while Waramet was detained in Chiang Mai under an August 2024 warrant. Both face charges for organised crime, fraud, and money laundering.
Waramet said he earned a 25,000-baht monthly salary plus commissions up to 6.5%. Initially working legally in Cambodia, he was coerced into the scam and forced to impersonate police to threaten victims. He described witnessing violence against those who refused to cooperate.
Somsak shared similar experiences, saying he once posed as a police lieutenant before escaping the casino, only to be jailed by Cambodian authorities for 14 days and then deported to Thailand.
Police say the investigation is ongoing, with further arrests expected as they dismantle the transnational network.
