Thai Man Tricked in Fake Money Laundering Case, Rescued in Nick of Time
A 76-year-old Thai man in Chiang Mai narrowly avoided losing valuables worth more than 165,000 baht after falling victim to a sophisticated scam involving criminals posing as police officers. The incident highlights the growing threat of cybercrime in Thailand, particularly schemes targeting elderly victims through fear and impersonation tactics.
The victim received a phone call on December 11 from someone claiming to represent the telecom company AIS. The caller falsely informed him that his phone number was linked to a money laundering investigation. To make the claim appear legitimate, the scammer instructed the man to add a LINE account that impersonated the Ang Thong Provincial Police Station.
Once contact was established, the fraudster escalated the deception by claiming that an arrest warrant had already been issued. The elderly man was told that to prove his innocence, he must immediately sell all of his valuables and transfer the money for “official inspection.” Among the items targeted were a gold-encased Buddha necklace, diamond earrings, and two diamond rings, with a combined estimated value of 165,500 baht.
While the victim was travelling to a gold shop inside a shopping mall in Chiang Mai, the scammer maintained constant video calls to monitor his movements and ensure compliance. Such real-time surveillance is a common tactic used by scam networks to prevent victims from seeking outside help or questioning the situation.
Fortunately, officers from Thailand’s Anti-Online Scam Centre (ACSC) were able to identify and intercept the case before any transaction took place. Police located the man on the third floor of the shopping mall and immediately informed him that he was being scammed. During the intervention, the fraudster continued calling repeatedly, but officers documented the incident and collected evidence for further investigation.
Authorities praised the swift action of the ACSC team, noting that timely intervention prevented significant financial and emotional damage. The victim was later advised on how to protect himself from similar scams in the future.
In a related incident earlier this month, Samut Prakan police rescued a 20-year-old university student who had also been deceived by a fake money laundering case. On December 3, the student was tricked by a call centre gang into believing he was under investigation and was instructed to transfer money and isolate himself in a rented room to stage a fake arrest.
The scam came to light when the student’s mother found a handwritten note on his desk reading, “Involved in money laundering. Must report to DSI and AMLO today.” Alarmed, she contacted police, who traced the student’s phone signal and found him alone but unharmed in an apartment in Bang Chalong subdistrict.
He was safely reunited with his mother the same night. Police continue to warn the public that authorities will never demand money transfers or valuables over the phone, urging citizens to verify all claims and report suspicious calls immediately.
