German Arrested in Koh Phangan Scam Targeting Australians
Authorities in Thailand have arrested a 54-year-old German man on the island of Koh Phangan, accusing him of orchestrating a sophisticated online investment scam that defrauded investors in Australia of significant sums of money.
David Guy Hamburger was taken into custody on Tuesday while riding his motorcycle near his residence, Choco Villa, on the popular tourist island. The arrest was the result of a coordinated operation by Provincial Police Region 8, the Immigration Bureau, and officers from Surat Thani and Pathum Thani provinces, supported by the Australian Federal Police.
The operation followed an arrest warrant issued by the Pathum Thani Provincial Court on June 19, charging Mr Hamburger with public fraud and entering false information into a computer system.
Following his arrest, police escorted Mr Hamburger back to his residence, where they conducted a search and seized assets worth more than 19 million baht, suspected to have been acquired through fraudulent activities.
Among the items confiscated were:
- A cryptocurrency account valued at 8.04 million baht
- Four bank accounts containing a combined 6.23 million baht
- 495,000 baht in cash
- A land title deed worth 1.5 million baht
- Four vehicles worth approximately 2.27 million baht
- 13 luxury watches valued at 605,000 baht
- Two laptop computers
When investigators examined the laptops, they found scripted dialogue used to deceive Australian investors into making fake stock investments, along with detailed records of victims’ information.
Police also conducted searches at three additional locations connected to Mr Hamburger. These included a law office and the Montana Realty real estate office on Koh Phangan, as well as a residence on Koh Samui registered in the name of his Thai wife.
Authorities believe that Mr Hamburger and his associates established four nominee companies—Chesapeake Ross Co, Montana Realty Co, Laguna Cliff Co, and Gollum Co.—as fronts for their operations. Police have summoned several individuals believed to be part of the network for questioning.
Pol Lt Gen Surapong Thanomjit, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8, said the investigation was launched after Australian authorities alerted Thai police to an online investment scam targeting Australians and believed to be operated from Thailand.
Mr Hamburger, who had been living on Koh Phangan for over five years under a retirement visa, reportedly operated several businesses on the island, including a villa rental business, a construction firm, and a restaurant.
Following his arrest, he was transferred to Muang Police Station in Pathum Thani for legal proceedings related to the fraud charges. In addition, Surat Thani police are preparing further charges against him under Thailand’s Foreign Business Act.
The case remains under investigation as Thai and Australian authorities work to identify other suspects involved and trace funds defrauded from Australian victims.
