Thai and Australian police busted a scam ring defrauding victims of $1.3M via fake bond investments run by expats in Bangkok.
BANGKOK — In a major international crackdown, Thai Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers, working with the Australian Federal Police (AFP), dismantled a transnational fraud ring that had stolen at least 2 million Australian dollars (approx. $1.3 million USD) through an elaborate bond investment scam. The operation, dubbed Operation Firestorm, led to the arrest of 13 foreign nationals in Bangkok.
The arrests were announced at CIB headquarters in Bangkok on June 17, led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Jiraphop Phuridech, CIB Commander, and Ms. Kristie-Lee Cressy, a senior officer with the AFP.
20 Years of Fraud
Pol. Lt. Gen. Jiraphop revealed that AFP had tracked the network, which had been targeting Australian citizens for over 20 years. While some members had recently been arrested in Indonesia, the ring leaders — one British and one Australian — had fled to Thailand and set up a secretive call center operation.
Operating under the guise of a legitimate investment firm, the scammers promised high-return bond investments of 7–10% over 1–3 years. The AFP alerted Thai authorities, sparking a joint investigation into the network’s Thai base of operations.
Ms. Cressy emphasized the long-term damage: “This is money stolen from hard-working Australians. Shutting down this scam center is a major win for both Thai and Australian communities.”
Surveillance and Secret Operations
Investigators found the suspects had originally been operating in Pattaya since early 2024 before relocating to a luxury residence in Bangkok’s Bang Phli District. The house, listed for sale at 70 million baht or for rent at 120,000 baht/month, was heavily secured with CCTV, fences, and garage coverings to prevent detection.
Surveillance revealed that vehicles entered the property at 5:00 a.m. and left around 3:30 p.m. — hours that matched Sydney’s business day, confirming suspicions of a fraudulent call center targeting Australians.
Raids and Arrests
On June 16, at 8:30 a.m., police raided the home with a court-issued search warrant. Inside, they found multiple foreign nationals at makeshift office stations making active calls. Officers seized laptops, mobile phones, conversation scripts, company brochures, and bond solicitation materials.
Computer data revealed over 14,000 Australian names, some confirmed as victims. Total damages were initially estimated at over 2 million Australian dollars (approx. 40 million baht).
Key Suspects and Charges
Thirteen suspects were arrested: 5 Australians, 6 British, 1 Canadian, and 1 South African. Immigration records showed none held valid work permits. Among the key suspects were Mr. Mark (54, Australian) and Mr. Mark Andrew (56, British), both identified by AFP as ringleaders.
All face charges for criminal conspiracy and illegal employment. Despite their denial of wrongdoing, claiming they were recruited online with promises of legal work and commissions, authorities remain firm. The suspects’ visas will be revoked, and they will be blacklisted from re-entering Thailand.
Pol. Col. Ploen Klinphayom of Immigration Division 3 confirmed the legal process is underway, with further investigations expected to identify additional victims and co-conspirators.
Authorities from both nations called the bust a significant milestone in cross-border cybercrime enforcement.
