Photo credit goes to Cyber crime investigation bureau
Under the leadership of Pol. Lt. Gen. Worawat Watnakornbanchar, who serves as the head of the Cyber Investigation Bureau (CIB), a directive was issued to oversee and monitor various forms of cyber misconduct. This initiative involved the deployment of the Cyber Crime Task Force, Cyber Taskforce 2, and Cyber Taskforce 3 to conduct surveillance activities. During their surveillance, attention was drawn to the “Baann Ing Pha, Phu Tap Bik” webpage, a popular platform among travelers. Numerous customers were observed engaging excessively by clicking on stickers. Suspecting fraudulent behavior, authorities proactively joined the platform to interact with friends, gather information, and uncover deceptive practices. It was revealed that the stickers distributed to customers were part of a deceptive scheme orchestrated by the Facebook page to entice individuals into making bookings for accommodations.
Under the guidance of Pol. Lt. Gen. Satit Promuthai, the head of Cyber Taskforce 3, and Pol. Col. Morakot Saengsakhu, the Superintendent of Cyber Taskforce 2, efforts were made to collect data and collaborate with affected individuals to file reports. Subsequent investigations exposed the presence of 29 fraudulent pages, with over 40 individuals falling victim to accommodation booking scams, resulting in collective damages of approximately 80,000 Baht. This case was linked to a larger network involved in fraudulent resort bookings, encompassing 24 incidents of identity theft totaling around 3,404,571 Baht. Evidence was compiled by the police from Cyber Taskforce 2 and Cyber Taskforce 3, leading to the issuance of arrest warrants for six individuals involved.
Following this, Pol. Lt. Col. Chaiwong Thongnoi, the Superintendent of the Cyber Taskforce Second Division, spearheaded a search operation in the Mae Sai district, leading to the capture of additional suspects associated with fraudulent transactions. These individuals, identified under pseudonyms as Ms. Phan, Ms. Than, and Mr. Hatt, were closely intertwined with financial activities and had accounts tied to transfers. Measures were undertaken to seize funds and arrange reimbursements for the victims. Ongoing investigations are underway to locate and apprehend the remaining wanted suspects, progressing the case further.
A word of caution is extended to the public, especially to travelers seeking affordable accommodations through various online platforms. It is advised to exercise vigilance when interacting with such pages, given the prevalence of fraudulent schemes where fake pages mimic legitimate lodging services. To prevent falling prey to such deceitful acts, it is recommended to book accommodations through reputable platforms adhering to high standards. In case of identifying any online criminal activities, individuals are urged to report them through the designated online reporting system at www.thaipoliceonline.go.th or via the 24/7 emergency hotline (AOC 1441).
