A call center scam gang is accused of defrauding Thai snooker champion James Wattana, also known as “Tong Sitchoi” in his home country, out of around 3.2 million baht.
James, who recently took home a gold medal in the doubles snooker event at the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, claimed that at around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, he received a call informing him of an allegation that he had been involved in money laundering and illicit drug trafficking and demanding that he wire them money to settle the case.
Tong claimed he made ten transfers totaling 3.2 million baht from his bank account, leaving only an 8,000 baht deposit.
He has denied taking part in any unlawful activity.
The legendary snooker player stated that he had lodged a complaint with Wang Thong Lang police and that he was due to compete in a snooker competition today (Friday), but that he had lost focus and dared not take any calls.
The same ruse was being employed, according to the police, to lure potential victims into transferring money to “mule” accounts, which would then be blocked by the gang.
