Thai-African Fraud Gang Busted for Swindling Japanese Firm Out of 228 Million Baht
BANGKOK — Thai cybercrime authorities have arrested six members of a transnational fraud ring — five Thai nationals and one Ghanaian — for allegedly duping a Japanese company into transferring 228 million baht (approx. USD 6.2 million) into a Thai bank account as part of a sophisticated business email compromise scam.
The arrests, conducted separately in Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, and Nonthaburi, were announced Friday by Royal Thai Police Inspector-General Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, alongside Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) chief Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiewphan. Two additional suspects, including a Nigerian national and one Thai accomplice, remain at large, with warrants issued for their arrest.
According to police, the gang established a fake company in Thailand to deceive the Japanese firm, posing as a legitimate business partner. The scam involved hacking the email system of a South Korean company that had a genuine partnership with the Japanese firm. Using the compromised email, the suspects sent falsified invoices requesting payment for goods that were never delivered.
The Japanese company, believing the invoices were legitimate, transferred the large sum to a Thai bank account controlled by the gang. Though CCIB investigators managed to freeze nearly the entire amount, 13 million baht had already been withdrawn before authorities intervened.
Investigators believe the gang meticulously planned the operation, including the creation of nominee companies and hacking operations to infiltrate legitimate business correspondence. Authorities are now expanding their investigation to uncover the full scope of the network and to determine if more fraudulent entities were established to facilitate the scam.
The case highlights a growing trend in cross-border cyberfraud, and Thai police have pledged to continue coordinating with international agencies to crack down on such criminal enterprises.
