TAK PROVINCE, Thailand — Two women were arrested yesterday after police disrupted a call centre scam that duped a retired teacher into transferring 500,000 baht, believing she was accessing welfare benefits.
The suspects were apprehended at a bank in Mae Sot district while attempting to withdraw cash. Officers from the Police Cyber Taskforce under Provincial Police Region 6, working with local police, executed warrants issued by the Buriram Provincial Court on January 16.
Authorities charged the women with fraud and importing false information into a computer system with intent to cause harm.
The scam came to light after a retired teacher in Buriram province reported the incident on January 12. She said she was contacted by someone claiming to represent the Buriram Teachers’ Savings Cooperative and instructed to download a mobile app to receive government welfare. Believing the instructions, she transferred 500,000 baht. The bank later noticed irregularities and informed her, revealing the scam.
Police identified Sudarat, the bank account holder, and Jirapatchara, who was caught withdrawing cash. Officers confiscated 945,000 baht in cash, believed to include funds from other victims, and a bank book. Another 55,000 baht in the account was frozen.
During questioning, Sudarat admitted to opening the account and making withdrawals on behalf of Jirapatchara, who paid her 1,500 baht. Authorities are now expanding the investigation to track the wider criminal network.
In a related incident, Bang Phli police rescued a 20-year-old university student who had been tricked into transferring money and staging a fake arrest to extort more funds from his family.
