Four Pakistani nationals, including Muhammad Ramzan (35), Muhammad Saleem (34), Amir Hussain (24), and Muhammad Imran (21), were arrested in Buriram province after allegedly running a sophisticated scam targeting elderly shopkeepers. The Buriram Provincial Police apprehended the suspects following multiple reports from local businesses.
The suspects’ method involved entering small retail shops and attempting to purchase beer with a 1,000 baht note. They would create confusion by switching between English and Urdu, deceiving shopkeepers into giving both money and merchandise. They would change their minds about the purchase or ask for a different product, taking advantage of language barriers.
The scam was exposed when a vigilant shopkeeper noticed their suspicious behavior and pointed out the store’s CCTV cameras. This caused the suspects to flee, and the incident was reported to the police.
Police Major General Rutthaphon Naowarat, head of Buriram Provincial Police, ordered an investigation, leading to the suspects being caught in a white rental Toyota near a local bank. After initially denying the charges, the suspects confessed when confronted with CCTV evidence.
The investigation revealed they had targeted 5-8 shops daily across multiple provinces, focusing on elderly shopkeepers who were more vulnerable. Each successful scam netted them about 950 baht.
The suspects face charges of theft using a vehicle, an offense carrying a maximum penalty of seven years and six months in prison, and a fine of up to 150,000 baht. Foreigners convicted under Thai law face the same penalties as Thai citizens, and after serving their sentences, they will be deported from Thailand with their visas revoked.