The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested two key suspects involved in an international call centre scam, where victims were defrauded by individuals posing as police officers. The arrested men, Ramil Phanthawong, 31, and Thanawut Kanyaphan, 28, were apprehended in Sa Kaeo and Chonburi provinces, respectively.
The investigation began after a victim reported receiving a call from someone pretending to be a police officer. The caller falsely accused the victim of being involved in money laundering and drug-related crimes, pressuring them into transferring over 4 million baht to “prove their innocence.” Further investigation uncovered 163 additional victims who had similar experiences.
Authorities tracked the suspects to an 18-storey building in Poipet, a border town in Cambodia, where the call centre gang operated. The gang, consisting of around 50 members, used advanced AI technology to alter faces and make it harder for authorities to trace the perpetrators. Ramil and Thanawut, who were recruited via social media with promises of working on a gambling website, were forced to work in the scam operation once they arrived. Their passports and phones were confiscated, and they were coerced into scamming victims.
The investigation revealed that the stolen funds were converted into digital assets and laundered through currencies like the Thai baht and Vietnamese dong, before being divided among the gang members.
Ramil, during interrogation, confessed to being a “first-line agent” who contacted victims using a “Sim box” system. His job was to follow a script and pass on the victims to the “second-line agents” once they were hooked. Thanawut, a “second-line agent,” admitted to impersonating a police officer on video calls and scamming victims, including high-profile figures such as actress Charlotte Austin and beauty queen Anchilee Scott-Kemmis. Thanawut claimed he was coerced into participating, fearing physical harm if he did not comply.
Ramil and Thanawut are currently in police custody, and authorities are continuing their investigation to track down the masterminds behind the operation. The government is working with the Foreign Ministry to tackle the issue, particularly due to the call centre’s cross-border nature. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.
