A 25-year-old woman named Waranuch has been arrested for her involvement in a scam that impersonated officials from the Department of Lands, resulting in a victim losing over 6 million baht. Despite her claims of innocence, authorities have charged her with fraud, impersonation, and computer-related offenses.
Waranuch’s arrest followed a warrant issued by the Pathum Thani Provincial Court on August 15. This forms part of a wider investigation led by Police Lieutenant General Thiti Saengsawang, which aims to crack down on scams targeting Thai citizens.
The victim, who worked at a clinic, received a phone call from someone posing as a Department of Lands official. The scammer claimed that she was eligible for a tax refund and convinced her to add their Line account for further communication. With the department’s logo and a message from an “online registration officer,” the account looked official, convincing the victim to install a fake Department of Lands application.
While on the phone, the scammers kept the victim engaged, preventing her from disconnecting or closing the app. After becoming suspicious and halting the process, she later discovered that 6,300,000 baht (US$186,700) had been transferred out of her bank account. She quickly contacted her bank to freeze the recipient’s account and reported the crime to the police.
Waranuch, however, denied her involvement. She claimed that a friend persuaded her to open three bank accounts, promising to pay her 500 baht (US$15) per account for investment purposes. Waranuch also revealed that she had been arrested twice before for similar offenses and was recently released from custody in late September.
Police Colonel Theeradej, part of the investigation, urged the public to remain vigilant and not fall for such scams. He emphasized that the Department of Lands does not contact individuals via phone or Line for tax-related matters. He also outlined common tactics used by scammers, including fake letters, counterfeit websites, and fraudulent calls about land taxes.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to uncover more details about the scam and whether Waranuch’s friend played a larger role in the fraud.