Police from the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) have raided a Chinese-operated call centre in a poolside villa in Doi Saked district of Chiang Mai and arrested seven Chinese and six Myanmar nationals.
Police also seized a desk-top computer, eight notebook PCs, 94 mobile phones and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) devices, which are primary tools used by fraudsters in call centre scams.
TCSD police sources say that the raid yesterday was a follow-up operation, after another raid on a company in the southern province of Phatthalung on January 10th this year. The company was found to have illegally sold VoIP GSM gateway devices to several fraudsters.
After an intensive investigation, and with the help of hi-tech tools, the TCSD managed to track the VoIP devices to the villa in Pa Miang sub-district, said the sources, adding that undercover police were sent to keep a close watch on the property, which was found to be secured and fully equipped with a CCTV system. The villa’s lighting was turned on throughout the night.
A search warrant was sought with the Chiang Mai provincial court before the raid.
Some of the suspects reportedly told the police that they only preyed on potential victims in China, by calling them about investing in long-term savings insurance, with background information obtained from the insured in China.
The gang member would inform the potential victim that his/her insurance coverage is about to expire and ask whether he/she wants to extend the insurance. He will offer a promotional package for those who want to have the insurance coverage extended. If not, he will inform the potential victim that an official will call him back to enquire about his personal information in order to cancel the insurance policy.
With the information gained from the potential victim, such as his ID card number, the gang can steal all the money from his bank accounts, said the sources.
