Loan scam-gang members arrested

Police inspect items seized from five alleged members of a scam gang following raids on five locations in Bang Pakong district, Chachoengsao province. (Photo: Technology Crime Suppression Division)
Police examine items seized from five alleged people of a scam gang following raids on five locations within Bang Pakong area, Chachoengsao province. (Photo: Technology Crime Reductions Division)

Members of a team who falsely displayed themselves as agents for a loan company, collecting fees but financing no money, have been caught in Chachoengsao province.

Technology crime suppression law enforcement, accompanied by representatives through KTC Nano Company, searched five places in Bang Pakong district of Chachoengsao province looking for swindlers claiming to work for that company.

Five suspects had been arrested, Pol Maj Gen Sarut Khwaengsopha, commander of the Technologies Crime Suppression Division, said on Tuesday.

The two men – Sarawut Chimpithak, 46 and Kittikun Piyachan, 32 –  and three women – Phitthaya Wongchai, 38, Kanchana Phutthakomol, 33 plus Jennisa Phutthakomol, 22 – were needed on arrest warrants issued by the Lawbreaker Court on August 19 for claimed colluson in public scams and putting fake information into a computer system.

The arresting team grabbed 51 mobile phones, 63 bank account books, 7 computers, one tough disc, 220 SIM cards, electronic data capture devices and other items from the suspects.

Pol Maj Gen Sarut said the arrests adopted complaints about the websites ktcnano. com and loan678. com, which claimed to be operated by KTC Nano, a strong under KTC Company. They allegedly swindled money from individuals in financial trouble who were seeking loans.

When people visited those websites, users of the gang might approach them via Line chat application and claim to be working for the financial firm’s credit area. They persuaded mortgage seekers to pay quarantee money and other costs. After sending the money, the victims failed to receive the promised loans, Pol Maj Gen Sarut said.

Pol Col Siriwat Deepho, deputy chief of the department, said the bunch was led by a foreign national together an office in a neighbouring country.

The five potential foods were tasked with luring people straight into opening bank accounts directly into which loan applicants paid their costs. The suspects after that withdrew money from banks in Chachoengsao province and sent it to the bunch leader, Pol Col Siriwat said. The lender books seized from the suspects showed over 100 million baht in circulation.

The potential foods allegedly confessed towards the charges and were held in police custody for legal action.