BANGKOK, Thailand – A luxury mansion rented for THB 900,000 a month had been turned into a call-centre base targeting Japanese victims, with fake Japanese police stations, soundproof calling booths and fraud scripts discovered inside. Immigration police raided the mansion in Soi Ekachai 112 in Bang Bon after receiving a tip from a concerned resident who noticed unusual movements by foreign nationals. Officers arrested 15 people during the operation, including Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese nationals, along with one Thai national.
Investigators found that a Chinese boss had allegedly used a Thai nominee to rent the mansion, which had been leased for more than a year at THB 900,000 per month. The upper floor had been converted into an office for making scam calls. Soundproof booths were used for phone conversations, while Japanese-language scripts were prepared for operators to follow. Investigators also found mock-ups of police stations from Japan, complete with police uniforms hanging inside, apparently designed to convince victims they were speaking with genuine Japanese authorities.
The ground floor was used as a recreation area, featuring a karaoke room and poker table. Police also found a quantity of drugs. Investigators said the gang used a relatively simple scam. Operators randomly called Japanese victims and claimed that an illegal parcel had been sent in their name. Once victims were convinced, the calls were transferred to fake police officers, who then instructed them to transfer money for an alleged investigation. Authorities seized evidence from the mansion and handed the suspects over to investigators for consideration of criminal charges. The foreign suspects are expected to face legal proceedings before being deported. Police believe the Chinese ringleader remains somewhere in Thailand and are searching for him before he can flee through an unofficial border route.
