CHIANG RAI — Officials combating scammers, or call center gangs, are currently investigating and expanding their operation against scammers who evade detection, following the arrest of a Taiwanese man with evidence in Chiang Rai province.
Mr. Lin Chun Hung, a Taiwanese national, and Mr. Sophon, a Thai local from Mae Salong Nok district, Chiang Rai, were taken for questioning at Ban Du Police Station in Mueang district, Chiang Rai, on July 27. They were arrested on July 25 with evidence including one set of telephone signal distribution equipment, or Simbox, along with one set of internet signal distribution equipment.
This arrest came after the police from the Investigation Division, Region 5, received information through a project collecting and analyzing call center number locations in Ban Du sub-district, Mueang district, Chiang Rai. They investigated and believed that the suspects were hiding equipment in an apartment building in Ban Du sub-district. They then obtained a search warrant from the Chiang Rai Provincial Court.
The police then searched Building G, room G03, and found one tp-link IP camera model: tapo C200, one tp-link internet router model: Archer MR600, and were able to arrest both suspects.
The investigation revealed that Mr. Lin brought various equipment to install for distributing telephone signals, randomly dialing numbers so that the call recipients couldn’t identify the caller’s identity or country of origin. Meanwhile, he hired Mr. Sophon as an interpreter to help coordinate the work for 1,000 baht per day.
Regarding the Simbox or mobile phone signal distribution equipment, the law does not allow individuals to install and use it for signal transmission without permission from officials. Therefore, the officials charged both suspects with jointly making, possessing, using, importing, exporting, or trading radio communication devices without a license from officials; jointly setting up a radio communication station without a license from officials; and jointly using frequency spectrum in telecommunication business without permission.
Previously, Prime Minister Srettha visited Chiang Saen district in Chiang Rai Province and ordered the cutting of telephone signals and the destruction of ‘poles, lines and SIM cards’ along border areas used by criminals to deceive the public. The first measures began in the King’s Romans area of Laos. He has urged the police to crack down on call center gangs that have been defrauding the public.
The Immigration Department is also working on a database of Thai nationals at risk of working in call center gangs, as well as foreign nationals, to expand arrests.
_______
Related article:
100 Wanted: Thai-Cambodian Extradition Plan Targets Call Center Gangs
