BANGKOK — A high-ranking police officer became the target of a scammer’s phone call. As a result, he didn’t miss the opportunity to order an investigation, leading to the arrest of three Chinese suspects.
On July 30, Metropolitan Police officers arrested Mr. Xue Jiajun, 34; Mr. Mao Tianqi, 33; and Ms. Lin Melling, 35. All are Chinese nationals. Evidence seized included a SIMBOX or GSM GATEWAY device with 32 SIM card slots and 37 other items.
The investigation began on July 14 at 11:37 a.m. when Police Major General Theerachai Chamnanmor, Commander of the Investigation Division, Region 2, received a phone call soliciting special income and attempting to deceive him into making additional investments.
He then ordered an investigation into the phone number, coordinating with Police Colonel Surapong Phutkhao, Superintendent of Prawet Police Station, as the signal was traced to this area of Bangkok.
The investigation revealed that the phone number was being used through a SIMBOX or GSM GATEWAY, which can convert phone signals using SIM cards and can be controlled from abroad. The device was located in a condominium in Prawet district, Bangkok.
On July 29, around 11:15 p.m., three individuals were observed arriving in a red Mazda car at the condominium. One man entered Building A. Police waited until he exited the elevator with a travel bag, with two accomplices waiting in the car.
Officers then identified themselves, searched the room, and found all the suspicious evidence mentioned earlier. Initially, the three individuals were charged with jointly making, possessing, using, importing, exporting, or trading radio communication devices without a license; jointly establishing a radio communication station without a license; and jointly using frequency in telecommunication business without permission, which is characteristic of a Type 3 telecommunication business.
The suspects and evidence were then handed over to the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) for further legal proceedings.
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