NONTHABURI — Thai Immigration Bureau Police announced a major breakthrough in dismantling a Japanese Yakuza-linked call center scam operation that targeted elderly victims in Japan.
Police Lieutenant General Panumas, Acting Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, revealed details of the operation during a press conference on December 18 that the investigation began following a tip from the Japanese Embassy in Thailand about suspicious call center operations targeting Japanese citizens. The scammers specifically preyed on elderly residents in Japan, promising refunds of health insurance payments.
According to Pol. Maj. Gen. Pantana Nuchanart, Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, the criminal group operated using a sophisticated two-step approach. The first team of scammers would impersonate government officials, contacting victims about supposedly unclaimed medical reimbursements worth millions of yen.
Victims were instructed to prepare at least 500,000 yen ($3,400) in their accounts before being manipulated into transferring the money to the scammers’ accounts. The operation was causing losses of tens of millions of yen daily.
Following extensive investigation, authorities raided two luxury pool villas in Pattaya, Chonburi Province. At the first location, police arrested Takayuki, 42, and Hajime, 40, who were identified as the operation’s controllers. Police seized 42 pieces of evidence, including mobile phones, tablets, and computers containing victim information and conversation scripts.
Investigators discovered that Takayuki was a former member of the “Yamaguchi” Yakuza syndicate in Japan. The operation was reportedly generating around 24 million yen (approximately $163,000, 5 million baht) daily in fraudulent gains.
At the second villa, authorities arrested three additional suspects: Kenjiro, 37, Takahiro, 34, and Katsuhito, 28, who worked as call center operators. Police confiscated 37 items of evidence, including phones, tablets, and documents containing victim information.
Given the serious nature of their crimes, all five Japanese nationals have had their permits to stay in Thailand revoked and are being held at Immigration Division 3 pending legal proceedings.
Police Colonel Ratchot Chotkun, Deputy Commander of the Immigration Police Investigation Division revealed that the investigation was initiated after a former member of the scam ring provided information to the Japanese Embassy. The informant disclosed that the operation had recently relocated from Malaysia to Thailand on September 29, and came forward due to guilt over defrauding fellow Japanese citizens.
Investigators are now expanding their probe to trace the fraudulent funds, some of which are believed to have been invested in Thai businesses.
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