BANGKOK — Thai cybercrime police have arrested a 34-year-old Russian man accused of scamming more than 11.6 million baht (approximately $360,000) from a 70-year-old Thai businesswoman through an elaborate online investment scheme, officials said Tuesday.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Suraphon Prembut, head of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, said officers arrested the suspect, identified only as Pavel, at a luxury condominium in Sukhumvit 42, Bangkok’s Khlong Toei district. Police seized a mobile phone, four bank books, six ATM cards and a passport. Pavel denied the accusations during questioning.
The case began in mid-August when the victim, owner of a well-known herbal medicine company, received a phone call from a person identifying herself as “Patty” from a company called MIROX. The caller promoted a stock investment program promising high returns.
The woman registered on the “mirrox” platform and transferred money according to instructions provided by the scammer. The platform then displayed fabricated investment balances showing her funds growing in line with the promised percentages.
Believing the investment to be legitimate, the woman continued to transfer money — 23 times in total — into seven bank accounts, amounting to more than 10 million baht ($308,280). Police said the scammer later visited her company in person to collect another 1.5 million baht ($462,420) in cash, bringing the total loss to 11,664,525 baht.
When she realized she had been defrauded, the woman filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau. Officers learned the scammer was still contacting her through chat messages and phone calls, attempting to persuade her to invest more.
Investigators staged a sting operation by having the victim inform the scammer she wished to invest an additional 1 million baht but needed him to collect the cash directly. A meeting was arranged at her company in Nakhon Pathom province, but the suspect failed to show up, likely sensing the trap.
Police continued tracking the suspect until they identified him as Pavel and located his residence in Bangkok. A search warrant issued by the Bangkok South Criminal Court allowed officers to enter the condominium and make the arrest.
Pavel faces multiple charges, including public fraud, computer-related fraud, habitual fraud, money laundering conspiracy and laundering proceeds obtained through criminal activity.
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