400,000 baht returned to victims of call center gangs

BANGKOK, May 28 (TNA) – The police returned 400,000 baht, seized from call center gangs to victims after about 10-20 people fell victims to call center scams this month. Pol Gen Thanitsak Theerasawat, special adviser to the Royal Thai Police Office and Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpal, deputy tourist police chief today handed over the money to five victims from Bangkok, Chachoengsao and Nonthaburi after they were conned to transfer money to call center gangs. It is the 16th handover of cash to the victims of call center gangs. Most victims managed to freeze the money in the accounts in 15- 30 minutes before scammers could withdrew the money. Pol Maj Gen Surachet said these gangs were based in Taiwan, colluding with Thai accomplices in Chanthaburi, who opened bank accounts to receive the money transfer from the victims. The police have tracked records of financial activities and can identify the culprits. Deputy spokesman of the Anti-Money Laundering Office, Peerapat Ingpongphan said gang members conspired to trick about 10-20 victims to transfer money to their bank accounts in May, causing damage of over 10 million baht. According to the police, the statistics showed 445 call center scams since December 8, 2017. The cost of damage is about 235 million baht in total. About 36 million baht was seized and returned to 85 victims. (TNA)