Korean call centre kingpin arrested in Thailand

The immigration authorities apprehended a 51-year-old South Korean fugitive who had been sought for orchestrating a call center scam that siphoned off millions from unsuspecting victims.

Hailing from South Korea, the individual, identified as Oh, operated from China, masterminding a complex scheme involving manipulation of phone calls and text messages to dupe fellow South Koreans. Operating under various aliases, Oh coerced victims into transferring significant amounts of money, accumulating a staggering total of 200 million won, roughly equivalent to US$150,000 (approximately 5 million baht), from six individuals within a fortnight.

After fleeing South Korea following the issuance of an arrest warrant, Oh sought sanctuary in Pattaya, Thailand. However, a coordinated effort between South Korean and Thai authorities swiftly brought his fugitive status to an end.

Found within a residential compound in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, Oh now faces charges for visa overstay, as reported by KhaoSod English.

In a related development, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) dismantled a notorious call center syndicate operating from Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Under the leadership of DSI’s acting director-general, Police Major Yutthana Praedam, the crackdown exposed a sprawling network of deception spanning Thailand, China, and Russia.

A total of 71 suspects, including 52 Chinese nationals and 19 Thai accomplices, were apprehended during the DSI-coordinated raid.

Additionally, law enforcement authorities arrested two women and three Thai men for orchestrating a romance scam that spanned six years, during which they defrauded a millionaire of over 63 million baht.

The victim, a Thai millionaire who narrowly avoided bankruptcy, disclosed the elaborate scheme to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), leading to the arrest of the primary perpetrator on February 27 in Ayutthaya province. The victim recounted encountering the scammer on a dating website in 2016.