Thailand's Pattaya Romance Scam Organization Arrested, Police Agency Dispatches Joint Investigation Team

The National Police Agency has dispatched a joint investigation team to Thailand to investigate 19 South Korean members of a romance scam organization arrested in Pattaya.

On the 21st, the National Police Agency officially announced this fact.

On the 16th, the dispatched joint investigation team from the National Police Agency meticulously analyzed electronic devices, including computers, used in the crimes and conducted direct investigations of the South Korean suspects. This investigation team is composed of specialized personnel for collecting on-site evidence and conducting forensic examinations, such as DNA analysis, enabling a systematic investigation.

Moreover, the joint investigation team engaged in in-depth discussions with the head of the Thai government's fraud crime dedicated team to devise joint response measures aimed at fundamentally blocking international organized crime based in Southeast Asia.

The National Police Agency stated that it plans to swiftly repatriate these organization members to South Korea through consultations with the Thai authorities.

Criminal Methods of the Romance Scam Organization Arrested through International Cooperation

These members were arrested on the 21st of last month in a joint operation by the police of South Korea and Thailand at a villa complex in Pattaya.

They established a base of operations at the villa and installed dozens of electronic devices, including computers, and are suspected of engaging in organized fraudulent activities by creating various scam scenarios, such as romance scams and voice phishing, and dividing roles among themselves.

At the scene, a whiteboard with investment solicitation phrases written in Korean was discovered. When the police raided the location, the suspects, who were sitting in front of the computers, attempted to flee by jumping from the second floor but were all arrested.

The police plan to expand the investigation into additional crimes and accomplices based on the evidence collected in relation to this case.

They will quickly repatriate all arrested members through consultations with Thai immigration authorities for further investigation.

A representative from the National Police Agency stated, "This case is an excellent example of international cooperation in dealing with fraud and other public safety crimes based on the accumulated networks between the two countries," and emphasized, "We will continue to take the lead in eradicating international organized crimes such as online fraud and electronic financial fraud through close cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies, including Interpol."

Image Source: Provided by the National Police Agency