Victims were lured through Line, promising income for likes, but lost their savings.

Police in Thailand have cracked down on a fraudulent network that lured victims into a YouTube ‘likes’ scheme using fake profiles on Line, using attractive photos. The damage caused by the attackers exceeded 1.5 million Thai baht.

The investigation began after the scammers used a LINE account under the name ‘Thor (Nattapum)’ with a photo of an attractive young man to contact potential victims. Police Lieutenant-General Trairong Phiwphan, commissioner of the Cybercrime Investigation Bureau, made the disclosure at a press conference.

The attackers entered into correspondence, gradually gaining trust and persuading victims to invest in an additional income scheme. The investment consisted of depositing funds on the platform and earning profits by placing ‘like’ marks under YouTube videos.

Initially, victims received small payments, which built their confidence in the scheme. They then made numerous financial transactions totaling 1,546,836 baht. However, they later discovered that they could not withdraw their funds and realized that they had been victims of fraud.

During further investigation, police arrested Saranya Kaewmuen, 33, a resident of Songkhla province, who was part of the fraudulent network. Evidence was gathered to obtain an arrest warrant from the Criminal Court, leading to her detention in Chonburi province.

During interrogation, Mrs Saranya admitted to opening bank accounts to sell to brokers, receiving 2,000 baht for each account. She said she collected personal data to open the accounts. The data she received was passed on to brokers.

The woman faces charges of fraud and computer offenses, including entering false or misleading information into a computer system, which could harm the public. Details of her role in the fraud network and their possible whereabouts continue to be established.

This case highlights the growing problem of cyber fraud in Thailand and the importance of caution when interacting with strangers on social media. Police urge citizens to be vigilant and report suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.

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