Twenty South Koreans Arrested for Online Scams and Kidnapping
One Kidnapped South Korean Man Rescued
Twenty South Koreans who had been systematically carrying out online scams and kidnappings in Thailand have been arrested in a large-scale operation.
According to the Bangkok Post on June 22, Thai police raided a luxury pool villa in the Bang Lamung area of Pattaya, Chonburi Province the previous afternoon, arresting 20 South Koreans and one Chinese national. During the operation, police also rescued a South Korean man who had been kidnapped and forced to work as part of the scam organization.
Acting on a tip-off from the South Korean embassy, Thai police stormed the scene and found the scam group sitting in front of computers. The suspects attempted to escape, with some jumping from the second floor, but all were eventually apprehended.
At the scene, authorities discovered a whiteboard with scam-related phrases written in Korean, which were used in online fraud. Authorities believe the group are members of a "romance scam" criminal organization that targets victims via social networking services (SNS), gains their trust, promises relationships, and then extorts money from them.
The man rescued in this operation was reportedly kidnapped and forced to participate in online scam activities. Thai police have secured the victim's safety and notified the South Korean embassy. Police stated that they are investigating whether the confiscated items were used in crimes and plan to pursue legal action against the suspects.
Meanwhile, there has been a recent surge in cases of human trafficking and kidnapping by online criminal organizations in Southeast Asia, prompting calls for increased vigilance. According to diplomatic sources and the South Korean embassy in Thailand, on May 22, a South Korean man in his 20s, referred to as Mr. A, was held captive for about two weeks by a Chinese-run scam organization in Myawaddy, Myanmar, before being released on April 30.
In January, Chinese actor Wang Xing was also deceived by a fake film casting offer, entered Thailand, and was subsequently kidnapped to Myanmar, where he was rescued in a shaved-head state, causing shock. Following his kidnapping, China, Thailand, and Myanmar launched a joint crackdown on scam operations, resulting in the rescue and repatriation of thousands of foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens.
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