Two Taiwanese men, alleged to be part of a moneywire scam for which six of their compatriots were arrested last month, were nabbed by the police while they were using several cards to withdraw money at an ATM machine in Bangkok.
Hsu Tien Yu, 22, and Chen ChunJung, 30, had been under close watch following tipoffs indicating their links with the six suspects, before police caught Yu withdrawing money at an ATM machine on Petchaburi Soi 10 on Tuesday. Jung was later arrested at his hotel room in Bangkok's Pathum Wan district.
Police found in their possession 10 Bangkok Bank debit cards, 10 Kasikornbank ATM cards, five bank books each from both banks, seven mobile phones and their passports showing that Yu entered Thailand on July 28 and Jung on August 7.
Deputy Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol LtMajor General Panya Mamen said all "callcentre rackets" based in Thailand was slowing down their operations following intensive police crackdown. He said 10 bank accounts opened by the racketeers had been frozen, making overseas transactions more difficult.
Those still operating now immediately transfer the victims' money to a third party's accounts to cut down on the police tracking them and their money, while their local accomplices were becoming careful in opening bank accounts to facilitate the crimes.