Exposing a transnational ring that cheated a beauty queen out of 3 billion VND

Miss Grand Thailand 2022 runner-up Charlotte Austin recently held a press conference to share that she was scammed over the phone and lost 4 million baht (3 billion VND). The group of scammers impersonated cyber police and Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers, accused her of being involved in a money laundering case involving a man named Satta, then threatened and forced her to transfer money 3 times. When Charlotte discovered she had been scammed, she reported it to the police.

Charlotte was then invited to an interrogation with Major General Trairong Phiwapphan, acting director of the Cybercrime Prevention Department, to cooperate in investigating the case.

On December 13, Major General Wiwat Khamchamnarn said that investigators had asked the court to issue an arrest warrant for the group that impersonated officials to commit fraud, but could not yet reveal the specific number. He affirmed that the investigation was progressing, and the police had traced the flow of money from “ghost” accounts linked to this line.

Information on the two male subjects impersonating cyber police and DSI staff in the calls has been passed on to the analysis department for identification.

Major General Trairong added that the owners of these "ghost accounts" had clearly committed complicity. Therefore, the court was asked to issue an arrest warrant on charges of fraud and money laundering. Regarding the recovery of assets for the victims, the investigation team is actively tracing the money flows and freezing as many related accounts as possible.

The ring has been identified as a professional telephone scammer. Police are continuing their investigation to determine how many victims have come forward. However, it is certain that the scam calls are made from overseas.

Police also warned people not to trust and transfer money when receiving similar calls, and not to check on their own because criminals are constantly changing their methods. Instead, people should immediately report to the authorities.