Officers from Crime Suppression Division 3 apprehended the 39-year-old suspect, named in their report only as ‘Ms Maneerat’, at about 6:50pm on Jan 6 in front of an apartment in Tambon Pak Nam, Samut Prakan Province.
The arrest was made under a warrant issued by the Thanyaburi Provincial Court, charging her with fraud, impersonation and inputting false data into computer systems to cause damage.
The scam began when the victim received a phone call from someone claiming to be a DHL delivery officer. The caller falsely informed the victim that a package containing illegal items, such as fake passports and ATM cards, had been returned to China under her name. The call was then transferred to another person who impersonated a police officer at a police station in Phuket.
The scammers alleged that the victim was involved in an B8-million money laundering operation and instructed her to transfer funds to an account purportedly for an investigation by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO).
Trusting the claims, the victim transferred money in four transactions totaling over B200,000 to an account under the name ‘Manirat’. The victim eventually realised she had been deceived and reported the incident to the authorities.
During her arrest, Maneerat denied all charges. She was taken to Khlong Luang Police Station for further investigation and legal proceedings.
Pol Maj Gen Thiradech Thamsuthee, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, urged the public to exercise caution amid a rise in online shopping and delivery service scams.
He explained that fraudsters often pose as delivery agents or government officials, fabricating stories about delayed packages containing illegal items to coerce victims into paying fines.
The police advise anyone who receives such suspicious calls to independently verify the claims by contacting the relevant agency directly. Scammers often hang up when they sense their deception has been uncovered.
If you suspect a scam or fall victim to one, contact the authorities immediately at the hotline 1441.