Thai police arrest 12 South Koreans for alleged scam-related crimes

Thai police arrested a dozen South Korean nationals on suspicion of involvement in scam-related crimes, Yonhap News Agency reported Thursday.

The suspects were detained in a raid on a voice phishing call center at a luxury house in Samut Prakan province south of Bangkok, the report said, citing South Korea’s Foreign Ministry.

A Chinese national was also arrested in the raid.

During the raid, police found call center equipment, computers and mobile phones as well as scripts apparently used for voice phishing and a list of South Korean victims.

The suspects had reportedly entered Thailand illegally from unspecified neighboring countries.

They allegedly targeted South Korean victims by posing as prosecutors or government officials.

"We are aware that 12 South Korean nationals have been detained by Thai police on suspicion of involvement in scam-related crimes," the ministry said in a statement.

The South Korean Embassy in Thailand was providing them with necessary consular assistance.

The ministry declined to provide further details as a local investigation is under way.

Cambodia and Myanmar, both of which border Thailand, have become bases for criminal organizations targeting people around the world with romance scams and investment fraud.

South Korean and Thai authorities launched joint investigations into organized crimes including voice phishing operations based in Thailand last year.