Online loan shark scammers nabbed in Bangkok, nine provinces

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

A GROUP OF SUSPECTED loan shark racketeers has been rounded up in Bangkok and nine provinces, police said today (Nov.15).

Central Investigation Bureau Commissioner Pol.Lt.Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej announced a total of 13 suspected online scammers providing illegal loans with skyrocketing interest rates have been separately arrested by the police in Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya, Chonburi, Prachinburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chumporn, Trang and the capital city.

A couple of suspected masterminds of the loan shark scam, only identified as Yuwatida and Veerayut, were arrested with pieces of evidence pertaining to the illegal lending of money carrying interest rates as high as 7.5% daily or 225% monthly via online apps by which many unsuspecting people had fallen victims, the CIB chief said.

The couple had allegedly opened more than 100 bank accounts some of which bear the names of holders as Chinese, Russian and Myanmar nationals and through which an estimated 500 million baht in loan money had been circulated.

Those apps, namely Rich Loan, PleasantSheep, SummerCash, FortuneCat, GoldenTiger, FastCash, OrangeCash, GoldenFlower and MemoryLoan, among others, had been allegedly used by the loan shark racketeers.

CAPTION:

Central Investigation Bureau Commissioner Pol.Lt.Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej, centre in above photo and left in Front Page photo, announcing the arrest of loan shark scammers. Photos: Thai Rath

Also read:Brutal debt collectors slash man’s head over small loan

Debt collectors attack hospitalised patient, steal his car 

No Plan B for digital wallet campaign: Julapun

Navy denies 100 VN fishing boats have seized part of Gulf of Thailand

Rice farmers to get 1,000 baht subsidy per rai

Environmental concerns raised over Khao Yai music festival