Crime
16 Chinese Nationals Arrested in Phuket for Running a Boiler Room Targeting Chinese Investors
PHUKET – A Chinese scam call center has been busted in a police raid at a house in Phuket Thailand 13 male and three female suspects for operating a boiler room manipulating stock prices and targeting Chinese investors, Immigration Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Surachet Hakpan said in a press conference.
All 16 suspects were crammed inside the two-story house in Chalong district when police arrived, Surachet said.
Police launched the raid after reports of unusual and suspicious activities since mid-March. Police seized 18 computers, 68 mobile phones, over 100 of SIM cards, list of Chinese victims and phone conversation manual from the house.
Investigators were looking into possible links with criminal gangs while the suspects refused to concede any information to police, Surachet said.
They all arrived via Phuket International Airport in the middle of March and rented the house for Bt45,000 a month, Surachet said, adding that the house owner would be summoned to police.