LAMPHUN — A local woman successfully recovered nearly 200,000 Baht after falling victim to a sophisticated online refund scam. Prompt action by the Mae Tha police and national cyber task forces managed to freeze the stolen funds just in time.
The incident began when scammers contacted the victim, pretending to be representatives from a well-known company. They claimed they wanted to issue a product refund and convinced her to add them on the Line application. The criminals then tricked her into transferring money to a CIMB Thai Bank account under the name of Mr. Nirut.
Key Takeaways
- Immediate Reporting is Crucial: Victims should go to the nearest police station immediately to freeze accounts within the critical 72-hour window.
- Fast Police Coordination: Cooperation between local police and the 1441 cyber helpline successfully stopped the money before scammers could withdraw it.
- Full Refund Secured: The bank issued a cash check of 198,035 Baht back to the victim after the destination account was frozen.
As soon as the victim realized the deception, she rushed to the Mae Tha Police Station. She met with Police Major Anutr Upayin, the investigator on duty, while still actively chatting with the fraudsters.
“The investigator quickly told the victim to stay calm and keep talking to the scammers to buy valuable time.”
While the victim delayed the criminals, Sergeant Major Theeraphong Jansawa immediately contacted the national cybercrime helpline at 1441. Thanks to this fast teamwork, authorities froze the destination bank account before the money vanished.
Banking Cooperation Leads to Full Recovery
Following the account freeze, investigators contacted the destination bank to inform the account owner of the illicit activity. The owner of the mule account agreed to return the full amount to avoid severe legal consequences.
The bank then issued a cash check for the entire sum and sent it directly to the Mae Tha station. Recently, the relieved victim returned to the police station to officially receive her check of 198,035 Baht.
The Mae Tha Police Station issued a public warning urging citizens to stay alert against online refund offers. Scammers frequently use fake customer service profiles on social media to trick people into sending money.
If you accidentally transfer money to a scammer, you must act fast to protect your funds. Head to the nearest police station immediately to initiate a bank freeze within 72 hours, which greatly increases your chances of a full recovery.
Trending News:
Police Rescue University Students Held Hostage by Phone Scam Gang
Pattaya Police Officers Investigated After Kuwaiti Tourists Allege Extortion
