Police Rescue University Student Scammed by Online Fraudsters

Nakhon Ratchasima police from Phothisai Station received a tip from parents after discovering their fourth-year university student had fallen victim to an online scam gang and been tricked into transferring over 800,000 baht. The fraudsters initially called posing as a major telecom company's customer service representative, then accused the student of involvement in a money laundering case before transferring the call to someone claiming to be a Ranong Town police officer. They intimidated the student, demanded line and video call contact, and instructed them not to tell anyone.

When the scammers learned the student had no money, they created a fake university document claiming it was for a three-month student exchange program to Japan costing 856,000 baht. The student told their father, who transferred 500,000 baht first, then 200,000 baht later. The fraudsters then ordered additional transfers to multiple accounts under the guise of account verification. When the parents grew suspicious due to the large transfers, they alerted Phothisai Station police.

Officials found the student in a state of fear while video-calling with the scammers, having been in continuous contact for approximately three days. The student reported being too frightened of prosecution to resist the fraudsters' demands and was even ordered to relocate from central Nakhon Ratchasima to Sai Noi subdistrict for easier monitoring. Police collected the phone, bank transfer slips, and related evidence for investigation and to pursue the fraud gang. Authorities warned the public not to fall for calls claiming involvement in money laundering or criminal cases, or demanding account verification transfers, and advised reporting such incidents to police immediately.