Police yesterday arrested seven Europeans who allegedly used an Internet cafe in Pattaya to make calls to victims in Norway and Sweden, duping them into wiring as much as Bt10 million.
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www.rockyresort.comAt 1.30am yesterday, police with a search warrant raided the Viking Internet shop in Pattaya City, arresting seven suspects and seizing 18 computers, 17 monitors and one printer along with documents including lists of telephone numbers.
The suspects were Norwegians Espen Forberg, 41, Sebastian Gjertsen, 21, Martin Gisvold Garathun, 21, and Ida Marie Juhl Falchenberg, 20; and Swedes Ulf Carl Johan Hellbacken, 36, Anders Erik Engzell, 30, and Tommy Viktor Soderlund, 26. They have been charged with working without permits, which they deny.
Inspector Pol Lt-Colonel Aroon Prompan said the call-centre gang had 15 foreign members and had hired a Thai to register a company called Global Telemarketing.
They opened the Internet shop and rented office space at the Viking Hotel, allegedly making Internet calls duping people with promises of jobs or goods into sending them money.
Aroon said the gang closed the bank accounts after the victims wired money, adding that hundreds had fallen victim.
