Four Japanese among group held in Bangkok over alleged fraud

Bangkok – Thai police have detained more than 10 foreign nationals, including four Japanese, at a luxury residence in Bangkok on suspicion of involvement in fraud.

According to local media, authorities seized what appeared to be counterfeit Japanese police identification booklets when they detained the alleged scammers on Wednesday. Thai police said they found inside the residence a script for making fraudulent calls, as well as uniforms and mobile phones for impersonating police officers.

A crime ring led by a Chinese national is believed to have targeted Japanese victims.

The property had been rented for more than a year at 900,000 Thai baht, or about ¥4.2 million ($27,067), per month.

Among those detained were Chinese, Taiwanese and Myanmar nationals. Police conducted a search after Thai immigration authorities received a report from a nearby resident who became suspicious after seeing foreigners coming and going from the luxury residence.