NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Nov 18 — Two Russian nationals and a Thai tourist police officer were arrested in Nakhon Ratchasima for involvement in credit card skimming fraud.
Provincial Police Region 3 Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Theerasak Klinpongsa, Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Pongdej Phrommijit and Immigration Bureau (4) Commander Pol Maj Gen Chatchai Iamsaeng told press conference of the arrest of the three suspects whom they said were members of a major international gang.
The suspects were identified as Vassili also known as Alexi Ivanov, 27; Sergey Peternov, 38 a former Russian police officer and Pol Sen Sgt Maj Nontapan Saengsuk, 37 who is a Thai Tourist Police officer.
Police seized Bt2.8 million cash and 328 counterfeit credit cards.
According to the initial investigation, the gang used ‘skimmer’ to hack information from the victims’ credit cards and made counterfeit credit cards to withdraw cash from ATMs.
Most of the victims were foreigners. Only four Thais lost funds to the group.
Gen Theerasak said that Sen Sgt Maj Nontapan was the driver taking the Russians to withdraw money from ATMs, for which he received 10 per cent of the cash.
The three men were arrested while withdrawing cash from a Krung Thai Bank ATM at the provincial office last night.
Gen Chatchai said police searched the rented rooms of the two Russian men in Bangkok.
Mr Ivanov entered Thailand in 2011 on a tourist visa and extended his stay once at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaeo, but has been living illegally in the country since then, while the second Russian, Mr Peternov entered the country this month.
