Korean Man Arrested for Driving Mobile SMS Scam in Bangkok

BANGKOK — Cyber police arrested a South Korean national using a False Base Station (FBS) device to drive around Bangkok sending fraudulent SMS messages to residents, with the suspect confessing he was hired by Chinese nationals.

With the Thai-Cambodia border under tight security making cross-border scam operations difficult, cyber police have arrested three suspects conducting mobile SMS fraud operations over the past three weeks, with the latest being a South Korean man who claimed he was hired by a Chinese employer.

Sophisticated Mobile Scam Operation

Police Colonel Trairong Phiwphan, Commander of the Technology Crime Investigation Division, announced details of the South Korean scammer’s arrest on August 20th, crediting cooperation between cyber police and engineering teams from mobile network provider AIS in tracking down vehicles conducting mobile SMS fraud using False Base Station (FBS) devices.

Authorities detected a suspicious vehicle passing through Ekamai intersection onto New Petchburi Road, heading toward Asok-Din Daeng Road, Pracha Songkhro intersection, and Victory Monument. They detected abnormal frequency signals moving with the vehicle before intercepting it on Asok-Din Daeng Road.

The driver, identified as Mr. Kim, 35, a South Korean national, had active FBS equipment in his vehicle – modified radio telecommunications equipment that transmits signals on various frequencies to mobile phones within range, connected to a mobile power supply, signal distribution box, and three mobile phones.

Chinese Connection Revealed

When police examined Kim’s mobile phone, they found conversation messages between the suspect and his Chinese employer via Telegram application. Kim confessed to being hired to drive around Bangkok sending SMS messages in crowded areas along designated routes, reporting to his employer every 30 minutes.

Kim admitted to conducting operations three times from August 17-19, receiving 100,000 won (72 USD) per day, though his first week of work paid 550 USD total.

Police charged Kim with related offenses and are investigating whether his Chinese employer is connected to previous arrests, while expanding the investigation to other accomplices.

Multiple Criminal Charges

Police Colonel Trairong said such activities constitute organized crime charges and potentially several other offenses. If victims are identified, charges would include conspiracy to commit fraud. If connections to overseas criminals are proven, charges would include participation in transnational criminal organizations. Since FBS devices aren’t sold in Thailand, importing or possessing them also violates customs law.

How the Scam Works

FBS devices can change sender names to mimic legitimate messages by cutting victims’ actual mobile network signals before sending fake messages. Users can detect this when phone signals rapidly degrade from 5G to 3G or lower within short periods. Citizens should be suspicious of messages from mobile providers they don’t use (such as receiving DTAC messages while using AIS) or messages containing suspicious links.

“Scammers are returning to hiring people to drive around sending money-draining links like before, so I want to warn citizens to be careful. Remember that banks or shopping centers will never send links requesting personal information,” Police Colonel Trairong said.

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