Tourists in Thailand kidnapped by fake cops, ransom of 75,000 USD paid
Five Chinese tourists were kidnapped from a hotel in the capital of Thailand. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 2.5 million Thai baht, which amounts to over 75,000 USD.
11:02 AM EDT, May 13, 2024
This incident might seem like it's straight out of a crime movie, but it occurred. At the end of April 2024, an organized criminal group abducted five tourists from China.
Scammers impersonated police officers
According to The Nation, on April 25, a group of individuals impersonating police officers infiltrated the hotel room where the tourists were staying. The unsuspecting guests were falsely accused of violating local laws.
The fraudsters convinced the tourists they needed to accompany them to the police station for an investigation. Surveillance footage from the hotel showed the men escorting the tourists out and driving away in four cars.
Detectives working on the case uncovered that the scammers coerced the tourists into transferring a sum of 2.5 million Thai baht, which is over 75,000 USD.
Tourists released after ransom payment
Out of fear of detention and possible torture, the tourists complied and transferred the demanded amount. Remarkably, the kidnappers then released them in a relatively civil manner. The victims reported the ordeal to the police, leading to the identification and arrest of the scammers. In total, ten individuals were apprehended.
Among those arrested were a police sergeant who previously worked in the police communication center during crises and the chief investigator in Bangkok, who was discharged from service in 2023. One member of the criminal group is still at large.
