Dramatic moment six Brits arrested at gunpoint at luxury villa over scam
A total of 13 people, including six British citizens, were arrested while at a luxury Thailand mansion, after they were alleged to be associated with a scam known as 'boiler room'
Six Brits have been sensationally arrested at gunpoint while at a luxury Thailand villa. Images obtained from the arrest show the moment Thai police dramatically raided the mansion.
On Monday morning, police stormed into a rental mansion in Samut Prakan province, on the outskirts of Bangkok and arrested 13 people alleged to be associated with a scam known as 'boiler room'. These types of scams involve fraudsters cold-calling victims and using high-pressure sales tactics to trick them into investing money.
In footage obtained by Mail Online, Thai police officers can be seen charging into a room in the mansion, where the suspected fraudsters are thought to be carrying out the 'boiler room' scam. They are said to have a network of around 58 computers for the scam and were targeting Australians.
During the raid, officers found scripts that were said to have been used by the alleged criminals to groom their victims into investing in 'bonds'. These 'bonds' were claimed to have an annual return of between seven and 10 per cent, and victims were told they had a maturity rate between one and three years.
In the video, five clocks can also be seen hanging on the wall, depicting different time zones across Australia, as part of their alleged elaborate scam. There were also dividers for each desk and a whiteboard in the room.
They had various electronic devices and paperwork scattered on their desks. Set up as what portrayed a 'call centre', their working hours are thought to have been from 9am to 6pm Sydney time.
Six of those arrested were from the UK, while five were from Australia, a 44-year-old from South Africa and a 58-year-old from Canada. Police suspect a whopping 14,000 Australians have been allegedly targeted by the group.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) worked with Thai officers after they were alerted to the scam, and the raid was initiated. It is claimed to have been headed by a Brit and an Australian.
Kristie Lee Cressy, Senior Officer at the Australian Federal Police (AFP), said: "Following a joint investigation with Thai authorities, a search warrant was obtained and a raid was carried out at the premises.
"This syndicate was specifically targeting Australian victims, scamming them through elaborate schemes. The total losses caused by their operations amounted to nearly two million Australian dollars, money stolen from hardworking Australians.
"This operation marks a significant success in the ongoing cooperation between the Thai and Australian police."
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