Thai Woman Arrested For Blackmailing Monks With Sex Tapes
'Blackmail is the best way to make people relinquish earthly attachments.' Scott Danvers, Charter Reviewer
'If any monks are listening, I am a very discreet lover.' Nathaniel Katzung, Duct Duster
'And here I've been fucking Buddhist monks just for the karma.' Beth Plowden, Novelties Curator
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Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
China-Linked Scam Centers Targeting More US Victims: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Asian scam centers are cheating Americans out of billions of dollars a year while enjoying at least the implicit backing of elements in the Chinese government and the threat posed by the "pig-butchering" fraud gangs is growing, a U.S. congressional commission said. The U.S-China Economic and Security Review Commission said efforts to tackle the problem are fragmented and under-resourced and without a coordinated push to raise public awareness, equip law enforcement, and take aggressive action to expose and deter the scams, American losses would almost certainly escalate. Newsweek reached out to China's foreign ministry for comment. Alleged victims of forced labor at scam centres in Myanmar's Kayin State walk in line as they are met by the Thai Army after crossing the Thai-Myanmar border on February 12, 2025. Chinese-linked online fraud... Alleged victims of forced labor at scam centres in Myanmar's Kayin State walk in line as they are met by the Thai Army after crossing the Thai-Myanmar border on February 12, 2025. Chinese-linked online fraud gangs are increasingly looking for U.S. victims, a congressional commission said. More Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP viaWhy It Matters The announcement points to another source of friction between the United States and China, its main strategic rival Americans lost at least $5 billion to online scams in 2024, according to very conservative estimates, an increase of 42 percent over the previous year, the commission said in a report. It cited the case of an elderly Virginia man who committed suicide after being cheated out of his life savings. The proliferation of scam centers run by ethnic Chinese criminal gangs in some of the more lawless corners of Southeast Asia has also enabled China to expand its influence in the region, fueled corruption, violence and human trafficking while undermining the ability of governments to control what happens in their territory. What to Know The scamming is known as "pig butchering" and involves fraudsters making contact with unsuspecting people online, building a relationship with them and then defrauding them. This type of fraud can also be known as a "romance scam." An expert working group convened by the United States Institute of Peace estimated that the scams generated $63.9 billion in global revenue in 2023, with Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos at the epicenter of the operations. The scam centers, where thousands of victims of human trafficking are forced to work, proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic when in the absence of visiting gamblers gangs re-purposed empty casinos to focus on fraud. Ethnic Chinese gangsters initially hunted for victims in China but that triggered action by Chinese authorities, the U.S. commission said. "Bejing has selectively cracked down on scam centers that target Chinese victims, leading Chinese criminal organizations to conclude that they can make greater profits with lower risk by targeting citizens of wealthy countries such as the United States," it said. As the Chinese criminal networks expanded, they developed a mutually beneficial relationship with Chinese officials eager to promote their Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, a network of transport and energy infrastructure aimed at linking China to markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "Known syndicates invested large sums in infrastructure projects branded under the BRI, helping build the physical and digital backbone of their scamming operations in places like Cambodia and the Thai-Burmese border. In turn, Chinese officials and state-owned enterprises backed these projects to demonstrate progress advancing the BRI - despite their ties to transnational crime," it said. "While Beijing has taken action against criminal groups that defy its control, it has often turned a blind eye when syndicates align with the CCP's broader agenda," the commission said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. China has also exploited the problem of scam centers to expand its influence throughout Southeast Asia, the commission said. It cited reports indicating that scam centers in the Philippines were likely linked to Chinese espionage efforts. Beijing has also used the issue of the Chinese transnational criminal gangs as an excuse to pressure Southeast Asian countries to agree to a greater role for Chinese security forces in the region, it said. The International police organization Interpol said last month "human trafficking-fueled scam centres have expanded their global footprint" beyond Southeast Asia. What People Are Saying The U.S-China Economic and Security Review Commission said: "Beijing has placed intense pressure on governments in Southeast Asia to crack down on scam centers that target Chinese victims. Yet these selective crackdowns have done little to disrupt the increasing scale and scope of scam centers in the region. Instead, China's focus on protecting Chinese victims has accelerated the shift toward targeting Americans." Interpol said in a June 30 statement: "Online scam centres have increasingly been observed in other regions, including the Middle East, West Africa – which could be developing into a new regional hub – and Central America." What Happens Next There seems to be no sign that levels of online fraud can be cut in the absence of concerted action by governments around the world.
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
Tourist found dead in Thai ‘Sin City' apartment 2 hours after another man died in same complex
An Australian man has been found dead in an apartment in Pattaya, Thailand. Perth man Michael Shane Caola, 54, was discovered on Thursday in a room at the Grand Shivalay apartment complex in the Thai city nicknamed 'sin city'. Advertisement Police were called after Caola's relatives in Australia alerted staff that he had not answered his phone for two days. Officers found no sign of a struggle and an investigation is now underway. 6 Michael Shane Caola was found dead at the Grand Shivalay apartment complex in the Thai city nicknamed 'sin city'. ViralPress 6 Officers found no sign of a struggle and an investigation is now underway. Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress Advertisement Police Lieutenant Colonel Saijai Kamjulla of the Pattaya City Police Station said: 'The cause of the Australian man's death is still unknown and the results of the autopsy are pending. 6 Officers found no sign of a struggle. Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! Advertisement 'The case is currently under investigation, and further details cannot be disclosed at this time.' Apartment manager Thanchanok Prajit called authorities after finding Mr Caola's door locked. 'His family in Australia called the reception, saying they had been unable to contact him,' she said. 6 'His family in Australia called the reception,' the apartment manager said. ViralPress 6 Caola with his wife. ViralPress Advertisement 6 Two hours earlier, Swedish tourist Mika Huotari was found in the bathtub two floors below. Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress 'He was a regular customer often seen exercising, probably to take care of his health.' A Swedish tourist was found dead in the same apartment complex two hours earlier, however police do not suspect the deaths are related. Mika Huotari, 38, was found in the bathtub with a wound to his head two floors below Mr Caola's room. Local media reports a woman was seen on CCTV leaving Mr Huotari's room.
The Onion
5 days ago
- The Onion
Thai Woman Arrested For Blackmailing Monks With Sex Tapes
Thai police recently arrested a woman who allegedly had sexual intercourse with Buddhist monks, then used photo video blackmail of the acts to extort an estimated 385 million baht from them. What do you think? 'Blackmail is the best way to make people relinquish earthly attachments.' Scott Danvers, Charter Reviewer 'If any monks are listening, I am a very discreet lover.' Nathaniel Katzung, Duct Duster 'And here I've been fucking Buddhist monks just for the karma.' Beth Plowden, Novelties Curator
