Police rescue students held hostage in hotel room by call centre scammers

Police raided a hotel room in Pathum Thani yesterday to rescue two university students who had been manipulated by a call centre gang into isolating themselves, while their parents were duped out of nearly 900,000 baht for a fake overseas scholarship.

Upon entering the room, officers from Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station faced disbelief from the victims, who had been instructed by the fraudsters to avoid all contact with outsiders and to distrust any officials. It was only after police verified their identities that the students finally put down their phones and tearfully embraced the officers in relief.

An inspection of the room revealed that the victims had been ordered to keep a video call active at all times, so the gang could monitor their movements and prevent them from contacting anyone.

One of the students had also been ordered to tie their ankles with a towel and take photos to send to their parents, creating the false impression of a kidnapping to extort money.

The ordeal began when the call centre gang contacted the students, initially posing as mobile network staff, to accuse them of being involved in illegal activities. The scammers then shifted their tactics, claiming that the students had been awarded a university scholarship to study abroad.

To build credibility, they sent forged documents bearing official Garuda emblems and forged signatures of university executives.

Believing the ruse, the students complied when told they needed to show a healthy account balance to apply for visas. The scammers ordered them to ask their parents for money, keep the transfer a secret and check into the specified hotel.

One of the parents, who rushed from Phetchabun province to Pathum Thani, said their child had called to announce the US scholarship and sent documents for verification. The parent transferred 350,000 baht but grew suspicious upon noticing that the bank statements sent by the child looked digitally altered. The parent contacted authorities, who located the student shortly after.

According to the investigation, the two students lost a combined total of nearly 900,000 baht. One victim had parents transfer about 450,000 baht, while the other pawned gold necklaces and rings, transferring another 450,000 baht to the criminals.

Pol. Capt. Siraphop Bualuang, deputy superintendent for investigation at Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station, said they launched the rescue after a senior student reported being unable to contact the victims. Officers coordinated with the university and traced the students' travel history, locating and rescuing them within 24 hours.

Jomdet Trimek, vice president of Rangsit University, noted that the institution had recently received several similar reports from parents and advisors.

He warned that criminals are increasingly forging university documents and executives' signatures to deceive families, urging parents to verify any scholarship claims or money requests directly with the university.

Later that same day, Rangsit University notified police of two more first-year female students who had vanished under similar circumstances.

Officers from Pratunam Chulalongkorn station tracked them down safely, one in a hotel room and another in a daily rental apartment.

The two freshmen had been intimidated by scammers pretending to be police officers from Khon Kaen.

The fraudsters claimed that the students were implicated in serious crimes, forced them into isolation, banned them from contacting outsiders and coerced them into transferring nearly 600,000 baht into nominee accounts.

Police are currently following the money to gather evidence and prosecute those involved.