Police in Nonthaburi province have arrested a 24-year-old Nigerian man suspected of involvement in a romance scam network after finding him acting suspiciously at an ATM near Phra Nang Klao Hospital.
Officers said they seized 42 mobile phones, seven ATM cards and 11,000 baht in cash from the suspect, identified as Chinedu Theophilus Ezege. Additional phones were discovered during a search of his condominium room in Nonthaburi. The suspect denied wrongdoing, claiming the phones and ATM cards belonged to his Thai girlfriend, who allegedly runs a mobile phone business and asked him to withdraw cash on her behalf.
However, police said the woman is linked to at least 23 online fraud complaints across Thailand involving romance scams. Authorities have charged the suspect with illegal possession and use of electronic cards belonging to others in a manner likely to cause public damage. Police have intensified scrutiny of foreign nationals linked to transnational cybercrime and online scam operations.
