Thai authorities have arrested Ezeneche Uzochukwu Jerome, a 45-year-old Nigerian man, and 13 Thai individuals for their involvement in a romance scam network that defrauded victims of more than 800 million baht.
The Royal Thai Police, led by Crime Suppression Division’s Pol Maj Gen Montree Theskhan, executed coordinated operations across seven provinces. The raids, carried out at 14 locations, resulted in the arrests.
Victims revealed that the scammers initiated contact through fabricated profiles of foreign women on social media platforms. Posing as American female soldiers stationed in Syria, the scammers gained victims’ trust and expressed interest in visiting them in Thailand.
Before their supposed trips, the scammers informed victims about sending gifts or parcels to Bangkok through airports. They manipulated victims into paying upfront taxes and fees on their behalf, promising reimbursement upon meeting.
Thai scammers, posing as airport authorities, then contacted victims and demanded money for parcel-related processes. Once the desired amount was received, the scammers vanished and severed all contact.
A thorough investigation led to the identification of the ringleader, Jerome. Despite previous charges related to a love scam in 2018, he had returned to engaging in this illicit activity.