Thai police have arrested a Chinese national suspected of stealing customers’ credit card information and using the data to make unauthorised purchases, causing losses estimated at around RM3.55 million.
The suspect was detained during raids conducted by officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) at three business premises in Chiang Mai and Yaowarat Road, Bangkok, following complaints from several Chinese nationals who believed their credit card details had been compromised.
Police said the victims discovered their credit cards had been used for transactions in the United States despite never having travelled there.
Authorities, however, have yet to reveal the exact number of victims involved in the case.
Investigations led police to a business in Chiang Mai that offered discounts of up to 32 per cent for customers who paid using credit cards.
The unusual promotion raised suspicions as many small businesses typically limit credit card payments due to processing fees charged by banks.
Police believe the discount campaign was allegedly used as a tactic to encourage customers to make card payments, allowing their information to be secretly copied.
A Thai employee at the premises told investigators that he was unaware of any illegal activities taking place.
He claimed the business owner, identified as Chao, instructed him to scan customers’ credit cards twice — the first using a device connected to the cashier system keyboard and the second through a standard Electronic Data Capture (EDC) terminal.
The employee admitted noticing that customer card information was being recorded but believed the process was only for checking previous transaction records and not for collecting personal data.
Further investigations found that the additional device used at the premises was allegedly designed to extract customers’ credit card information, leading to the arrest of Chao.
Police said the suspect admitted sharing the stolen card details with an associate in the United States.
The associate was believed to have used the information to purchase expensive goods or withdraw cash using victims’ credit cards before sharing the proceeds with the suspect.
Authorities have yet to announce the charges against the suspect, while it remains unclear whether investigations will involve cooperation with US law enforcement agencies to locate the alleged accomplice.
