When you hear “land tax scam,” what springs to mind? Probably fake letters, forged documents, someone claiming you owe money. But in Bangkok and Samut Prakan, law enforcement exposed a much more technical twist: SIM-box devices that masked international scam calls as local ones. Read on this one’s wild.
What Happened in the Raids
On October 7, police hit two properties one in Bangkok’s Ram Inthra district and another in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan. At the first site (a two-storey townhouse), officers seized:
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A 16-slot SIM box
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Routers, LAN cables, CCTV gear
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UPS backup power
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Records showing more than 9,000 outgoing calls from that site
The second site (a condominium) yielded a nearly identical setup. That condo was rented by a Taiwanese national; the townhouse was leased under a young Thai woman’s name. Turns out, she was later arrested.
They tracked her down at her dorm in Nakhon Sawan province. She claimed she was paid about 3,500 baht to rent out the place, unaware of its real purpose.
How the Scam Worked (SIM Boxes & All)
So how did these devices fit into a “land tax” scam? Here’s the trick:
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Victim contacted: The gang convinced a target they owed land tax.
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Installation ruse: They had the victim install a fake app to “pay” this tax.
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Masked calls: Using SIM boxes (GSM gateway devices), calls originating overseas were routed through local SIM cards so they appeared domestic.
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Multiple properties housed these boxes so the overseas operators could dial in and talk to victims as though they were local callers.
Key Players & Equipment Seized
Here’s a breakdown:
| Item/Detail | Findings |
|---|---|
| SIM-box slots | 16 slots at each location |
| Network gear | Routers, LAN cables |
| Backup systems | UPS units |
| Surveillance | CCTV cameras present |
| Call activity | >9,000 calls from first site |
| Suspects | Thai woman (Arisara), Taiwanese nationals |
The Thai woman claimed ignorance, asserting she just rented under contract. But police are digging deeper to find the masterminds.
Why This Scam Is Especially Dangerous
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill fraud. The use of SIM boxes:
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Masks origin: Investigators see a “local” call, not an international line.
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Scales easily: Boxes with multiple slots can run dozens of simultaneous calls.
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Reduces traceability: The physical nature of the boxes (in rented properties) adds layers between the overseas operators and local victims.
Plus, by tying it into a “land tax” narrative, they prey on people’s fear of legal consequences. That mix of psychological pressure + tech is potent.
Conclusion
What seemed like a simple land tax scam turned into a sophisticated, tech-enabled fraud ring. The masterminds used SIM boxes to mask their location and rented properties to hide their tracks, making it a tougher case for Thai authorities. But the raid and arrests show law enforcement is catching on. The big question: will arrests lead to the ringleaders in Taiwan? Time will tell.