British nationals in Thailand, who want to renew their passports amid delays by striking government workers in the United Kingdom are falling victims of fraudsters. Advertisements shown on Pattaya Mail, a daily newspaper published from Thai tourism city Pattaya, scam websites promising to bypass the three months-plus waiting period by cash transfer using international money transfer systems such as Western Union.
According to Pattaya Mail, the scams are a variation of the ones already identified by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) whereby many Brits based in UK have been fooled into believing that bargain-basement air tickets and unbelievably cheap foreign holidays were also on offer. The Thai version appears to target expat Brits who specifically want to renew their passports quickly rather than book a vacation or get an air ticket.
The British foreign office website confirms that a British national in Thailand wishing a passport must deal only with the authorized application centers in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. The full cost of an adult renewal at present is GBP127.51 (34 pages) and GBP138.51 (50 pages) inclusive of courier fees. 10-year passports are issued in UK, but local staff in Thailand will check the required paperwork before transfer and return original documentation to the applicant.
There is no fast-track service available overseas, although desperate Brits have been known to travel to UK specifically to take advantage of speedier alternatives. It is not illegal to use a representative or agency to submit a passport application in Thailand, but obviously applicants must be selective in whom they trust. CTSI commented, “This scam has arisen as people try to bypass the inevitable delays, but paying money online for special favors is a recipe for disaster”.
Thai authorities need to take action against scammers
According to media reports, hundreds of fraudsters and scam rackets, mostly comprising of foreign nationals are active in Thailand.
While Thailand’s laws are very strict about financial activities and about any sort of crimes, a self-proclaimed immigrant has been running fraudulent activities in the country for years, thus deceiving large number of individuals, especially foreigners.
According to information, an individual named MD Rabiul Alam alias Rabiul Islam has been luring prospective investors with the false pretention of being a real-estate tycoon. He runs several virtual companies including one named ‘Retirement Home Public Company Limited’, which claims to have its head office at Suan Phueng, and branch offices at Huahin and Sukhumvit 13, Bangkok, Thailand. Its phone numbers are +66-99-1362777, +66-652-179222 while it has a website named Alisha Real Estate Thailand. Although the website claims to be offering “investment” opportunity in six high-sounding projects, in reality, these are totally fake. Although the website states the “investment” opportunity is open until February 2, 2021, the information still remains on it.
The website of Retirement Home Public Company Limited claims to having account with Siam Commercial Bank PLC (account number 9193004462).
The so-called Alisha Real Estate claims to have been registered in 2009 under registration number -115552005944 with its office at 199 Moo 9, Sukhumvit Road 107, Soi Bearing, T. Samrong-Nua, A. Muang Samutprakan, Samutprakan 10270, Bangkok, Thailand.
On another page of the website, the fraud racket claims to have its office at 399 Moo 1, Suan Phueng District, Ratchaburi 70180, Thailand.
In reality, these are no companies at all. Instead there are just one-man-show of MD Rabiul Alam, who has been cheating various individuals with high-sounding projects for years.
On investigation it was found that Rabiul Alam was expelled from a European country several years ago for dubious activities. Later he managed Thai immigration by marrying a local female. Since then, he has been running fraudulent activities by forming nexus with some immigrants in Thailand.
Thai authorities should immediately investigate the case of MD Rabiul Alam, while everyone should remain alert about fraudulent activities of this dangerous scammer.
