Donations siphoned off: Criminals steal flood donations rob flooded houses & cars.

[Khun Don]

Donations siphoned off
The deluge is no deterrent to the callousness and creativity of criminals

Published: 7/11/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Police are hunting a criminal gang which rigged the telephones of a flood donation centre and redirected money meant for flood victims to a private bank account.

The theft _ involving an unknown amount of money _ was uncovered after a private firm, Workpoint Entertainment Co, filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division.

Workpoint had discovered money promised to the centre had not been recorded in its bank accounts and suspected its phone lines had been tapped.

Workpoint is the producer of TV show Ratcharot Ma Koey ("good fortune befalls you") which is aired on Monday to Friday on Channel 9.

The company has been encouraging viewers to call the donation centre to offer aid to flood victims.

Just before the company filed the complaint with the CSD, its executives had met Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group which pledged a large sum of money through the TV show.

However, the donation did not appear in the show's bank accounts.

The CSD swung into action and found the telephone system used by Workpoint Entertainment to receive donors' calls had been tapped.

Incoming calls were being automatically redirected to an unidentified person who then told the donors to transfer money to his own bank account.

Other donated items such as boats were also believed to have been stolen by the gang.

A CSD detective said it was thought the gang had at least three members and evidence was now being gathered to seek arrest warrants.

A police source said CSD commander Pol Maj Gen Supisarn Phakdeenaruenart had assigned Pol Col Piya Charoensuk, chief of the CSD's Sub-division 1 to lead the investigation.

The source said there were suspicions the gang may have tapped into other flood donation centres to siphon off money without their knowledge.

Meanwhile, thefts at heavily-flooded communities in Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani have become rampant.

Provincial Police Region 1 commander Khamronwit Thupkrachang said many break-ins had been reported in Bang Bua Thong district in Nonthaburi and Muang district in Pathum Thani.

In an effort to catch the thieves in these areas, police have set up a security checkpoint in Bang Bua Thong district and one in Future Park department store in Pathum Thani.

Police from several stations have been formed into a patrol to protect the flooded areas at night, when the thieves usually sneak into abandoned houses to loot them of their wares.

It appears nothing has deterred the thieves. Some simply swim into flooded houses and grab whatever they can and flee. Others are more methodical, scouting in boats during the day for abandoned houses, noting them and returning at night to steal everything they can carry.

"These thieves usually pose as fishermen, so police on patrol have been instructed to take pictures and the names of everyone they find roaming the swamped areas at night," Pol Maj Gen Khamronwit said.

Householders who want to visit their homes should do so during the day, to avoid being taken for thieves, he said.

City police teams have also begun regularly patrolling bridges and expressways where many cars have been parked.

This follows a rise in complaints that valuables have been stolen from the vehicles. Recently, a gang of eight was arrested and charged with stealing valuables from cars parked in those areas.

BANGKOK POST

[fileeep]

I am very sad to read this, this is terrible news.

[Khun Don]

Accused flood donation hackers caught
Published: 2/12/2011 at 10:50 AM
Online news: Local News

Police on Friday arrested two hackers believed to have stolen more than five million baht from bank accounts for donations to help flood victims.

Rungroj Maddeen, 31, and Marisa Ranjuanjit, 25, were arrested in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

Police said they were caught stealing money donated through television and radio programmes, the police said.

Workpoint Entertainment, a Thailand-based media entertainment company, previously reported to the police that hackers broke into its system to steal the donated money.

The police believed financial information from more than 10 media programmes had been hacked by the suspects.

BANGKOK POST

[befal]

There always be People who are taking advantage of these situations.
I also read in the papers of some jewellers where they took al the jewelry and luxury watches.
It's really a pitty that people are like that.

Accused flood donation hackers caught
Published: 2/12/2011 at 10:50 AM
Online news: Local News

Police on Friday arrested two hackers believed to have stolen more than five million baht from bank accounts for donations to help flood victims.

Rungroj Maddeen, 31, and Marisa Ranjuanjit, 25, were arrested in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

Police said they were caught stealing money donated through television and radio programmes, the police said.

Workpoint Entertainment, a Thailand-based media entertainment company, previously reported to the police that hackers broke into its system to steal the donated money.

The police believed financial information from more than 10 media programmes had been hacked by the suspects.

BANGKOK POST

[paul_au]

Stick them in the slammer and throw away the key.

[Betti]

wow Paul that's exactly what I was going to say. throw away the key. preferably in a flood prone region. heartbreaking, especially knowing how many poor people are donating from their hard earned money!