Thai police arrests Nigerians linked to AI romance scam syndicate (VIDEO)
Six Nigerians Arrested in Thailand for Alleged Deepfake Romance Scam
BANGKOK, Thailand — Six Nigerian nationals were apprehended by Thai police for allegedly operating an AI-powered romance scam from a luxury condominium along the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi Province. Their arrest was part of an investigation originally focused on cocaine trafficking.
The suspects were taken into custody on May 22 after authorities uncovered their operation following the arrest of a Nigerian man identified as Patrick and three others in April. These individuals were implicated in cocaine trafficking, during which police confiscated approximately 2.5 million baht in assets.
According to a Cambodia-based crime researcher, who shared details via social media, the investigation revealed that the suspects had been living in upscale riverside condominiums while on student visas. However, none were enrolled in educational programs or employed.
Officers executed search warrants across three units, forcibly entering after the suspects refused to comply. During the operation, one suspect attempted to escape by climbing a balcony, while another was found hiding on a bathroom floor, allegedly texting other members of the group to alert them.
Police siezed 18 mobile phones, three laptops, and multiple bank passbooks, with the phones still active in ongoing scam conversations. The group reportedly posed as pilots, U.S. military officers, doctors, and engineers, establishing relationships with older Thai women. They would then claim that valuable packages were held up in customs, requiring victims to pay transfer fees.
Further investigation revealed AI-generated facial images used for fake video calls, along with scripts intended to manipulate victims into transferring money. Authorities indicated that a single persuasive message could lead a target to deplete their savings.
All six suspects currently face initial charges of illegal association and immigration violations, with additional charges related to fraud and the romance scam forthcoming.
A video posted by a Thai news outlet captured the police forcefully entering one of the apartments during the operation.
