Six Nigerian nationals have been arrested by the Thailand Police Force for allegedly operating an AI-powered deepfake romance scam syndicate. The operation was conducted from a luxury condominium along the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi Province. The discovery of the scam followed a cocaine trafficking investigation that exposed their activities.
Background of the Investigation
Thai authorities stated that the operation began after police arrested a Nigerian suspect identified as Patrick and three associates in April over alleged drug trafficking offenses. During that raid, officers reportedly seized assets valued at about 2.5 million baht. Investigators said financial transactions linked to the suspects led them to several foreign nationals living in a high-end riverside condominium near Phra Nangklao Bridge in Nonthaburi.
Discovery of the Scam Syndicate
Police discovered that many of the occupants were staying in groups of five or six per apartment under student visas, despite not being enrolled in any educational institution or engaged in lawful employment. According to Thai police, officers executed search warrants on three condominium units on May 22. The suspects allegedly refused to open their doors, forcing authorities to break into the apartments.
Videos circulating on X captured the moment police officers forcefully gained entry into one of the apartments before arresting the suspects. During the operation, one suspect reportedly attempted to escape by climbing over a balcony, while another was found hiding on the bathroom floor while allegedly sending warning messages to occupants in neighboring units.
Evidence Recovered
Police recovered 18 mobile phones, three laptop computers, and three bank passbooks from the apartments. Authorities said some of the phones were still logged into active conversations with victims at the time of the raid. Investigators alleged that the syndicate specialized in romance scams targeting older Thai women by using AI-generated faces and manipulated video calls to create fake online identities.
Modus Operandi
The suspects allegedly posed as pilots, United States military officers, doctors, and engineers to gain the trust of victims before requesting money under false pretenses. Police said the fraudsters typically claimed that valuable packages or gifts sent to victims had been withheld by customs officials and required payment of clearance fees before release. Authorities also said they recovered scripts for sexually explicit conversations allegedly used to emotionally manipulate victims into transferring funds.
Role of Artificial Intelligence
Investigators claimed the group relied heavily on artificial intelligence technology to generate realistic Western faces for fake video interactions. This allowed them to convincingly impersonate individuals and build trust with their targets.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Thai police said all six suspects are currently facing preliminary charges bordering on illegal association and immigration overstay. Additional fraud and romance scam charges are expected to follow as investigations continue.
