10-4-2024 (HONG KONG)Two men from Hong Kong have been arrested by police in Bangkok for possessing a sophisticated mobile tool used to send fake SMS (short message service) text messages aimed at deceiving victims into clicking malicious links.
Police authorities, led by Pol Maj Gen Sathit Prom-uthai, commander of Cyber Crime Investigation 3, revealed the arrests on Tuesday. The apprehension of the two suspects occurred inside Siam Paragon mall at 6pm on Monday, in cooperation with mobile-phone operator Advanced Info Service (AIS).
The arrested individuals were identified as Yip, aged 44, and Lee, aged 26.
According to police reports, one of the suspects was found carrying a heavy backpack containing a device known as a mobile false base station, along with four mobile phones.
A false base station, also referred to as a femtocell, is a device capable of mimicking legitimate cellphone towers. Criminal groups often exploit false base stations to send fake SMS messages to cellular phones within range of the fake tower. These messages aim to lure recipients into clicking malicious links, enabling the gang to remotely seize control of victims’ handsets and pilfer funds from their bank accounts.
Sathit stated that AIS alerted his division about a possible mobile false base station detected inside the shopping mall. Consequently, police officers were dispatched to investigate. The suspects were observed walking together, with one carrying a heavy bag on his back.
After monitoring the suspects and noticing their suspicious behavior, officers approached them and requested to inspect the bag, where the false base station device was discovered.
Sathit clarified that the device operated by connecting to Wi-Fi signals from the suspects’ mobile phones.
The arrested individuals denied the charges, claiming they had been asked by a friend to carry the bag without knowledge of its contents.
According to Sathit, the pair entered Thailand via the Sadao border checkpoint in the southern province of Songkhla on March 30 and were permitted to stay until April 28. They were staying at a hotel in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district and allegedly left their hotel at 9am on Monday to visit large shopping malls and deploy the fake SMS scam.
Sathit announced that police would investigate whether the suspects had higher-level associates or were affiliated with a criminal gang.
The two men were charged with importing a communication device without permission, collaborating to set up a telecommunication station without permission, and using a telecommunication frequency without permission.
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