The special task force of Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand, named "Aran District Action Team," successfully intercepted 18 individuals suspected of illegal cross-border involvement in online gambling during a border patrol. Among them, 17 were Thai citizens, and one was an Indonesian citizen. These Thais thought they could secure high-paying managerial positions on the online gambling platforms in Poipet, Cambodia, but instead fell into a scam — either due to not meeting performance standards or because the platform suddenly shut down and the employers "abandoned" them. They were forced to pay thousands to ten thousand Thai Baht as "return fees" and could only sneak back to Thailand through natural passages. The task force divided into three groups to carry out the arrests, eventually capturing all individuals. These people have now been handed over to the Aran District police for further investigation, where the police will check if they have any pending cases or warrants and will process them according to the law. Information on cross-border gambling risks and compliance guidelines can be found on the PASA official website, and the police also urge the public not to be deceived by the high salary temptations of cross-border online gambling.
Case Details: The Terrifying Cross-Border Journey of Three Groups
The task force completed the arrests in three groups, each group experiencing different ordeals, but all becoming victims of cross-border online gambling:
The first group of 5 people (2 men and 3 women) had been working as administrators on the online gambling platform in Poipet since November last year. Due to not meeting the employer's requirements, each was forced to pay 10,000 Thai Baht to be allowed to return to Thailand;
The second group of 7 people (5 men and 2 women) went to work in Poipet last September. Unexpectedly, the platform suddenly closed, and the employer went missing. Each of them paid 8,000 Thai Baht to return to their country through natural passages;
The third group consisted of 5 Thai individuals (1 man and 4 women) and 1 Indonesian man. They entered Poipet through natural passages or flights due to document issues or the end of their trips. They were asked for about 9,000 Thai Baht as "service fees," otherwise, they were not allowed to leave.
The Core Trap: The Double Harvest Behind High Salary Temptations
The experiences of these victims reveal the typical schemes of cross-border online gambling employers, which can be described as a "double harvest":
The first step is to lure with promises: Offering "high-paying administrator" roles and "easy commission earnings" to attract young Thais to work across borders, without mentioning the risks of the job or employment contracts;
The second step is forced harvesting: Once the employees lose their value (not meeting performance standards or platform closure), they are immediately abandoned. Not only is their salary not paid, but they are also forced to pay "return guarantees" and "passage fees." If they don't pay, they are not allowed to leave;
The third step is risk avoidance: Allowing victims to return through irregular natural passages, evading supervision by relevant departments, and leaving victims with no means to seek justice. Even if caught, it is difficult to hold the employers accountable.
This scheme has caused many young people to "lose their wives and soldiers," not only failing to earn money but also violating the law and suffering financial losses.
Police Warning: The Risks of Cross-Border Online Gambling Far Exceed Expectations
In response to this case, the task force and police have issued multiple warnings, reminding the public to stay away from illegal cross-border online gambling:
Legal risks are high: Engaging in illegal cross-border online gambling is itself a violation of the law. Once caught, one will face legal sanctions and leave a criminal record;
No guarantee for personal and property safety: Most cross-border online gambling platforms lack legal qualifications, and employers may abscond with funds or "harvest" employees at any time. In case of disputes, there is nowhere to seek justice;
Beware of high salary traps: Jobs related to online gambling that promise "cross-border high salaries, no experience needed, easy money-making" are likely scams. Do not be deceived.
Instead of risking unreliable "high salaries," it is better to seek employment or travel through regular channels to avoid pitfalls.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leader" gambling news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
