Five men were arrested on November 17 in Yangon Region for repeatedly deceiving victims through phone calls, impersonating others, and fraudulently obtaining large sums of money.
The suspects were apprehended along with various items of evidence. Authorities were alerted to an increasing number of complaints about phone fraud circulating on social media.
Based on gathered intelligence, security personnel conducted investigations that led to the suspects' arrest at the Zero Mile Tollgate while they were traveling from Magway Region to Yangon in a passenger vehicle operated by Nan Htike Taw Win Bus Line.
The arrest individuals include: Thet Khaing@ Thet Paing @ Zaw Thet Paing from Kyauk San village in Minbu Township of Magway Region, Soe Yarzar Hein@ Aung Htike@ Lin Myat San@ Ko Lin from Kantawkalay (South) Ward, Mingalar Taungnyunt Township, Yangon Region, Bo Bo Tun, Aung Zarni Phyo and Soe Thiha@ Phyo Thiha Zaw from various areas in Yangon Region including Hlaing Thayar(West) Township were arrested with six mobile phones, five national ID cards, one KBZ bank MPU card, one AYA bank MPU card and one YOMA bank MPU card, cash amounting to 280,000 kyats, gold ring and a gold bracelet.
Investigations revealed that the leader, Thet Khaing, had rented a place in Hlaing Thayar (East) Township and later moved to Jasmine Palace Hotel in collaboration with others.
The group used fake IDs and fraudulent accounts on KBZ Pay and Wave Pay to receive stolen funds. They contacted victims, impersonating friends or acquaintances in need of urgent medical treatment or other emergencies, convincing them to transfer money.
The group carried out numerous fraudulent transactions since August 2024, including 7 million kyats by claiming to need emergency surgery, 50 million kyats under the pretense of various identities, including "U Tin Aung" and "U Moe Shwe”, 30 million and 20 million kyats in two instances in October, 77 million kyats in November by impersonating "U Thaung Htay" and an additional 25 million kyats pretending to be "General Zin Yaw”.
In total, they amassed over 316 million kyats through deceit.
Thet Khaing orchestrated the operations by impersonating friends, while the other four suspects assisted in finding phone numbers, contacting victims, and managing the proceeds. The stolen money was shared among the group.
The suspects are currently held at Sanchaung Township Police Station and are being prosecuted under Sections 420 (Cheating), 468 (Forgery for cheating), 471 (Using forged documents), 419 (Impersonation), and 114 (Abetment) of the Penal Code. Authorities are continuing to take appropriate legal actions.
