Big Joke: Busts another visa agent using fake stamps - practice on the rise

[webfact]

Big Joke: Busts another visa agent using fake stamps - practice on the rise

 

 

Komchadluek reported that the prevalence of unscrupulous visa agents issuing bogus stamps is on the rise. 

 

The agents are the target of immigration chief Lt-Gen Surachate "Big Joke" Hakparn.

 

Following last week's arrests of a pair who had been working out of Laksi for ten years came news of the arrest of a 22 year old man at a condo in Soi Lasalle (Sukhumvit Road Soi 105), Bang Na, Bangkok. 

 

Chatcharin Saraphan was found in possession of a great deal of damning evidence. He was arrested on a Chonburi warrant after providing fake stamps and fake documentation for migrant workers of three nationalities in the Sri Racha area. 

 

 

Lt-Gen Surachate said action was taken after an intermediary supposedly acting in good faith with the suspect was found in possession of fake visas and work permits in several cases. 

 

Chatcharin was hunted for three days and was eventually apprehended in the Lasalle area where he was using his condo as a visa and work permit office. 

 

Fake stamps of many kinds and fake documentation was found there and at a friend's house in Sri Racha stored in a box. 

 

Eleven Non-Immigrant LA documentation items were being processed. 

 

The Thai media called it an increasing problem and Surachate warned the public and prospective migrants not to believe stories of agents who can offer services outside of normal hours.

 

Don't believe their promises, he said, lest you become a victim of this crime too. He called for help from the public in the continuing efforts to crack down on this crime. 

 

Source: Komchadluek

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-02-21

[RotBenz8888]

"practice on the rise"

 

To bust them?

[MARK74]

Surachate warned the public and prospective migrants not to believe stories of agents who can offer services outside of normal hours.

Don't believe their promises, he said, lest you become a victim of this crime too. He called for help from the public in the continuing efforts to crack down on this crime.

 

so the migrant workers agents are being cracked down on, which agents are next? ????

[Chang_paarp]

The practice is not on the rise, they are just working out that it is happening.

 

In the past the person with the stamps were often immigration officials, for a fee they made everything right, it reached up to the top of various offices.

 

The mafia does not like competition.

[Ulic]

Not sure who looks after Big Joke's sign printing but he is both busy and making bank.

[fruitman]

I miss the picture of the agents pointing at their fake stamps.

[Dumbastheycome]

12 hours ago, MARK74 said:

Surachate warned the public and prospective migrants not to believe stories of agents who can offer services outside of normal hours.

Don't believe their promises, he said, lest you become a victim of this crime too. He called for help from the public in the continuing efforts to crack down on this crime.

 

so the migrant workers agents are being cracked down on, which agents are next? ????

Any  that  compromise legislative requirements. And?

[balo]

Nothing new here.

I am waiting for news he will arrest retirees in Thailand using agents that offer "800k" service. Will not happen in my lifetime. 

 

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

The practice is not on the rise, they are just working out that it is happening.

 

In the past the person with the stamps were often immigration officials, for a fee they made everything right, it reached up to the top of various offices.

 

The mafia does not like competition.

Exactly right, he's caught a couple and now realises that it's only the tip if a very large set-up that's been going on for a long time.

[LazySlipper]

Would these fake documents actually get someone through a border crossing?

I know that if checked in a database surely not, but still... could someone  do a 90 day with these bogus documents?

 

Again... database. So logically, why would anyone bother to buy these documents.

[boonrawdcnx]

There seems to be an entire industry in this country ripping off poor migrant workers. Even the legally documented ones. Not only employers taking advantage of them but frequent police visits to their work places and finding excuses to fine them. Witnessed it myself recently. These corrupt cowards - while licking the shoes of the rich and connected and their superiors - they prey on the poor and defenseless. Disgust me people like that.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

[ChipButty]

I remember some years ago some guys got arrested in Ranong while doing a visa run for having fake stamps in their passports by some dodgy visa agent in Phuket

[boonrawdcnx]

Would these fake documents actually get someone through a border crossing?

I know that if checked in a database surely not, but still... could someone  do a 90 day with these bogus documents?

 

Again... database. So logically, why would anyone bother to buy these documents.

 

They are talking about migrant workers and work permits/ paperwork once they are in the country - migrant workers often smuggled into the country - police and immigration paid off all the way as the horrific Rohingya kidnappings, blackmailing and murders a few years back proved.

 

Not about visas to enter the country - a fake visa to enter the country is useless as their is nothing in the immigration database.

 

Poor migrant workers are desperate to save money and have often no idea how to process the paperwork needed they then fall prey to these unscrupulous bastards who often work with police in their area. It works well and they make money off the poor workers until somebody very likely tipped off the authorities in this case and others.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[mikebell]

Wait till he starts investigating his own officers!

[sammieuk1]

The 22 year old may well have been at it for the last 20 years before BJ nailed him ????

[overherebc]

25 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Nothing happens here without complicity and tactic approval from the Police. Immigration are Police. 

 

Back 20-25 years ago it was normal to use these kinds of services. Hardly any ex-pats went out the country to get visas. It was much cheaper and easier to use an agent and all types of visas were available, and affordable. All apparently legit and acceptable until there was a 'clampdown' around 2006-7? They nabbed a couple of unwashed farang at Poipet and everyone got the message. The practice was pretty much wiped out and went underground. 

 

I'd love to give a little history lesson on this site in particular but unfortunately forum rules prevent it. A little digging on Google will reveal much more. 

2003 was the year many got caught after the Bali bomber ( Ham-balii ) spelling?, was nabbed in Thailand with a 'hooky' stamp from a border crossing ( not Poipet ). Many spent time in IDC when they were caught with stamps from the same crossing.

[balo]

5 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

including another office on Suk Soi 23 but we can't talk about that one here LOL.

Why not ? Its history and you don't live here anymore ? 

[ChouDoufu]

18 hours ago, hyku1147 said:

He's messing with the Brown Envelopes...

certainly not!

 

what do last week's fake visa arrest and this week's fake visa arrest have in common?

 

they were issuing fake visas, cutting out the immigration special fee income.

[quandow]

As long as they leave the agents who get REAL visa stamps alone, I'll be content.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Quote

Following last week's arrests of a pair who had been working out of Laksi for ten years

 

That's hitting pretty close to home, considering Immigration's empire at the Chaengwattana Govt. Complex in Laksi...

 

10 years huh?  And no one at the real Immigration ever noticed anything might be amiss with all the fake/forged stamps.... Unless of course, they were in on it the entire time.....

 

[dddave]

On 2/22/2019 at 7:30 AM, ChipButty said:

I remember some years ago some guys got arrested in Ranong while doing a visa run for having fake stamps in their passports by some dodgy visa agent in Phuket

Around 2004, a lot of farangs used a "Visa Agent" in the Sukhumvit area who would take their passports for a few days, claiming to have taken them to Poipet to be officially stamped. Turned out the stamps were phony and more than a few guys found their passports confiscated at immigration.  Big headaches for all concerned.