Six Nigerians Arrested in Thailand for Romance Scam

On a Thursday operation codenamed "Dark Room," Thai police arrested six Nigerian nationals in Nonthaburi Province for allegedly running a romance scam network. The suspects, identified as Ejikem (23), Ibekw (24), Okorom (29), Nwosu (30), and Obielu (35), were found living in a condominium despite holding student visas and not attending classes or having regular employment.

The police executed a search warrant, seizing 18 mobile phones, three laptops, and three bank books, which contained evidence of the scam, including chat scripts and AI-generated profile images. The suspects allegedly used fake profiles on platforms like Facebook, Messenger, WeChat, TikTok, Line, and Zalo to cultivate trust with victims, primarily older Thai women, claiming that overseas parcels were held by customs and demanding money for their release.

During the raid, some suspects attempted to escape via a balcony and were later taken to Rattanathibet police station. They face charges related to membership in a secret society and overstaying their visa.