Bangkok: Authorities arrested suspects and dismantled a “phantom sick” gang that forged medical certificates and claimed over 300,000 baht in insurance damages. Police from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) jointly arrested three suspects, pursuant to arrest warrants: Mr. Pai, 29; Mr. Saharat, 47; and Ms. Kulthida, 41. They face charges of “fraud, forgery and use of forged documents, and fraudulently claiming benefits under an insurance policy or presenting false evidence in a claim.”
According to Thai News Agency, the circumstances arose around September 2015 when an insurance company filed a complaint with the investigative officers of the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) after discovering a fraudulent scheme. False medical certificates were submitted to health insurance claims to receive compensation, leading the insurance company to believe the perpetrators were truly ill. This resulted in the company approving compensation payments of 100,000 baht per person, totaling 300,000 baht in damages. Further investigation revealed irregularities, as the documents used as evidence frequently came from the same clinic and hospital, prompting the company to file a complaint with the authorities.
Investigations uncovered that the “phantom sickness” ring persuaded people with health insurance that someone would prepare false medical documents for them to file claims. Upon receiving compensation, they demanded a 50% cut, falsifying clinic examination results, medical certificates, and documents from a private hospital. They requested copies of the insured’s ID card and bank account details to file online claims, even when they were not ill. The insurance company was duped into paying 100,000 baht to each insured’s bank account, with profits split between the persuader and the forgers. Investigators from Sub-Division 4 of the TCSD gathered evidence and requested arrest warrants for all three suspects.
Later, officers from the Technology Crime Suppression Division’s Division 4 learned that one suspect had fled to the Bang Khun Thian District of Bangkok, while the other two, a married couple, were in Doi Saket District, Chiang Mai Province. Officers were dispatched to apprehend all three suspects and hand them over to investigators from the TCSD’s Division 4 for legal proceedings. Investigations into any accomplices or those involved in the profit-sharing scheme will continue.
During initial questioning, the three suspects stated they had purchased health insurance with a premium of only 500-600 baht per year, with coverage up to 100,000 baht. They were persuaded by a close associate that false medical documents could be prepared for compensation claims. They agreed to submit their ID cards and bank accounts, along with false documents, to file the health insurance claim.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) warns the public to be wary of scammers enticing fraudulent health insurance claims using forged medical documents. Participants, whether by lending their name or joining the scheme, will be considered “co-offenders” and prosecuted for “joint fraud,” “joint forgery and use of forged documents,” and “fraudulently soliciting benefits under an insurance policy.” They face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to 300,000 baht, or both.