'Blued' app trap: Two Chinese Men Arrested for Extortion and Assault in Bangkok

[reader]

From Khaosod English

Thai Police have arrested two Chinese nationals for allegedly extorting money and assaulting a fellow Chinese citizen whom they met through a dating application in Bangkok. The suspects were apprehended at JMT House in Soi Pracha Uthit 24, Huai Khwang district on December 19.

The arrests followed a police report filed by an 18-year-old Chinese victim, identified only as Mr. Peng, at Phasicharoen Police Station on December 17. The victim reported meeting one of the suspects through the dating application “Blued” and agreeing to meet at 14 Resort Hotel in Bangkok’s Phasicharoen district.

According to police reports, when the victim arrived at the hotel room, the suspects, identified as Mr. Sun Jian, 31, and Mr. Sun Hao, 23, allegedly handcuffed him, threatened him with a gun, and physically assaulted him with a baton.

The suspects forced him to unlock his phone and transfer money via AliPay to a Bank of China account belonging to Sun Jian. The victim was compelled to make five transfers of 2,000 yuan each, totaling 10,000 yuan (approximately THB 50,000, USD 1,450).

Police arrested two Chinese suspects sharing the surname Sun for extorting a Chinese man they met through a dating app in Huai Khwang district, Bangkok, with multiple pieces of evidence seized, on Dec 19, 2024.

The suspects allegedly sexually assaulted the victim before releasing him at Phasicharoen MRT station the following morning. Police tracked down the suspects through CCTV footage from the Royal Thai Police’s surveillance network.

Police seized several pieces of evidence, including a homemade .380 caliber firearm, 29 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition, one ammunition magazine, one baton, two pairs of handcuffs, one knife, clothes worn during the incident, and two mobile phones.

The suspects face multiple charges, including armed extortion, physical assault, illegal detention, and unauthorized possession of firearms and ammunition. Investigators at Phasicharoen Police Station are working with tourist police interpreters to conduct further questioning of both the suspects and the victim as the investigation continues

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2024/12/20/dating-app-trap-two-chinese-men-arrested-for-extortion-and-assault-in-bangkok/

[vinapu]

Thank you for reminder that on apps we (mostly ) are meeting people we don't even know really anything about the and often not even how they look like.

And it's two way street, host may be prone to assault guest as much as other way around.

Second warning is about loading EVERYTHING on one's phone for sake of convenience , not realising we possibly create trap for ourselves. 

[Londoner]

 

Let him come to you, preferably in a hotel where his ID is held at reception.

[BjornAgain]

On 12/23/2024 at 1:46 AM, vinapu said:

...

Second warning is about loading EVERYTHING on one's phone for sake of convenience , not realising we possibly create trap for ourselves. 

That's why I have 2 phones. Leave the 'personal' phone at home/ hotel safe. Out and about with second phone with just travel and mongering Apps. Also no cards or official ID.

[Keithambrose]

44 minutes ago, BjornAgain said:

That's why I have 2 phones. Leave the 'personal' phone at home/ hotel safe. Out and about with second phone with just travel and mongering Apps. Also no cards or official ID.

That's definitely common sense.  Like dressing in old clothes, no fancy watch, some small denomination notes in one pocket, expired credit card, etc. I learnt that in NY in 1980!

[floridarob]

4 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

That's definitely common sense.  Like dressing in old clothes, no fancy watch, some small denomination notes in one pocket, expired credit card, etc. I learnt that in NY in 1980!

It's how I normally go out anyway, as you know 🤷‍♂️

[10tazione]

5 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

some small denomination notes in one pocket, expired credit card

And how do you pay for your dinner?

[fedssocr]

lots of stories these days about assaults on people using these apps all over the world. Gangs of teenagers luring people and then beating them up. Be very careful out there.

[vinapu]

7 hours ago, BjornAgain said:

That's why I have 2 phones. Leave the 'personal' phone at home/ hotel safe. Out and about with second phone with just travel and mongering Apps. Also no cards or official ID.

I follow the same logic, using tablet as secure device, sort of , of course,  and phone only for traveling and whoring needs

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, 10tazione said:

And how do you pay for your dinner?

for some people 1000 baht may be small denomination

[vinapu]

58 minutes ago, fedssocr said:

lots of stories these days about assaults on people using these apps all over the world. Gangs of teenagers luring people and then beating them up.

it may happen in real in some dark alley we are taking shortcut through too

[floridarob]

30 minutes ago, vinapu said:

it may happen in real in some dark alley we are taking shortcut through too

You getting lured down Soi Tarntawan by some Tawan guys, is what came to mind, not sure who would be in more danger though  😳

[Keithambrose]

3 hours ago, 10tazione said:

And how do you pay for your dinner?

Real money or card in other pocket. The small change or expired card can be handed over swiftly, the idea being that usually  the mugger won't wait around.  At least that's the idea! You need to remember  which pocket is which! Difficult  with a phone, but other members have referred to carrying a cheap local phone, leaving your main phone in the hotel.

[Londoner]

19 hours ago, BjornAgain said:

That's why I have 2 phones. 

I only have one but am entirely confident that it'll never be stolen; it was so cheap that no one else would want to be seen dead with it. Particularly a mb!

[Keithambrose]

15 hours ago, Londoner said:

I only have one but am entirely confident that it'll never be stolen; it was so cheap that no one else would want to be seen dead with it. Particularly a mb!

It all depends  if they look at it as they snatch it! Common is just to snatch it and disappear