Indonesian Man Arrested in Thailand Over US$10M Romance Scam

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April 29, 2026 | 05:33 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Police in Thailand have arrested an Indonesian man named Awang Williang who is suspected of defrauding Americans of US$10 million or around Rp172 billion through romance scam fraud. The man has been extradited to the United States (US) as he was already a fugitive wanted by the police in the United States and Interpol.

The 33-year-old man was apprehended at a luxury resort on Phuket Island on Friday, April 24, 2026 according to local media reports and AFP.

The arrest was made after the police received information from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). "The FBI stated that he was wanted for defrauding Americans of $10 million," said Suriya Poungsombat, Chief of Thai Immigration Police.

As reported by Thairath, Awang was identified as the mastermind of a hybrid fraud operation based in the United Arab Emirates. He entered Thailand on April 22 with a tourist visa and stayed at a luxury resort in Kamala Beach, Phuket.

In-depth investigation revealed that from 2022 to 2026, Awang collaborated with a fraud network to defraud cryptocurrency investors. His modus operandi involved contacting victims through dating apps, social media, and other online channels using attractive male and female models to build romantic relationships-a romance scam-before persuading the victims to invest in fake platforms that displayed fictitious profits. Many victims were from the United States.

According to Al Jazeera, after his arrest, the man was sent to an immigration detention center in the capital city, Bangkok, and is awaiting extradition to the United States to face further legal proceedings.

Southeast Asia has emerged as a hub for cyber fraud operations in recent years, with organized criminal groups using casinos, hotels, and complexes in the region as bases for sophisticated online scams. Many victims have been identified in the United States.

Read: 6,308 Indonesians Escape Online Scam Syndicates in Cambodia

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