A Nigerian man has been arrested by tourist police for allegedly deceiving Thai women to wire him money in a so-called romance scam.
Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakpal, deputy commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, held a press conference on Friday to announce the arrest of Martins Junior Ejike Ajejo, 39.
Surachet said Ajejo was arrested on Thursday following an arrest of a Thai woman, Prapinmas Nasutthi, 30, and her Nigerian husband, Gaius Eriamiate, 36.
Surachet said the couple were arrested on June 21 while withdrawing money from an ATM that had been wired in by their victims.
Surachet said Ajejo was accused of impersonating a handsome western man and deceiving Thai women that he had sent them a gift that was being kept at the customs office and needed money for customs clearance.
He would close his Facebook account and open a new one after getting money, Surachet said.
Surachet said Ajejo was first arrested on April 11 but he was later released without charges after his victim withdrew her complaint when she got her money back.