Indonesian Fugitive in Love Scam Case Captured in Thailand

An Indonesian citizen (WNI) who was a fugitive in a fraud case has been arrested in Thailand. The individual is the main suspect in a hybrid fraud network operating through dating applications. According to Thai media outlet Thairath on Sunday (26/4/2026), the Indonesian named Awang Willuang (33) is suspected of luring victims into cross-continental investments and was captured in Thailand. Willuang was arrested based on an arrest warrant from US authorities and an Interpol red notice. Thai authorities stated that the operation to apprehend Willuang took place on 25 April 2026. Thailand’s Immigration Division 3 Investigation Unit described Willuang as the primary suspect in a cryptocurrency investment fraud case. He became a fugitive based on the US arrest warrant and Interpol red notice for charges of ‘conspiracy to commit wire fraud’. Additionally, Willuang was identified as the mastermind behind a hybrid scam operation based in the United Arab Emirates. He is said to have entered Thailand on 22 April with a tourist visa and stayed at a luxury resort on Kamala Beach, Phuket. Authorities then coordinated with Phuket Immigration Police to conduct field investigations, ultimately leading to his arrest. The investigation revealed that Willuang collaborated with the scam network to defraud cryptocurrency investors from 2022 to 2026. The methods used involved contacting victims through dating apps, social media, and other online channels using attractive male and female personas to build romantic relationships—a classic romance scam—before enticing victims to invest in fake platforms showing illusory profits. The majority of victims are from the United States (US). Authorities have revoked his permission to stay in Thailand under Section 12 (7) of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), categorising him as a prohibited foreign national. He is being detained for deportation and to cooperate with US authorities in continuing legal proceedings.