Person taken into custody on Koh Phangan for allegedly committing investment fraud against Australians
**German National Arrested in Thailand for Alleged Transnational Investment Scam**
David Guy Hamburger, a 54-year-old German national, was arrested in Thailand on July 9, 2025, following a large-scale fraudulent investment scheme targeting Australians. The arrest came after cooperation between Thai police and Australian authorities, who alerted Thailand to the scam.
Hamburger is accused of operating a transnational online investment scam in which victims were lured into making fake stock investments using scripted dialogues. The stolen funds were quickly converted into cryptocurrencies and transferred through offshore channels to obscure their origin and hinder detection.
Investigators located and identified Hamburger and obtained approval from Koh Samui Provincial Court to search several locations linked to nominee companies allegedly established by Hamburger. These companies, named Chesapeake Ross Co, Montana Realty Co, Laguna Cliff Co, and Gollum Co, were established in Thailand to conceal Hamburger's involvement and launder illicit gains.
The search led police to seize assets worth more than 19 million baht from Hamburger's residence on Koh Phangan. The assets included a cryptocurrency account valued at 8.04 million baht, four bank accounts containing 6.23 million baht, 495,000 baht in cash, a land title deed worth 1.5 million baht, four vehicles worth 2.27 million baht, 13 luxury watches valued at 605,000 baht, and two laptop computers. Upon inspecting the laptops, police found detailed records of victims and scripted dialogue used to dupe investors in Australia into making fake stock investments.
Several Thai nationals are under investigation for allegedly assisting Hamburger in setting up these nominee companies and facilitating the illegal activity. Police summonsed individuals suspected of being part of Hamburger's network for questioning.
Hamburger had been residing on Koh Phangan for over five years on a retirement visa, during which he operated several legitimate-seeming businesses, such as a villa rental company, a construction firm, and a restaurant. However, these enterprises may have provided cover for the fraudulent activities.
The arrest warrant was approved by Pathum Thani Provincial Court on June 19. Hamburger was apprehended while riding a motorcycle near his residence, Choco Villa on Koh Phangan. He was handed over to Muang police station in Pathum Thani for legal processing on the fraud charges.
In addition to the fraud charges, Surat Thani police will bring additional charges against Hamburger under the Foreign Business Act. The action follows advice from Australian authorities that many people in Australia had been conned by the online investment scam operated from Thailand.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance against transnational financial crimes and the need for international cooperation in addressing such issues. The investigation and arrest of Hamburger are a testament to the efforts of Thai police and Australian authorities in combating such criminal activities.
Despite being a retiree residing in Thailand for over five years, operating multiple businesses in the industry and finance sectors, David Guy Hamburger was accused of orchestrating a transnational online investment scam that targeted Australians. The Thai police, in collaboration with Australian authorities, will also bring charges against Hamburger under the Foreign Business Act, as the scam falls under the category of general-news and crime-and-justice.
