Benjamin Mauerberger
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Cambodia
Benjamin Mauerberger | |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | South Africa Cambodia |
| Spouse | Cattaliya Beevor |
Benjamin Mauerberger, also known as Ben Smith and Benjamin Berger, is a South African fixer.[1][2][3][4]
Boiler room operation
In October 2003, Mauerberger was fined $30,000 and banned for seven years as a broker by the New Zealand Securities Commission for his role in Maeur-Swisse, an Auckland-based boiler room operation.[5][6][7][8]
Scam center investigation
In late September 2025, investigative journalist Tom Wright, writing in the Whale Hunting newsletter, published a monthlong investigation on Mauerberger's ties to a $1.5 billion money laundering network tied to scam centers in Southeast Asia.[1][9][10] Wright had published photographs of Mauerberger with former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra and Thammanat Prompow.[11]
On 19 September 2025, the Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act was introduced to the US House of Representatives by Representative Jefferson Shreve, listing Mauerberger on "A list of all foreign persons sanctioned by the United States for being responsible for, complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, online financial scams against United States nationals."[12][13]
The reports were cited in a 30 September 2025 session of Thailand's Parliament by Opposition MP Rangsiman Rome, alleging Mauerberger had sought Thai nationality on 22 October 2024, but his application was denied due to incomplete documents.[14][15] Mauerberger subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against Rangsiman.[16][11] Rangsiman alleged Mauerberger was also an advisor to former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his son, current Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.[14] Mauerberger's lawyer Thanadon Suwannarit claimed that Mauerberger knew Thammanat Prompow through Thaksin Shinawatra.[17]
On 21 October 2025, Thammanat denied links to Mauerberger's network of scam centers, urging the public not to jump to conclusions about Mauerberger.[17] On 21 October 2025, Wright published an article detailing how both Thailand's Deputy Minister of Finance Vorapak Tanyawong's wife Kanokporn and Mauerberger held shares in the same Singapore-based fund.[18]
Following the publication of the Whale Hunting investigation, Thailand's Deputy Minister of Finance Vorapak Tanyawong resigned on 22 October 2025 after allegations that his wife was paid by Mauerberger's criminal network he was appointed to investigate.[19][20]
On 6 November 2025, Winyat Chartmontree, personal lawyer for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, stated that Shinawatra and Mauerberger were just acquaintances and that Thaksin had not invested in any of his businesses.[21]
In December 2025, the Thai government seized $300 million in assets connected to Mauerberger's network, and issued arrest warrants for 42 individuals.[22][23]
In December 2025, photos were leaked showing Mauerberger posing with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, former army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong, former senator Upakit Pachariyangkun, and former national police inspector-general Pol Gen Visanu Prasarttongosoth.[24][25] The photos were likewise questioned by MP Rangsiman on Facebook, who questioned whether action had not been taken against him due to his connections to prominent Thai politicians.[24]
On 21 December 2025, Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) announced that it would will summon former Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong to discuss his role in signing an MOU in Singapore in the presence of Mauerberger.[26]
Personal life
In addition to holding South African citizenship, Mauerberger was reported to hold a Cambodian diplomatic passport.[27][28] Mauerberger later applied for Thai citizenship when Anutin was interior minister, but he did not approve Mauerberger's application.[24]
Mauerberger is married to Cattaliya Beevor, a Thai national.[29][30]
References
- 1 2 Reporters, Online (2025-10-22). "Thai minister Vorapak resigns, denies scam links". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ Ruoxue, Goh (2025-10-22). "Inside the short, stormy tenure of Thai deputy finance minister who quit over Cambodia scam allegations". The Business Times. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ Levene, Tony (2006-10-20). "Left high and dry with overseas shares". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ "Wine offer that's hard to swallow". The Guardian. 2004-11-06. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ Washington, Stuart (2010-02-01). "Share spruikers' $500m super tie". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ "$30,000 fine in store for broker". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ "Bergers investors to be repaid". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ "Conduct of Business Rules-approvals by solicitors of promotions by unauthorised overseas companies-'boiler rooms'" (PDF). HM Courts & Tribunal Services. Consolidated Case No. FIN/2009/0007. 2010-05-13.
- ↑ "Defamation charges filed against those who exposed the billion-dollar scam network in Thailand and Cambodia". Global Voices Advox. 2025-10-15. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ "Exposed: The $1.5B Money Laundering Network Behind Thailand's Shinawatra Dynasty". Whale Hunting. 2025-09-11. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- 1 2 English, Khaosod (2025-10-05). "South African Businessman Sues Thai MP Over Scam Allegations". Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6 (2025-09-18). "Text - H.R.5490 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "U.S. Fights Back: Congress Moves to Sanction Fixers and Local Enablers Behind Southeast Asia's Scam Empire". Whale Hunting. 2025-10-12. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- 1 2 "Thai lawyer agrees to defend controversial 'Ben Smith' by suing Rangsiman". nationthailand. 2025-10-05. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ "People's Party MP Alleges South African-born Benjamin Mauerberger's Cross-Border Ties Fuel Scam Networks in Thailand and Cambodia - Thai Enquirer Current Affairs".
- ↑ Ngamkham, Wassayos (2025-10-06). "People's Party MP faces B100m defamation lawsuit". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- 1 2 Bangprapa, Mongkol (2025-10-22). "Thamanat denies ties to scam gangs". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ "Scandal draws too close for comfort". Bangkok Post. 2025-10-23. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
- ↑ "Thai Official Resigns Over Allegations of Links to Scam Network". 2025-10-22. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ Berthelsen, John. "Thai Official Reportedly Connected to Cyber Scam Loses Job". www.asiasentinel.com. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ "'Ben Smith' just Thaksin's acquaintance: lawyer". nationthailand. 2025-11-06. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
- ↑ "Thailand Seizes $300M in Assets as Scam Crackdown Deepens". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- ↑ "Thailand Seizes $300M in Assets Connected to Benjamin Mauerberger, But Where is He?". Whale Hunting. 2025-12-03. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- 1 2 3 Reporters, Online (2025-12-04). "Old 'Ben Smith' photos come back to haunt Thai VIPs". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- ↑ "Anutin admits knowing but not being close to 'Ben Smith'". nationthailand. 2025-12-04. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- ↑ "DSI to summon ex-minister over Singapore MoU with Mauerberger". Bangkok Post. 2025-12-21. Retrieved 2025-12-27.
- ↑ Ehrlich, Richard S. (2025-12-08). "Thailand the new eye of SE Asia's scam center storm". Asia Times. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ↑ "Ben Smith's links to Thai elite raise doubts on government resolve to tackle scammers". world.thaipbs.or.th. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ↑ "Thai police building case against Benjamin Mauerberger". Bangkok Post. 2026-03-02. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
- ↑ "Thailand seeks to arrest South African couple in US$30 million fraud case". South China Morning Post. 2026-03-03. Retrieved 2026-03-03.