BANGKOK - Thai immigration police on Aug. 17 disclosed an investigation into a Bangkok visa consultancy suspected of producing forged financial documents used in visa applications submitted to an unnamed European embassy.

The Royal Thai Police said the case began after the embassy alerted immigration authorities to suspicious documents submitted by several Thai applicants, particularly bank statements that appeared to have been falsified.

Investigators traced the documents to a consultancy in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district and searched its office under a warrant from the Min Buri Criminal Court. Officers seized suspected fake stamps belonging to banks and other organisations, more than 20 suspected forged financial documents, including salary certificates and bank statements, and four desktop computers.

Police compared documents supplied by the embassy with information held by the banks and found similar irregularities in five applications. The applicants’ names did not match the actual account holders, while transaction records had been altered and differed from information confirmed by the banks.

Police also found that the travel expenses of all five applicants were paid using the same foreign-bank credit card number, according to Khaosod English.

Preliminary inquiries indicated that more than 400 customers may have been affected. Police said the consultancy charged about 40,000 baht per customer, putting the amount involved at more than 16 million baht.

The seized computers, stamps and documents were sent for forensic examination as investigators sought to identify others who may have been involved. Police were also preparing to summon people connected to the case for questioning.

Police said the conduct may fall under Sections 264, 265 and 268 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, covering the forgery and use of forged documents, as well as Sections 251 and 252 relating to forged seals. Any charges will depend on forensic findings and further investigation.

The Immigration Bureau urged the public to report suspected visa-document fraud.

“Anyone with information about forged documents being prepared or used for visa applications can report it to the Immigration Bureau or a local immigration office,” the bureau said.