BANGKOK, Thailand — Three Thai women believed to be ringleaders in a major cross-border romance scam have been arrested, according to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) under the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).
Authorities say the scam network, active since 2019, defrauded victims—mostly Thai women—of nearly 6 billion baht through fake online relationships.
The suspects, identified as Jutharat (36), Chanjira (29), and Jiraporn (32), were arrested in separate locations: Bang Khla district in Chachoengsao province, Rattanathibet Road in Nonthaburi, and Betong district in Yala province. All three were transferred to CSD Division 1 for further legal proceedings.
They face multiple charges, including participation in a transnational criminal organization, membership in a secret society, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and collusion in money laundering. During questioning, all three suspects denied the allegations.
Police investigations revealed that a group of Nigerian nationals had been running the romance scam, using social media platforms to deceive victims into believing they were in romantic relationships. Once trust was established, the victims were convinced to transfer money, which was then funneled through mule accounts.
The three Thai women allegedly served as coordinators, recruiting individuals to open bank accounts used to receive and withdraw illicit funds. They reportedly received commissions between 2% and 10% of the stolen amounts.
After collecting extensive evidence, CSD investigators secured arrest warrants from the Criminal Court, leading to the women’s arrests and ongoing prosecution.
