BANGKOK – Thai police have arrested 12 individuals, including three bank employees and four Chinese nationals, for their roles in a massive call-centre scam that defrauded victims out of 2.2 billion baht through mule bank accounts.
The Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) held a press conference this week announcing the arrests tied to an elaborate network involving fake Chinese tourists, Thai interpreters, and corrupt bank staff.
According to Pol Maj Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, 15 Chinese nationals entered Thailand in March, posing as tourists. With assistance from three Thai bank employees, they successfully opened 15 Thai bank accounts and immediately withdrew 91 million baht in cash from bank counters and ATMs over just two days—before fleeing the country.
Fraud Totals and Victims
Police said the accounts received a total of 118 million baht, and were involved in at least 106 online fraud complaints. A deeper investigation linked these accounts to 462 other mule accounts tied to 2,084 fraud cases, causing total damages of 2.2 billion baht.
Arrested Suspects
In total, nine suspects were arrested in April:
Chinese Nationals:
Yang – Arrested by Bueng Kum police; accused of supplying mule accounts.
Xie – Also arrested by Bueng Kum police; similarly charged with mule account provision.
Hang – Captured by Prawet police; accused of coordinating withdrawals, uploading false data, and money laundering.
Wu – Arrested by Sutthisarn police for helping the scam ring with electronic cards and accounts.
Thai Nationals:
Sirilak, Chutima, Songpol – Bank staff accused of assisting in fraudulent account creation and electronic card abuse.
Monthida – Served as an interpreter, enabling the gang’s communication and coordination.
Narongrit – Another interpreter charged with aiding the criminal operation.
Criminal Charges and Ongoing Investigation
All suspects face charges including money laundering, public deception, forgery, and violating Thailand’s electronic transactions laws.
Although 15 of the original Chinese suspects have escaped Thailand, the TCSD is working with international law enforcement to track them down.
Authorities continue to pursue additional suspects as part of a widening crackdown on transnational cybercrime and financial fraud in Thailand.
