Thai tourist police in Pattaya, Chon Buri, working with Provincial Police Region 2 investigators, dismantled a scam network operating out of a hotel in central Pattaya, on 28 April 2026. Three Nigerian nationals and a Thai woman, all not named by authorities, were arrested in connection with a romance scam and bank account mule operation. Officers seized 12 mobile phones and 12 bank accounts during the raid.
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Investigators said the group was part of a wider transnational fraud network involving the purchase and use of so-called “mule accounts” to receive illicit transfers from victims of online romance scams. The Thai suspect, identified only as a 41-year-old woman from Chon Buri, admitted to sourcing bank accounts for her Nigerian husband and receiving around 2,000 baht per account. She also handled daily cash withdrawals and transfers for the group, earning an additional commission of around 10 per cent, with reported earnings reaching up to 30,000 baht per day.
Police said victims were typically deceived into transferring money into accounts controlled by the syndicate, after which funds were quickly withdrawn and routed through intermediaries before being sent to senior figures based in Nigeria. The suspects allegedly formed part of a wider romance scam network operating across Thailand and internationally, with similar groups believed to be active in multiple locations.
All suspects were taken into custody and handed over to Bang Lamung police for prosecution. They face charges under Thailand’s 2023 Technology Crime Prevention and Suppression Act, including organising or facilitating the buying, selling, or lending of bank accounts and electronic payment accounts for criminal purposes, as well as offences relating to SIM card trafficking and involvement in an organised criminal association.
Daily News reported that authorities said investigations will continue to identify additional members of the network and trace financial flows linked to the group. Police are also working to establish connections with overseas coordinators and disrupt further romance scam operations believed to be active in Thailand and abroad.
Pictures courtesy of Daily New
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 29 Apr 2026