Police have dismantled a criminal network accused of luring more than 200 Thai citizens to Cambodia and forcing them to open mule bank accounts for online scam operations, causing financial losses estimated at 600 million baht. The arrests were announced on 5 March following coordinated raids in three provinces. Four suspects were taken into custody in connection with the scheme.
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Police from the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD), acting under orders from Major General Wittaya Sriprasertphap, commander of the division, carried out searches at three locations in Pathum Thani, Chanthaburi and Chiang Mai. The operation was led by Police Colonel Korkiat Wutthichamnong, superintendent of Division 1 of the AHTD. Officers targeted a network accused of deceiving Thai citizens into scanning their facial data and opening mule bank accounts for scammers operating across the border in Cambodia.
Investigators said the suspects are facing arrest warrants issued by the Criminal Court on charges including human trafficking for forced labour, participation in organised human trafficking involving three or more people, and using deception, threats or violence to transport individuals outside Thailand. Authorities initially identified six suspects connected to the network. Four have been arrested so far.
Police said the case began after reports that more than 200 Thai victims had been deceived into travelling to Cambodia. Once there, they were allegedly detained and forced to scan their faces and open bank accounts that were later used by online scam gangs. The activity resulted in financial damage estimated at more than 600 million baht.
According to investigators, the network advertised jobs through Facebook pages, promoting positions as “chat administrators” who could work from home. The advertisements offered attractive pay and required only a secondary school education, making them appealing to many job seekers.
Victims who applied were told they first needed to attend a training session in Sa Kaeo or Chanthaburi province before beginning the work. The suspects reportedly offered to cover all travel and accommodation costs to gain the victims’ trust. Upon arrival at the meeting points, the victims were allegedly taken by groups of men across the border through illegal crossings into Cambodia.
Once there, police said the victims were confined and forced to open mule bank accounts through facial recognition verification systems. The accounts were then allegedly supplied to online scam networks operating in the region.
During questioning, the first three suspects admitted they had been recruited to help obtain mule accounts for the scam network. They said they received around 1,000 baht per account verification.
A fourth suspect admitted acting as a smuggler who transported people across the border through natural crossings. He told investigators he was paid between 3,000 and 5,000 baht for each trip.
All four suspects have been handed over to investigators from Division 1 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division for legal proceedings. Police said efforts are continuing to locate and arrest the remaining suspects connected to the network.
Daily News reported that authorities are also continuing their investigation to identify additional victims and determine the full scale of the operation. Officials warned the public to remain cautious about online job advertisements offering unusually high pay or requiring travel arrangements organised by recruiters.
Pictures courtesy of Daily News
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 7 Mar 2026