Report Thai and Chinese Scam Gang Busted in Multi-Province Raids

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Police have cracked down on a cross-national scam operation in Thailand, arresting 18 Thais and 13 Chinese nationals across Chon Buri, Rayong, and Samut Prakan provinces. The group is accused of running a scam syndicate and assaulting individuals tied to mule bank accounts.

 

Poj Maj Gen Athip Pongsiwapai, commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, confirmed the arrests occurred during multiple raids on Wednesday. Simultaneously, authorities seized a substantial haul, including 49 bank books, 49 ATM cards, 66 mobile phones, two notebook computers, three cars, two motorcycles, assorted valuables, and about 1 million baht in cash. The suspects now face charges of public fraud, money laundering, and illegal assembly.

 

The scam ring employed diverse tactics to deceive victims, such as creating fake sales platforms, bogus investment schemes, fabricated job offers, and trumped-up criminal charges. This operation led victims to lodge 291 complaints against the group with the police.

 

In a particularly sinister twist, the gang coerced individuals into opening mule accounts. These mule account holders, detained in Rayong, were forced to make withdrawals or transfers at ATMs where their faces were recorded. Resistance met with physical assault.

 

Pol Col Supote Phumyam, head of Technology Crime Suppression Sub-division 2, disclosed that Thai suspects admitted to being recruited by a Chinese national to join the scam operation. This scheme culminated in mule account owners withdrawing between 1 million and 2 million baht daily.

 

Among the Chinese suspects, Zhengdong, 40, was apprehended at Suvarnabhumi airport while attempting to escape Thailand. Identified as a senior member of the gang, Zhengdong's capture marks a critical step in dismantling the operation, as noted by Pol Col Supote.

 

The bust signifies a major victory in the ongoing battle against sophisticated financial fraud, illustrating the relentless nature of cross-border crime in exploiting technological vulnerabilities and human susceptibility.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-05-16

 

 

[ronster]

Well they wanted more Chinese so seems they got it 👍

[hotchilli]

19 minutes ago, ronster said:

Well they wanted more Chinese so seems they got it 👍

With willing Thai partners.

[Donut21]

Nice looking gang.

 

[off road pat]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

With willing Thai partners.

Hm, Read the article. Willing and unwilling (coerced) Thai partners.