Picture courtesy of TMN.

 

Local residents were left shocked, as over 20 uniformed and plainclothes police officers descended on a bank branch located on Central Sukhumvit Road in Pattaya, Chonburi Province.

 

The large-scale operation was led by Police Major General Teerachai Chamnarn, Commander of Region 2’s Investigation Division. Officers from the Region 2 investigation unit and Bang Lamung Police Station conducted a thorough search of the premises, questioned staff and collected evidence in connection with an ongoing investigation into a Chinese call centre scam.

 

Officers interviewed the branch manager and two bank employees responsible for opening accounts. The three were later taken to Bang Lamung Police Station for further questioning.

 

The police presence was part of an extended probe into a recently busted Chinese call centre gang operating in Bangkok. Subsequent investigations revealed that a group of Chinese nationals, all holding tourist visas, had opened over 100 bank accounts at a single branch in Pattaya. These accounts are now suspected to have been used for laundering funds connected to the scam.

 

Initial statements from the bank staff indicated they were unaware that the accounts were being used for illegal activity. However, police confirmed that three arrest warrants had been issued in connection with the case, though no further details were disclosed at this stage.

 

A police spokesperson stated that more individuals are believed to be involved and that the investigation is ongoing.

 

Authorities are currently gathering additional evidence as the case continues to unfold, and more arrests are expected.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-05-21.

 

 

 

26 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Initial statements from the bank staff indicated they were unaware that the accounts were being used for illegal activity

Sounds unlikely. They would have been aware requirements were not being met..... so many Westerners are having difficulty opening a single account in their name these days. 

This is why you're not supposed to be able to open a bank account while on a tourist visa.

51 minutes ago, gargamon said:

This is why you're not supposed to be able to open a bank account while on a tourist visa.

Maybe they used an "Agent"     😎

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Initial statements from the bank staff indicated they were unaware that the accounts were being used for illegal activity.

Bank staff are immediately aware of EVERY foreigner who visit their establishment and do their utmost to avoid serving them.

7 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Maybe they used an "Agent"     😎

Maybe so, but it would take an idiot at the bank not to assume opening 100 accounts would not be for personal or business use. 

The police should be checking the accounts of those bank staff who did the work as well as the bank manager. 

What bank is that? if Bangkok Bank that could impact agents opening accounts

2 hours ago, thesetat said:

Maybe so, but it would take an idiot at the bank not to assume opening 100 accounts would not be for personal or business use. 

The police should be checking the accounts of those bank staff who did the work as well as the bank manager. 

Not if they were paid enough   

6 hours ago, gargamon said:

This is why you're not supposed to be able to open a bank account while on a tourist visa.

 

Do we really need those Chinese and Russian "tourists" in Thailand?

 

3 hours ago, JoePai said:

Not if they were paid enough   

 

OMG, corruption in Thailand! I am sick and tired of this.

So a few Chinese on tourist visas managed to open more than 100 bank accounts at one particular branch of a bank in Pattaya, yet the staff were totally unaware of what they were (or might have been) up to?

 

Yeah, right... Anyone who has recently tried to open a bank account (ONE bank account) on a tourist visa knows that it's pretty much impossible, at least without some greasing of the wheels. So it would be fair to assume that some of the bank staff profited from opening those accounts for the Chinese scammers. 

This is BB located on Sukhumvit just before Pattaya Klang. It is a small branch located just opposite of Num Chai Appliance.

This is one of my branches a small branch being Asian and familiar with the language Mandarin a year now doing business there. The place was packed with Chinese Nationals with Thai agent at 10am. There were Chinese stack outside the door it wasn't rocket science what was going on.

I needed a new bank book if you didn't want to wait hours get there at 9:30 am, March I went and try to open another account for a family friend for his Visa extension legally 3 hour wait told.

Another branch told me residential certification was no longer used and for my friend needed a note from his doctor?  Another branch had no clue what a residential certificate was but can open only a CD account.

Things are all screwed up nevertheless there are lots of Chinese living on the Darkside tons! These are special Visa for the Chinese Triads 😂 

4 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

What bank is that? if Bangkok Bank that could impact agents opening accounts

The uniform doesn't look like Bangkok Bank staff, the female staff normally wear blue skirts.

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Subsequent investigations revealed that a group of Chinese nationals, all holding tourist visas, had opened over 100 bank accounts at a single branch in Pattaya

 

UPDATE
Foreign Criminal Gang Exploited Thai Banking System Using ‘Mule Accounts’ – Over 2 Billion Baht in Damages

 

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

 

Police have launched a sweeping investigation into a network of foreign nationals accused of exploiting Thailand’s banking system by using tourist visas to open hundreds of fraudulent “mule” bank accounts nationwide. Authorities estimate total damages exceeding 2.2 billion baht.

 

At a press conference on 21 May, held at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters, Police General Thatchai Pitanilabut, Inspector General and Director of the Technology Crime Suppression Centre, along with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom, announced the arrest of 11 individuals connected to the operation. This includes four bank staff members, managers and employees, who allegedly facilitated the illegal activity, as well as others who supported the scheme.

 

The gang is believed to have consisted of 15 Chinese nationals who entered Thailand in March 2025 on tourist visas. Their sole purpose, investigators believe, was to open bank accounts across the country for use in transnational cybercrime. The group was aided by five facilitators who escorted them to various bank branches, with one particular institution in Pattaya, Chonburi Province, drawing specific scrutiny. Evidence shows the group visited this bank on the 9 March and departed Thailand on 13 March.

 

It is alleged that some bank employees knowingly falsified documents to allow these individuals to open accounts despite holding only tourist visas. Police did not disclose how much money staff may have received in exchange for their cooperation, citing an ongoing investigation.

 

Of the fraudulent accounts initially uncovered, a total of 118 million baht was deposited, with 91 million baht already withdrawn before law enforcement managed to freeze the remaining funds. These accounts have been linked to 106 separate fraud cases.

 

The investigation has since expanded, uncovering links to an additional 462 accounts tied to 2,084 separate criminal complaints, with combined damages estimated at 2.2 billion baht. The Royal Thai Police are now working with Chinese authorities to issue arrest warrants for the 15 suspects who have fled the country.

 

In response, the Bank of Thailand has been asked to tighten regulations surrounding account openings by foreign nationals, particularly those entering on tourist visas.

 

Further probing has revealed that five of the arrested Chinese suspects may be connected to broader call centre scam operations based in neighbouring countries. Investigations are ongoing.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-05-21.

 

 

 

That doesn't sound great at all, it will make it even more difficult for regular foreigners to open bank accounts in Thailand. 

35 minutes ago, nahkit said:

The uniform doesn't look like Bangkok Bank staff, the female staff normally wear blue skirts.

Answered and correct for the post above...Numchai Branch.

1 hour ago, nahkit said:

The uniform doesn't look like Bangkok Bank staff, the female staff normally wear blue skirts.

It was in fact the branch as noted by me how do I know I was I was holding a cue to withdraw some cash to give my wife to buy a piece of land in her village money not from laundrying LOL when all hell went!

I thought the bank was being robbed got myself in position to open a can of whip ass🤣

1 hour ago, Caldera said:

That doesn't sound great at all, it will make it even more difficult for regular foreigners to open bank accounts in Thailand. 

 

and it's been getting harder before this, not good...

No surprise it's the banks in Pattaya as there is plenty of KY in Pattaya but not KYC.

20 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

What bank is that? if Bangkok Bank that could impact agents opening accounts

Yes, I saw it on a Thai news report and the front of Index was clear. 

Make the Banks PAY, if the accounts were illegally opened then people in TL lost 2 billion baht, then the bank as gatekeeper should wear the loss.