Crime 15 Chinese Arrested in Thai Luxury Home Raid Over Scam Network

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

CHIANG MAI - A major swoop in northern Thailand's Hang Dong district has led to the arrest of 15 Chinese nationals and two Myanmar workers, all linked to an elaborate online scam network. Police in Provincial Region 5 stormed a lavish residence in Ban Waen today, responding to reports of illegal online gambling schemes operating from the property.

 

Police Lieutenant General Kritthapol Yeesakhon, Region 5's chief, revealed that the Chinese nationals had acquired the luxury home using Thai nominees.

 

The property served as the nerve centre for a call centre-style scam aimed at Chinese citizens, luring them into illegal gambling and casino activities in nearby countries.

 

The raid resulted in the seizure of vital evidence, including 10 computers, 26 mobile phones, and other related equipment. Officers believe these items were integral to the fraudulent operations being conducted from the location.

 

The scam network reportedly extended its reach, utilising various properties across northern Thailand, including housing estates and hotels, to orchestrate telecom scams.

 

Thailand is emerging as a key hub for these operations, with scammers exploiting social media and telecom platforms to ensnare victims in unlawful undertakings.

 

Lt. Gen. Kritthapol noted that the investigation would widen its scope, aiming to dismantle grey businesses run by Chinese nationals in the region.

 

The operation underscores the rising issue of foreign-led scams in Thailand. Authorities are determined to eradicate these activities, focusing on how these networks penetrate legitimate housing estates and businesses to carry out their scams.

 

As investigations progress, the police remain committed to identifying and dismantling these complex networks that exploit individuals both locally and internationally.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-02

 

 

[ronster]

Wherever there is a bunch of Chinese people living in a middle to upper class  housing project or gated community you can bet they are all up to no good .

[NemoH]

Thailand has effectively open its borders to crime syndicates rather than treasured tourists. Its liberal tourism policies have invited unwanted ‘guests’… who has taken advantage of the lax law enforcement in all areas .. eg. Airbnb, liberal approvals of repeat visa extension for no reasons, no enforcement of ensuring a return air ticket when tourist comes to Thailand, no ensuring that all tourist should have min of 20,000 Thai baht on arrival ..etc …..🤣🤣

 

it will soon degenerate when even the stable real tourists will reconsider coming to Thailand and long term visa holders leaving Thailand due to the degenerating and ever increasing crimes committed within Thailand….

 

 

[NemoH]

10 minutes ago, ronster said:

Wherever there is a bunch of Chinese people living in a middle to upper class  housing project or gated community you can bet they are all up to no good .

Yep… because such big spending Chinese do not come to Thailand to spend such big time.. they go to Singapore or Europe or Canada. The type of Chinese tourists that come to Bangkok are looking at setting up cheap housing, business profitting from local Thailand and low cost crime set up in an environment of lax governmental administration, rigged administrative system with lax or nil police enforcement.

 

So it’s not rocket science for Thailand to figure out who you are really attracting 🤣🤣

[Packer]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

revealed that the Chinese nationals had acquired the luxury home using Thai nominees.

 

Ratted them out then split the value of the house with the cops? 

[BarraMarra]

No Packer it was a concerned Netizen that noticed a lot of people turning up.

[madone]

Same as it ever was, but now the majority of call centers are run by Asians for Asians, 

 

10 hours ago, webfact said:

The operation underscores the rising issue of foreign-led scams in Thailand.

 

[madone]

1 hour ago, NemoH said:

Thailand has effectively open its borders to crime syndicates rather than treasured tourists. Its liberal tourism policies have invited unwanted ‘guests’… who has taken advantage of the lax law enforcement in all areas .. eg. Airbnb, liberal approvals of repeat visa extension for no reasons, no enforcement of ensuring a return air ticket when tourist comes to Thailand, no ensuring that all tourist should have min of 20,000 Thai baht on arrival ..etc …..🤣🤣

 

it will soon degenerate when even the stable real tourists will reconsider coming to Thailand and long term visa holders leaving Thailand due to the degenerating and ever increasing crimes committed within Thailand….

 

 

 

I'm unclear why you think any of this is new or recent? 

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

The scam network reportedly extended its reach, utilising various properties across northern Thailand, including housing estates and hotels, to orchestrate telecom scams.

Time the owners of these properties were also prosecuted.

Make it mandatory that they have to do a physical inspection every week and report any illegal findings to the police.

It would stop these scams overniight.

 

[Iron Tongue]

2 hours ago, ronster said:

Wherever there is a bunch of Chinese people living in a middle to upper class  housing project or gated community you can bet they are all up to no good .

 

That's a bit unfair.  There are plenty of honest, hard-working Chinese people everywhere, otherwise there'd be nobody these criminals could target with their Scams.

However, if there are 15 Chinese living in one house -those are up to no good.

 

[Quentin Zen]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

responding to reports of illegal online gambling schemes operating from the property.

How would anyone know that?   I can't imagine it's loud.   I'm running a 10 inch laptop under the bed, mining Bitcoin.  shhhhh....

 

someone snitched.  

 

someone won't be happy when they pay to get the name

 

 

[Magictoad]

54 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Time the owners of these properties were also prosecuted.

Make it mandatory that they have to do a physical inspection every week and report any illegal findings to the police.

It would stop these scams overniight.

 

Overnight? LOL. What's to stop the owner taking a bribe if they are not already!

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, Magictoad said:

Overnight? LOL. What's to stop the owner taking a bribe if they are not already!

You obviously doidn't understand my post.

To clarify

If the house is raided by police and found to be used by scammers, the owner will also be prosecuted for aiding and abetting.... easy to understand.

[transam]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Time the owners of these properties were also prosecuted.

Make it mandatory that they have to do a physical inspection every week and report any illegal findings to the police.

It would stop these scams overniight.

 

You don't live in a luxury house then..........😉

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, transam said:

You don't live in a luxury house then..........😉

I live very comfortable in my abode thanks... and I don't rent out to scammers

[transam]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I live very comfortable in my abode thanks... and I don't rent out to scammers

Hence, your previous comment..............😉

[gargamon]

I've received calls from obviously Chinese scammers. I say hello, they say “you not Chinese?' I say no. They hang up.

[J Branche]

22 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Time the owners of these properties were also prosecuted.

Make it mandatory that they have to do a physical inspection every week and report any illegal findings to the police.

It would stop these scams overniight.

 

Landlord here.  It is in the Lease that they will Not run a business or conduct any illegal activities on the property or they may be evicted.

 

Harassing the tenant will not get you a renewal and they may do something stupid and leave.  I do advise inspecting the property with new tenants.  I do this by informing them I want to check all the sinks for leaks, clean AC, check for any other items that need service.

 

Inspection is in the Lease also