Chinese Man and Thai Woman Held in Pattaya for Alleged Scam Plot

Photo via Channel 8

A Chinese man and his Thai girlfriend were arrested in Pattaya for allegedly attempting to harm a young Thai man involved in a mule account scheme. The victim, an 18-year-old Thai, filed a complaint after narrowly avoiding an assault by the suspects identified as 27-year-old Li Liang and 26-year-old Thidachom. This case highlights ongoing concerns over mule account scams in Thailand.

The incident began when the teenager sought part-time work online and responded to a job post by Thidachom. Thidachom and Liang took him to their condominium, allegedly forcing him to open an online wallet and hand over his bank accounts. The victim was paid 1,500 baht but was unaware his accounts would be used for illegal operations.

Days later, 400,000 baht was transferred to his account, leading him to suspect foul play. The teen froze the account, angering Liang and Thidachom, who allegedly coerced him to reverse the action under threats of harm. CCTV captured the Chinese man attempting to drag the victim back to the building, a move thwarted by nearby residents.

Following the report to police, officials raided the suspects' condominium on January 4. Authorities seized around four grammes of ketamine, drug paraphernalia, several bankbooks, and a laptop. They also discovered that Liang had overstayed his visa by over five months, adding legal complications to his case.

Both suspects are cooperating with police as investigations widen into their alleged scam activities. Liang faces charges of visa overstay, with potential additional charges related to the mule accounts and scams. The case underscores the importance of vigilance in online job offers and the ongoing fight against financial scams in Thailand, reported The Thaiger.

Key Takeaways

• A young Thai man was targeted in a mule account scam by a Chinese-Thai couple.

• Police intervention saved the victim after he was abducted for freezing his account.

• The suspects face charges over visa issues and potential related scams.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2026-01-05