Pictures courtesy of Amarin

Immigration Police and Pak Kret Police have dismantled a major romance scam operation in Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi, arresting 13 foreign suspects during coordinated raids on 19 January 2026. The suspects were taken into custody after officers surrounded and searched a condominium complex, where some were found actively chatting with victims while others attempted to flee.

The operation followed a complaint filed in late 2025 by a Thai woman with Nong Khai City Police, after she was allegedly deceived through Facebook and Line by an account using the name Bingwen Fu. The account displayed a profile image of a Chinese engineer and built a romantic relationship with the victim, regularly sending images of supposed construction work.

In early 2026, the suspect claimed to be involved in a large construction project but said funds could not be withdrawn, asking the victim to transfer money in advance with a promise of repayment. The victim transferred money four times to mule accounts, suffering losses exceeding 2 million baht.

Police traced the financial transactions and charged the Thai account holders, then later identified the organisers, a large group consisting of 11 Nigerian nationals and 2 Ivory Coast nationals. Investigators found the group had divided roles including scammers, cash withdrawers and account recruiters, coordinating through an application and operating from a base in Muang Thong Thani.

Following intelligence reports, senior officers including Pol Lt Gen Phanumas Boonyaluck, Commissioner of Immigration Bureau, ordered a joint investigation by Immigration Police and Pak Kret Police. At around 1.00pm on 19 January 2026, officers raided the condominium at a time when suspects were believed to be chatting with victims.

During the raid, some suspects were found actively conducting romance scams on electronic devices, while others ran barefoot in an attempt to escape but were apprehended. Police arrested 13 suspects in total, comprising 11 Nigerians and two Ivorians.

Checks revealed that eight suspects had overstayed their visas, while five Nigerian suspects had no entry records and admitted entering Thailand illegally via the Laos border. All were charged with overstaying and illegal entry into the kingdom.

Police seized more than 34 communication devices, including four computers and 29 mobile phones. Preliminary examinations showed coordinated team operations, warning messages in group chats and active romance scam conversations impersonating wealthy European and Asian nationals targeting Thai and foreign women.

Amarin reported that investigators also linked the group to the Nong Khai case and revealed some suspects cohabited with Thai partners, persuading them to use bank accounts or withdraw cash. Funds were allegedly sent to Nigeria via cryptocurrency, with police planning further investigations to dismantle the wider network.

Key Takeaways

• Police arrested 13 foreign suspects in a romance scam operation based in Muang Thong Thani.

• The scam caused losses of more than 2 million baht to a Thai victim.

• Authorities are expanding the investigation to target the wider criminal network.

Related stories

Elderly-couple-tricked-into-paying-fake-ransom-in-Thailand

Zimbabwean-man-arrested-for-Phuket-romance-scam

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Amarin 2026-01-22

 

 

This operation by Immigration and local police is a pleasing victory in the fight against organized cybercrime.

While the location of this particular ring was in Thailand, it highlights a global problem: romance scams are a particularly heinous form of predation!

These criminals do not simply steal money, they weaponize human emotion and loneliness. They meticulously build false trust and affection, exploiting the vulnerabilities of people seeking companionship.

The damage inflicted is profound, leaving victims with not only financial loss but also deep emotional trauma and shattered trust. Targeting such operations, wherever they emerge, is essential to protecting the most susceptible in our societies.

On a lighter note, given the regional nature of such cross-border criminal networks, perhaps Thailand could pioneer a new task force—Regional Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or RICE.

It would certainly be a fitting acronym for a unit dedicated to cleaning up these sticky situations in Asia!

18 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Checks revealed that eight suspects had overstayed their visas, while five Nigerian suspects had no entry records and admitted entering Thailand illegally via the Laos border. All were charged with overstaying and illegal entry into the kingdom.

why are we not suspired this is happening over and over again...

Death sentence will stop this scumbags.

Every black i meet in Thailand r scammers. Lie their diamond or gold dealers. Im not that stupid

2 hours ago, norsurin said:

Death sentence will stop this scumbags.

Every black i meet in Thailand r scammers. Lie their diamond or gold dealers. Im not that stupid

Not stupid but sounds quite racist.

These guys are giving real Nigerian princes a bad name. I hope my prince is ok and the 10mil he’s promised me is safe.

The Nigerians are never far away when it comes to scams or drugs.

How else do young Nigerian guys support themselves hanging around in Thailand?

They don't like or want to work, not that they are allowed to here.

53 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

The Nigerians are never far away when it comes to scams or drugs.

How else do young Nigerian guys support themselves hanging around in Thailand?

They don't like or want to work, not that they are allowed to here.

Excuse me, they are future engineers and scientists and well respected members of the Sukhumvit community....555555.

They don't like it up 'em.

Oh! Turns out they do.

In early 2026, the suspect claimed to be involved in a large construction project but said funds could not be withdrawn, asking the victim to transfer money in advance with a promise of repayment.

Should be a red flag to anyone....

22 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

This operation by Immigration and local police is a pleasing victory in the fight against organized cybercrime.

While the location of this particular ring was in Thailand, it highlights a global problem: romance scams are a particularly heinous form of predation!

These criminals do not simply steal money, they weaponize human emotion and loneliness. They meticulously build false trust and affection, exploiting the vulnerabilities of people seeking companionship.

The damage inflicted is profound, leaving victims with not only financial loss but also deep emotional trauma and shattered trust. Targeting such operations, wherever they emerge, is essential to protecting the most susceptible in our societies.

On a lighter note, given the regional nature of such cross-border criminal networks, perhaps Thailand could pioneer a new task force—Regional Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or RICE.

It would certainly be a fitting acronym for a unit dedicated to cleaning up these sticky situations in Asia!

Agreed. I sometimes watch socialcatfish.com ... they help those targeted in romance scams. Interesting stuff and a nice team, also work with another similar bunch involved tracking down wider scams.

What I can't understand is why this lot didn't stay in Nigeria - it's all done by Internet and crypto/dollars anyway.

Must admit I have thought about putting my charm and seductive talents to this use 555 sadly I have a scruple too many.

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

In early 2026, the suspect claimed to be involved in a large construction project but said funds could not be withdrawn, asking the victim to transfer money in advance with a promise of repayment.

Should be a red flag to anyone....

Not if you're desperately lonely unfortunately. These romance scammers are really disgusting parasites. See socialcatfish.com ... The victims are nearly all seriously vulnerable in one form or another.

13 hours ago, blaze master said:

Not stupid but sounds quite racist.

Not at all.The last black guy i meet in Bangkok was thrown out the hotel i stayed in because of lack of payments for his room.

In addition to their crimes people without a visa should be severely punished not just black listed.

18 hours ago, norsurin said:

Death sentence will stop this scumbags.

Every black i meet in Thailand r scammers. Lie their diamond or gold dealers. Im not that stupid

I have a hard time myself believing any of these African people, especially Nigerians, are actually working for a living, except scamming, if you can call that work.

A few years ago I stayed some months in Indonesia, at a boarding house, with 18 rooms. 10 rooms were occupied by Nigerians, one by me, and only a couple of rooms by Indonesians. I repeatedly asked what the Nigerians' occupation were, how they made their money to be able to live there. Black people were very rare to see in that area, so it was a legit question.

But it was all a secret, and they served me a bs story. In the end though, they admitted what they were doing, when I got close enough to one of them. Correct, romance scams.

It all seems familiar with this story, they had different tasks, one of them handled the money, giving out a monthly salary from their scams.

A few weeks later we had a check at our boarding house from immigration. I think due to a tip from one of the Indonesians in the building (although I really wanted to tip the police myself, but chickened out. I could have been a target for some retaliation later on..). And yes, all 10 of them were brought in for long overstays, and they were finally deported.

Unfortunately they weren't charged for the scams in Indonesia, so kudos to Thai police for doing that to these Nigerians. I wonder if they work for the same criminals in Nigeria as the ones in Indonesia did..

3 hours ago, norsurin said:

Not at all.The last black guy i meet in Bangkok was thrown out the hotel i stayed in because of lack of payments for his room.

This one time at band camp.

On 1/22/2026 at 3:06 PM, Jim Waldron said:

This operation by Immigration and local police is a pleasing victory in the fight against organized cybercrime.

While the location of this particular ring was in Thailand, it highlights a global problem: romance scams are a particularly heinous form of predation!

These criminals do not simply steal money, they weaponize human emotion and loneliness. They meticulously build false trust and affection, exploiting the vulnerabilities of people seeking companionship.

The damage inflicted is profound, leaving victims with not only financial loss but also deep emotional trauma and shattered trust. Targeting such operations, wherever they emerge, is essential to protecting the most susceptible in our societies.

On a lighter note, given the regional nature of such cross-border criminal networks, perhaps Thailand could pioneer a new task force—Regional Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or RICE.

It would certainly be a fitting acronym for a unit dedicated to cleaning up these sticky situations in Asia!

Very well said. These groups (individuals) often prey upon people who are lonely, isolated and vulnerable. I consider myself to be a bright, independent woman with good critical thinking skills. However, when I was younger, I took a job teaching in Ethiopia (a US fellowship program) and while living there met an Ethiopia man. I was lonely and isolated. He seemed wonderful, with a lovely family. I thought it was a real relationship and that I was helping good people. Six months together, a marriage, green card and some money lost, to find out he was already married and his family was in on the scam. I luckily only lost a bit of money, lots of time, heartache and a lawyer to get the marriage annuled. Not exactly the same as an online scam, but also horrible experience to learn a valuable lesson. These people are very good at grift and scams and should all be punished harshly.