Nine Scam Suspects Arrested After Pool Villa Party

Pictures courtesy of MGR

Highway police have arrested nine suspects accused of acting as “mule accounts” in an online scam network that defrauded a 65-year-old retired civil servant of 1.4 million baht. Police said the suspects were detained during an operation after investigators discovered the group had celebrated their success with a poolside party at a villa, while total losses linked to the network exceed 30 million baht.

The arrests were announced on 21 January 2026 by Pol Lt Gen Natthasak Cheowanat, Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, together with senior officers from the Highway Police Division. The operation, dubbed “Breaking the Pool Villa Mule Network”, targeted individuals who received and handled funds obtained from online fraud linked to Chinese scam operators.

The case stems from a complaint filed in November 2025 by a 65-year-old female pensioner in Pathum Thani province. She reported being contacted by call centre scammers posing as bank staff and officers from Maha Sarakham police, who accused her of involvement in a drug case and demanded money transfers to prove her innocence.

According to police, the scammers used a fake Line account impersonating Maha Sarakham Provincial Police to intimidate the victim. On 13 November 2025, she was persuaded to transfer 30,000 baht to a mule account, after which her bank account was restricted, prompting further instructions from the criminals.

The victim was then ordered to withdraw 800,000 baht in cash and told not to end the call or inform bank staff. She was instructed to place the cash in a bag outside an abandoned house opposite her home, where it was collected by a Malaysian national identified as Mr Lee Yong Hann Jovan.

Investigators said the victim was subsequently forced to report via video call every four hours. On 14 and 15 November 2025, she was further deceived into transferring 476,000 baht and 100,000 baht to mule accounts, bringing her total losses to more than 1.4 million baht.

Police identified nine Thai suspects, aged between 23 and 74, who allegedly acted as mule account holders and beneficiaries. A further suspect, Ms Natinee, also known as “Toon”, aged 30, is accused of coordinating with Chinese ringleaders and collecting cash and is currently detained at Klong Prem Central Prison.

Authorities also named Mr Lee as a key cash courier who entered Thailand with two other Malaysians via Suvarnabhumi Airport before leaving the country with the victim’s money. Police are seeking an Interpol Red Notice for his arrest and extradition.

Manager online reported that investigators said financial analysis linked the network to at least four other online fraud cases and revealed that the mule accounts were used by multiple scam groups. Police warned that genuine officers never collect cash, do not send official documents via messaging apps, and do not conduct investigations through video calls.

Key Takeaways

• Nine suspects were arrested for their alleged roles as mule accounts in an online scam network operating in Thailand.

• A 65-year-old retired civil servant lost more than 1.4 million baht after being deceived by fake police and bank officials.

• Police are pursuing an international arrest warrant for a Malaysian suspect accused of transporting cash overseas.

Adapted by ASEAN Now from mgronline 2026-01-24