Police in Thailand have dismantled a Chinese gang accused of staging a fake kidnapping to extort money. Four suspects, including the victim's boyfriend, were arrested in Samut Prakan. They face charges of illegal entry and potential deportation.

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The arrests followed an investigation by the Crime Suppression Division and the Immigration Bureau. The suspects were found in a rented house in Bang Phli district. The group allegedly faked the kidnapping of a 19-year-old woman, Ms Tong, to extract a ransom from her father in China.

Ms Tong's father reported receiving ransom demands after video clips showed her being assaulted. He transferred 110,000 yuan (about 550,000 baht) believing she was in Myanmar. Police traced the videos to Ms Tong's location in Huai Khwang, Bangkok.

Investigations revealed Ms Tong stayed in Bangkok before moving with the group to Samut Prakan. Authorities discovered six Chinese nationals in the house and questioned them. Mr You, Ms Tong’s boyfriend, admitted to orchestrating the fake kidnapping scam.

The suspects confessed to the scheme aimed at deceiving Ms Tong's father. They have been handed over to local police and are set for deportation proceedings. Two other Chinese nationals found at the scene were not detained as they entered Thailand legally.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Bangkok Post · 16 Apr 2026

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Usual scamming Chinese MO BS that is everywhere but no-one wants to front-it-up because they are spinless and scared... they are everywhere, both the perps and thier victims. There is no virtue in Chinese society/culture now in any way... just exploitation, cynicism, and contempt, as long as it makes money and they get away with what they can for as long as possible regardless of the cost to others... no soul.

The Bangkok Post version that this article was adapted from clears up the confusion about Ms Tong!

Seems she is not a victim at all, but one of the four suspects, and she was fully involved in the staged kidnapping.

It also notes that Thai police were tipped off by Chinese authorities, who were already tracking the group.

It also turns out Mr You is wanted in China for scam‑related offences, which makes the whole “fake abduction” look like just another extension of their wider criminal activity.

Given the gang's history, it’s surprising the charge mentioned is only illegal entry, when their activities seem more like fraud, extortion, filing false reports, and even cross‑border criminal activity.