Two Chinese nationals have been arrested in Chiang Mai for leading an online fraud operation that coerced victims into using their bank accounts as money mules. Region 5 Police announced the arrests on April 29, identifying the suspects as Yang Pengyu, 23 and Yang Jie, 31. A 24-year-old Thai woman from Lamphun, described as Yang Jie’s girlfriend, was also detained for her role as an intermediary.

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The case began on April 2 when a woman filed a complaint with Chiang Mai City Police, stating that she and her daughter had accepted housekeeping work advertised on Facebook. On February 27, they arrived at a hotel in Mae Hia subdistrict, where they were confronted by two Chinese men and forced to use their bank accounts to receive and transfer funds. One transaction involved 97,800 baht used to purchase two iPhone 17 Pro Max handsets, with funds later traced to an online fraud case in Nakhon Pathom.

On April 19, police received a tip-off from a mobile phone shop employee that Yang Jie had attempted to purchase 20 iPhone 17 Pro Max units. Officers followed him to a rented property in Nong Phueng subdistrict, where they found Yang Pengyu and the Thai woman. A search uncovered images of cash, gold bars and stacked phones, along with evidence of parcels being shipped to shops nationwide.

Investigators said message conversations revealed a coordinated effort to recruit Thai nationals to provide bank accounts for receiving fraud proceeds. The suspects allegedly converted illicit funds into gold bars and mobile phones, distributing the devices through shops in various provinces to launder money. Receipts indicated the scheme had been repeated multiple times.

Police identified two additional victims. A 31-year-old man from Saraphi reported being lured with an online lottery transfer job on April 5 and forced to authenticate transactions using facial recognition on his bank account. His account was linked to fraud cases in Si Sa Ket and Samut Sakhon. A 20-year-old woman from Doi Lo said she was recruited on March 28, taken to a rented room and forced to withdraw 65,000 baht in Mae Hia and hand it over. Her account was linked to fraud proceeds reported in Pathum Wan, Bangkok.

Authorities say the case highlights a growing trend of coercion-based mule account scams, with victims exploited through deceptive job offers. Police are continuing their investigation and expect further arrests as they track additional suspects and financial links.

Pictures courtesy of ChiangMaiCityLife

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Chiangmaicitylife 4 May 2026

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Just now, Georgealbert said:

Two Chinese nationals have been arrested in Chiang Mai for leading an online fraud operation that coerced victims into using their bank accounts as money mules.

And what constitutes a mule account? One characteristic is an account where money is deposited and then, after say 5 minutes, quickly withdrawn.