14 Thai Nationals Arrested in Cross-Border Job Scam Involving Mule Bank Accounts

SA KAEO — On February 19, 2026, fourteen Thai nationals were arrested after being lured by an online job scam that took them across the border to Cambodia, where they were forced to open mule bank accounts before being sent back to Thailand, authorities reported. The Burapha Task Force, led by Col. Chainarong Kasee, conducted a late-night patrol near the Thai-Cambodian border and intercepted the group of nine men and five women who had illegally entered Thailand. The victims explained they had applied for jobs through a Facebook group promising high pay. Upon crossing to Poipet, Cambodia, they were detained in a multi-story building where their personal documents and phones were confiscated. The suspects used their personal data to open online bank accounts, forcing them to verify accounts through banking applications. After the accounts were opened, the group was returned to Thailand through a natural border route. All 14 individuals were taken for questioning and handed over to local police. Authorities warned the public to be cautious of social media job offers that require illegal cross-border travel or promise unrealistic income.