Woman Arrested For Operating Shell Companies In Scam Ring
Police arrested a 46-year-old woman in Chiang Mai who opened shell companies for a scam network that defrauded over 100 million baht, after she previously worked for call center gangs in neighboring countries before launching her own operat
On July 7, 2024, the Crime Suppression Division arrested Ms. Thanyarat, 46, at an apartment in Saraphi district, Chiang Mai. She was wanted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the public, inputting false data into computer systems, money laundering, and operating illegal gambling operations.
Investigators discovered an organized criminal network that deceived people into investing through online platforms. The gang operated systematically, with recruiters luring victims and specialists opening shell company bank accounts—over 50 companies in total—to receive victim transfers.
More than 100 million baht was stolen from numerous victims who filed reports at police stations across multiple areas. About 50 suspects received arrest warrants.
Thanyarat was identified as a company director of one of the over 50 shell companies used as fronts. Victims transferred approximately 3 million baht into her company's accounts before she fled to Chiang Mai.
Under interrogation, Thanyarat admitted she previously worked for call centers and illegal gambling websites in neighboring countries, learning their operations. She later partnered with former colleagues to establish shell companies and opened four bank accounts in corporate names, providing them to call center gangs for illegal transactions. She received revenue shares as compensation.
She also admitted to sourcing and registering phone numbers—known as "sim horses"—for the scam gangs. Police transferred her to Klong Tan Station for further legal proceedings.
