Former Poipet Gambling Site Admin Arrested Running SIM Box Scam
Police arrested a 22-year-old former Cambodian gambling site admin operating SIM boxes in Saraburi that defrauded victims across four provinces of nearly 740,000 baht.
Police Region 1 arrested a 22-year-old man named Anuphat and questioned his 20-year-old girlfriend following a raid on a rented room in Viharndaeng District, Saraburi Province. Officers discovered two SIM box devices, one capable of holding 32 SIM cards, CCTV cameras, internet signal equipment, and power backup systems inside the room.
Under questioning, Anuphat admitted he had worked as an administrator at an illegal gambling operation in Poipet, Cambodia, two to three years ago. After returning to Thailand due to border security concerns, he remained unemployed until a man named Ek, age 20, offered him work guarding SIM box equipment. Anuphat rented the room for 2,500 baht per month and was promised 1,000 to 2,000 baht as wages, but was arrested after only one week before receiving payment.
Investigators determined that the phone numbers from the SIM boxes had defrauded victims in multiple provinces: 34,080 baht in Ban Du, Chiang Rai; 335,000 baht in Mae Fa Luang, Chiang Rai; 22,000 baht in Bang Kruai, Nonthaburi; and 348,500 baht in Pak Khlong Rangsit, Pathum Thani. The girlfriend was released as a witness and not charged with any offence.
Police Region 1 reported that between 2025 and 2026, officers have conducted 17 raids nationwide targeting call center gangs and have seized 62 SIM box devices. Anuphat faces charges including unauthorized possession and operation of telecommunications equipment.
