Police Arrest 20 in Isan Scam Network, Recover 3 Million Baht

Khon Kaen — At the Technology Crime Suppression Division 3 headquarters in Khon Kaen, Deputy National Police Commissioner Tri Rong Piw Phan and other senior officers announced the results of a sweep against a scammer network operating across the Isan region. Police arrested 20 suspects and recovered 3,088,294 baht for victims.

One major case involved an online stock trading fraud targeting a 70-year-old man, with losses totaling 19 million baht. Scammers built credibility by using SEC logos on their profiles, convincing the victim to transfer money 22 times to 15 different bank accounts. The gang used accounts registered under individuals, juristic persons, and companies to appear legitimate.

Investigation revealed foreign nationals were involved in cash management and withdrawals. Police obtained court warrants to arrest company directors and account holders, but the alleged Chinese investor remained in hiding. The breakthrough came by tracing financial flows through 13 money-mule accounts to the company Thanyasini Mobile, leading to the arrest of a cash courier and the company manager, Thanasini.

A second operation by Crime Suppression Division 2 arrested five suspects for social media investment scams and equipment sales fraud. They used fake investment returns and system-crash excuses to prevent victims from withdrawing funds. Police identified money laundering through 13 proxy accounts across multiple provinces and recovered partial refunds for victims.

Despite continuous enforcement efforts reducing incidents by over 50%, police data shows approximately 900 Thais still fall victim to these scams daily, with losses averaging 40 million baht per day. Bangkok and surrounding areas remain the most affected.