Police Dismantle 'Style Cycle' Scam Ring, Arrest 17 Suspects
Police arrested 17 suspects across 11 provinces in a takedown of the "Style Cycle" online scam ring that defrauded victims of millions of baht through fake shop registrations and account activation schemes. The gang operated a sophisticated
On July 24, 2025, the Central Investigation Police Command announced the takedown of the 'Style Cycle' gang following coordinated raids across 19 locations in 11 provinces: Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Chachoengsao, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Sa Kaeo, Tak, Kanchanaburi, Roi Et, Lampang, Chiang Rai, and Chiang Mai. Police arrested 17 suspects—three involved in money laundering and control, seven in fund transfers and cash withdrawals, and seven operating fake bank accounts—and seized approximately 23 million baht in assets including luxury vehicles, cash in multiple currencies, gold bars, jewelry, designer goods, and other valuables.
According to investigators, the scam began when victims were lured via Facebook to open online shops and join a Line OpenChat group called "Style Cycle Market" with over 1,000 members. After registration, victims were told their withdrawals were blocked due to insufficient sales credit and were directed to another group where they were deceived into transferring money multiple times—some amounts reaching millions of baht—to supposedly "activate" their accounts and process inventory. The victim in this case transferred money 25 times totaling 14.75 million baht but could never withdraw funds.
Financial investigations revealed the gang operated a complex money-laundering scheme: they moved funds to purchase goods for export to Cambodia, withdrew cash to Chinese networks in Bangkok's Ratchadamri area, and purchased gold to obscure origins. A front company in Mae Sot, Tak province, laundered money for scammer gangs in Myanmar and Cambodia, taking a 25 percent commission. Money collectors received a 5 percent fee for cash delivery to Chinese networks. In 2568 (2025), the network cycled over 149 million baht and was linked to over 226 other online fraud cases totaling more than 17 million baht in losses.
Investigators also found that Thai nationals operating the fake accounts were themselves victims of recruitment scams. They responded to job postings on Facebook and TikTok offering admin or driver work paying 18,000–19,000 baht monthly. Upon falling for the scheme, they were taken to open multiple bank accounts, placed in vans, and transported to the border regions of Sa Kaeo and Chachoengsao under armed guard. They were forced across the Thailand-Cambodia border into Poipet, where their phones and documents were confiscated. Held in an iron-barred room under 24-hour armed guard, they were forced to edit images and pose as admins to scam Thai victims. One account holder reported being ordered to scan his face repeatedly to confirm money transfers over three to four days while facing threats.
