Chinese Fraudsters Busted Withdrawing Money From Mule Accounts
Authorities in Chiang Mai have arrested two Chinese nationals and a Thai woman suspected of operating a cash-mule scheme linked to international scam gangs. The group was caught withdrawing large sums of cash from bank accounts used in fraudulent activities and is believed to have direct ties to Chinese-based criminal operations.
Lt. Gen. Krittaphon Yee Sakorn, Commander of Region 5 Provincial Police, announced that the suspects were captured at a major shopping centre in central Chiang Mai. Security staff grew suspicious after noticing multiple large ATM withdrawals being made by Thai account holders under close supervision by two foreign men.
When police approached the suspects, they attempted to flee but were quickly surrounded and detained. Officers identified the suspects as 29-year-old Qin Long and 30-year-old Zhang Luping, both Chinese nationals, and 40-year-old Sudarat Aree, a Thai citizen. Seized at the scene were 1,140,000 baht in cash, four mobile phones, and three Thai bank books.
Initial questioning revealed that Qin and Zhang had entered Thailand about a month earlier on tourist visas. Acting under instructions from a leader in China, they were tasked with overseeing cash withdrawals from mule accounts and redepositing the funds into other accounts as directed.
The two men admitted to conducting at least ten rounds of withdrawals and deposits. Their local associate, Ms. Sudarat, claimed she was paid between 5,000 and 10,000 baht per transaction to use her personal bank accounts and carry out withdrawals. She said she did not know the origin of the funds.
Police discovered that her accounts were linked to scams involving fake product sales and fraudulent crypto investments. Victims in three cases—two in Bangkok and one in Songkhla—lost more than 680,000 baht, all transferred into Ms. Sudarat’s accounts.
Authorities believe the trio is part of a wider network of fraudsters connected to recent arrests in the Maeping area. A Thai accomplice in Songkhla who helped Ms. Sudarat open her bank accounts has also been identified, and an arrest warrant has been issued.
Lt. Gen. Krittaphon said that the gang was working for a larger criminal organization behind numerous scams targeting both Thai and Chinese victims. These include fake e-commerce sites, bogus investment schemes, and call center frauds.
The arrests come amid broader efforts to clamp down on call center operations and border-related crime. According to police, enforcement actions, heightened surveillance at border checkpoints, and recent international repatriations have caused significant disruption to scam activities across northern Thailand.
“Scams in the Region 5 area, which includes eight northern provinces, have dropped by 90%,” Lt. Gen. Krittaphon said. “Although some criminal activity still exists near Tachilek in Myanmar and Poipet in Cambodia, we’re seeing a substantial decline in victims.”
Police say the investigation into this ring is ongoing and that they intend to track down every link in the operation, both in Thailand and abroad. The suspects face charges related to fraud and violations of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
