Thai Cyber Police have made significant progress in the fight against online crime, dismantling two major operations involving mule accounts and SMS phishing scams. These coordinated raids highlight the growing scale of cyber fraud in Thailand and its deep ties to international criminal networks.
Mule Account Network Raid
The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) carried out a raid at a shopping mall in Lat Phrao after uncovering a network that used mule accounts to launder money from online scams. According to Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiewpan, the operation was run by a Vietnamese group that hired Thai brokers to recruit residents to open bank accounts.
Account holders were paid between 3,000 and 5,000 baht per account. Once funds from scams such as fake gold trading were deposited, the money was withdrawn and handed to Vietnamese organizers.
During surveillance, officers witnessed group members withdrawing cash and transferring it to handlers. When police moved in, suspect Nguyen Xuan Tung attempted to flee with a bag of money but dropped it while crossing Phahon Yothin Road. Inside was 400,000 baht in cash.
Nine others were detained, including five Vietnamese nationals, two Thai brokers, and two Thai account holders. Police identified Nguyen Ngoc Thuc as the network’s leader, who directed operations and managed cross-border transfers.
One Vietnamese woman admitted to converting the baht into dong and sending it overseas electronically. Authorities believe countless Thais were tricked into transferring money to these mule accounts as part of widespread online fraud.
Those arrested now face charges of transnational crime involvement, managing mule accounts, money laundering, and Computer Crime Act violations.
SMS Scam Operation: “Operation Khao San”
In a separate crackdown, Cyber Police arrested two men linked to a Chinese-led SMS scam ring that sent thousands of fraudulent texts across Bangkok.
The suspects, Nopparat Wetchakama and Mangkon Fuku, were caught in a white Suzuki Ertiga after investigators traced suspicious mobile signals. Inside the car, police discovered electronic devices powered by portable batteries, which were used to send between 5,000 and 10,000 phishing messages daily.
The fake messages impersonated banks and finance companies, luring victims into clicking links that allowed criminals to drain their accounts. The suspects confessed to being recruited by a Chinese organizer who supplied equipment, provided instructions, and paid them over 3,000 baht daily.
Initially, they used their own vehicles but later switched to rental cars, reducing their pay. Police believe the Chinese mastermind coordinated several scam teams operating in Bangkok and may be linked to other call-centre fraud operations dismantled in Thailand.
Both men face multiple charges, including illegal use of telecom equipment, fraud, and deception involving computer systems.
Broader Impact
Authorities say these arrests represent a significant blow to foreign-run crime groups operating in Thailand. Pol Lt Gen Trairong emphasized that the raids disrupted a major money laundering pipeline and exposed links between Vietnamese and Chinese syndicates exploiting Thai residents.
Cyber Police, working with telecom providers like AIS, continue to investigate wider connections between these scams and other international fraud rings.
As online crime escalates across Southeast Asia, officials warn the public to remain cautious of suspicious messages, too-good-to-be-true investments, and requests to open bank accounts for others.
