4th August 2025 – (Bangkok) In Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim district, authorities apprehended 18 Chinese nationals orchestrating a call centre fraud scheme from an opulent residence exceeding 40 million baht in value on 31st July. During the operation, eight suspects sustained injuries while attempting to flee, including one with a broken leg after leaping from the second floor.
Deputy Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 5, Pol Maj Gen Thawatchai Phongwiwatchai, revealed that cybercrime officers and tourist police executed the raid at the property in Moo 2, Tambon Huai Sai, Mae Rim district, acting on a search warrant issued by the Chiang Mai Provincial Court.
Upon entry, law enforcement discovered Chinese individuals actively engaged in fraudulent activities using computers and mobile devices. The suspects made desperate attempts to escape, resulting in injuries from falls during attempts to evade capture.
The investigation uncovered a cache of over 20 computers, 100 mobile phones, and Chinese SIM cards employed in contacting victims. The fraudulent operation, overseen by a Chinese leader, had been operational for approximately three months, with lower-level operatives residing and working in the house continuously.
Initial findings revealed that suspects were receiving monthly salaries ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 yuan (50,000-100,000 baht). The fraudulent schemes targeted Chinese individuals through various online platforms, involving fake product sales, airline ticket scams, banking fraud, and extortion schemes.
Authorities are intensifying their probe to identify the masterminds behind the operation and explore potential connections to transnational criminal networks. The arrests followed sustained surveillance efforts based on intelligence reports on the group’s illicit activities, culminating in a successful police operation sanctioned by a court warrant.