CHIANG MAI — Thai police have uncovered a new type of Chinese scamming operation after arresting three suspects—two Chinese nationals and one Thai woman—hired to withdraw cash from mule accounts in Chiang Mai Province, seizing evidence worth millions of baht.
Lt. Gen. Krittapol Yisakorn, Commander of Provincial Police Region 5, announced the arrest results at Phuping Palace Police Station in Chang Phueak subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Mai district on August 7. The investigation began after receiving intelligence about suspicious cash withdrawal transactions by Chinese nationals in downtown Chiang Mai, leading officers to monitor TMBThanachart Bank at Central Chiang Mai Airport shopping center.
Million-Baht Cash Seizure
On August 5, the three suspects—Mr. Qin, 29, Chinese national; Mr. Zhang, 30, Chinese national; and Ms. Sudarat, 40, Thai national—went to conduct transactions by withdrawing money from TMBThanachart Bank. Police immediately arrested them and brought them for questioning at the Region 5 Technology Crime Suppression Center.
Officers discovered 530,000 baht in cash hidden in Mr. Qin’s backpack along with one mobile phone, and 610,000 baht ($18,860) in cash hidden in Mr. Zhang’s backpack along with three mobile phones, totaling 1,140,000 baht ($35,250). Ms. Sudarat was found with three bank account books, two ATM cards, and one mobile phone.
Confessions Reveal Organized Network
Both Chinese men confessed through interpreters that they received orders from a Chinese boss to travel from China to Thailand on tourist visas. Their job was to collect cash from Thai mule accounts and deposit the money into various bank accounts as instructed. They had conducted this operation more than 10 times across different mule accounts, receiving 300 yuan (approximately $42) per day as compensation.
Ms. Sudarat stated that she withdrew cash from banks using her own accounts on orders from the two Chinese men, without knowing the money’s origin. She received 5,000 baht ($155) for opening accounts and withdrawing money.
Expanded Investigation Reveals Multiple Victims
After confirming the suspects’ crimes, Phuping Palace Police Station investigators obtained arrest warrants from Chiang Mai Provincial Court, charging all three with conspiracy to defraud the public by impersonation. The investigation expanded to include Mr. Suthathorn, who allegedly recruited Ms. Sudarat to work as a cash withdrawer for the Chinese operation.
The investigation found victims who were deceived by the criminal group into completing tasks for rewards, transferring 538,669.60 baht into Ms. Sudarat’s Krung Thai Bank account on August 5—the exact amount withdrawn from the bank and seized by authorities.
Nationwide Fraud Network
Additional victims have filed complaints at multiple police stations:
- Bang Rak Police Station, Bangkok (case transferred to Phuping Palace Police Station)
- Ko Hong Police Station, Songkhla Province: damages of 108,709 baht (approximately $3,360)
- Hat Yai Police Station, Songkhla Province: damages of 74,515 baht (approximately $2,300)
“Chinese gangs have now changed their system. They hire Chinese people to stay in Thailand and recruit Thais to open mule accounts for 5,000-10,000 baht each, to deceive both Thai and Chinese people into transferring money into these mule accounts. Then they control the account owners to withdraw cash and feed the money into their call center gang system to avoid tracking,” Lt. Gen. Krittapol explained.
The case remains under investigation to determine if there are additional victims, enabling authorities to return seized assets to those affected.
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