BANGKOK — Immigration police at Don Mueang Airport intercepted a Chinese national holding a Thailand Privilege Card, also known as an Elite Visa, as he attempted to flee the country on Friday. The suspect, Mr. Da Qiang, was detained under an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on June 13, 2025.
He faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud the public, entering false data into a computer system, conspiracy to launder money and operating an illegal lottery.
Authorities said the man entered Thailand under the Thailand Privilege Card program, commonly known as the Elite Visa. The scheme offers long-term visas and premium immigration services to foreign nationals who pay membership fees.
Following the arrest at the airport, officers escorted the suspect to his residence on Soi Rang Nam in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi district for a search. They confiscated three mobile phones, 10 ATM and credit cards, 12 SIM cards, and numerous money-transfer receipts and bank transaction slips.
How the Scam Worked
The case began in late March when a victim filed a police report after encountering what appeared to be a legitimate business opportunity on Facebook. The target was invited to join a LINE group with over 700 members that claimed to offer e-commerce opportunities.
As a test, the person sold one item for 1,420 baht and received genuine payment. Encouraged by this initial success, they contacted administrators to withdraw the earnings. The fraudsters directed them to register through a fake “SELLER CENTER” website and contact their so-called financial staff.
The scammers explained that while sales revenue had entered the system, withdrawals were blocked because the store’s visibility settings hadn’t been activated.
The Trap Tightens
The target was then moved to a smaller, private LINE group called “Store Visibility Activation.” There, they were instructed to complete activities requiring upfront cash transfers, supposedly to circulate product inventory. The fake website displayed realistic transaction data and growing account balances, making the scheme appear legitimate.
Each time the victim attempted to withdraw funds, the criminals invented new reasons why it wasn’t possible—demanding additional payments to unlock accounts, meet minimum thresholds, or resolve fabricated technical issues. The victim continued transferring money, believing each payment would be the last one needed.
In the end, no withdrawals were ever processed. Total losses exceeded 2.9 million baht ($89,700)
Major Investigation Uncovers Network
Police conducted an extensive investigation that led to arrest warrants for 34 suspects—10 Chinese nationals and 24 Thai citizens. The operation spanned multiple levels of criminal activity, from financiers and operation managers to money launderers, mule account operators, account brokers, and cash withdrawal coordinators.
Authorities executed arrests in two phases: April 8, 2025, and May 7, 2025. A total of 28 suspects were apprehended, and officers seized 12 laptops, 64 mobile phones, and other assets valued at over 6 million baht ($89,700).
Extended investigations identified Mr. Da Qiang as a key money launderer operating within Thailand. His role involved converting digital currency (USDT) into Thai baht and Chinese yuan, then distributing funds to various members of the criminal network.
Financial records revealed that over an 18-month period, he processed more than 330 million baht ($10.2 million) worth of cryptocurrency through various exchange platforms, channeling the money to multiple call center fraud operations.
Suspect Denies Involvement
During interrogation, Da Qiang denied the criminal charges but confirmed he operated digital wallets and handled currency exchanges. He claimed he was simply following instructions from Chinese clients and was unaware of any illegal activity.
Police have retained all evidence and transferred the suspect to prosecutors for legal proceedings.
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