Thai Police Uncover Romance Scam Syndicate, Arrest Six Suspects Involving Over 1.2 Billion Baht

Recently, Thai police arrested four Thai citizens and two Nigerian men suspected of participating in a romance scam. They allegedly funneled funds to international crime syndicates through "money mule" accounts. According to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the arrests were part of "Operation Black Horse," which was launched in October following complaints. So far, the syndicate has defrauded over 50 million baht.

The Criminal Court issued eight arrest warrants, leading to a police raid on October 8 at five locations in Bangkok. Five suspects were arrested, including three Thai women, a Thai man, and a Nigerian man. On Wednesday, the DSI was informed of the sixth suspect, Christian (surname undisclosed), who was detained by immigration police for violating visa regulations. Investigations indicate that Christian was the leader of the group.

According to DSI, the syndicate managed over 1,000 "money mule" accounts, with transactions totaling over 1.2 billion baht. These accounts were also linked to foreign criminal syndicates, including call centers, drug traffickers, and other romance scammers.

The suspects now face charges of public fraud, uploading false information, and money laundering. The DSI stated that they are pursuing the remaining individuals involved and plan to cooperate with the Anti-Money Laundering Office to track down the group’s accomplices and other criminal networks. The DSI warned the public not to open bank accounts for others in exchange for money or other benefits, as this violates the 2023 Emergency Decree on Measures for the Prevention and Suppression of Technological Crimes. Offenders could face up to three years in prison and/or a fine of up to 300,000 baht.