BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thai and South Korean authorities arrested 17 alleged members of a transnational call-center scam ring that had relocated to Bangkok after fleeing Cambodia.
Scam group fled Cambodia and rebuilt in Bangkok
The group of 17 suspects, including 14 South Koreans and three Chinese nationals aged 28 to 43, had allegedly operated its criminal enterprise in Cambodia before moving to Thailand under pressure from local authorities. After the move, they rented apartments in Bangkok’s Rama III and Lumpini districts to restart their activities. Police said General Major Nattasak Chaovanasai of the Central Investigation Bureau tracked the suspects from Pattaya before the coordinated raids.
High-yield investment fraud targeting South Koreans
Investigators stated that the suspects posed as staff of Genting Malaysia, a well-known resort and casino company, to gain the trust of South Korean targets. They allegedly lured victims into fraudulent investment schemes with promises of high returns, causing substantial financial harm. Between October 2024 and May 2025, the group reportedly obtained more than 20.1 billion won (about 14.6 million euros), with thousands of people defrauded.
Raids uncover professional call-center operation
Armed with court-approved search warrants, police stormed two condominiums that had been converted into what officers described as a highly professional operations center. The apartments were divided into about 20 small cubicles, each equipped with computers, phones and detailed call scripts. Officers seized more than 50 VoIP phones, 35 mobile phones, fake identification cards purporting to be South Korean prosecutors and extensive victim lists.
Two main impersonation schemes in use
Colonel Phanuphat Kittiphan of the Technology Crime Suppression Division outlined the alleged methods used by the ring.
“First, they pretended to be South Korean prosecutors or officials and threatened victims with criminal consequences.”
said Phanuphat Kittiphan, technology crime suppression officer.
“Second, they impersonated bank employees and pressured victims to take out loans and pay supposed processing fees.”
said Phanuphat Kittiphan, technology crime suppression officer.
Interpol-listed suspects and no Thai involvement
None of the 17 detainees were new to investigators, as all were already on an Interpol wanted list. During the operations, officers arrested 10 suspects in Rama III and three more in Lumpini, while the remaining detainees were taken into custody in related actions. According to police, all admitted to having worked illegally in Thailand, and investigators stated they ruled out the involvement of Thai nationals, saying the scheme was aimed specifically at South Koreans.
Extradition to South Korea expected
The suspects were distributed between Bang Phongphang and Lumpini police stations in Bangkok following the raids. Thai authorities said they were coordinating closely with the South Korean embassy on the next steps in the case. After legal procedures in Thailand are completed, the detainees are expected to be extradited to South Korea, where they face further serious charges, underscoring that, for cybercriminals, there are now increasingly few safe havens and that Thailand is no longer one of them.