BANGKOK, THAILAND – Police arrested a Chinese national at a hotel in Huai Khwang after he allegedly posed as an officer and defrauded Thai victims of large sums of money. Investigators seized 5,484,200 baht in cash, three land titles and two vehicles during the raid.
Raid on hotel room in Huai Khwang
Officers from Chachoengsao province carried out the arrest in a Bangkok hotel room under a court warrant. The suspect was detained in the room in the Huai Khwang district and taken into custody for questioning.
Alongside the cash, police confiscated three Chanot land documents and two cars as evidence. The seized assets were held for further examination as part of the ongoing investigation.
How the fraud started – phone call as pressure tool
The inquiry began after a complaint filed on 16 March, when a victim was contacted by a caller posing as a police officer. The caller claimed the victim was linked to a money laundering case and had to provide funds for supposed verification.
According to the report, the caller used the allegation to build pressure on the victim. The conversation set the stage for demands that the victim hand over money for what was presented as an official inspection.
Six hours on the phone – then a trip to the bank
Over a phone call lasting around six hours, the victim was put under such psychological pressure that they withdrew 1,826,800 baht from a bank and handed it to the alleged scammer. The transfer took place after prolonged persuasion and threats linked to the fabricated case.
The victim then made an additional transfer of 34,000 baht before the fraud was uncovered. Once the deception became clear, a formal complaint was lodged with the police.
Trail through a cash courier
During the investigation, officers first arrested a person named Kan Ya, who allegedly collected the cash and delivered it to the hotel in Huai Khwang. She was taken into custody as a suspected courier in the scheme.
Police stated that Kan Ya did not have legal immigration status in Thailand. Her testimony, together with other secured evidence, led to the court issuing an arrest warrant for the main suspect.
Senior officers on site – confession and charges
Deputy Region 2 police chief Chokchai Ngamwong went to the scene to oversee the operation and monitor the investigation. His presence underscored the importance the regional force placed on the case.
According to police, the suspect admitted to committing the fraud involving about 1.8 million baht. He was charged in line with the alleged offences and is expected to face further legal proceedings.
Police warning – no verification payments to officers
The police reminded the public that genuine officers never ask for bank transfers or cash withdrawals for verification purposes. They stressed that any such demand over the phone should be treated as suspicious.
“Anyone who receives these kinds of requests by phone should end the call immediately and contact a police station directly to report the incident.”
said the police, issuing a warning aimed at preventing similar scams.
Parallel case at the border – seven arrests in Kanchanaburi
In a separate case, immigration police in Kanchanaburi arrested seven Chinese nationals on 18 March following a search in Kaeng Sian. The group was detained as part of a border control operation.
Authorities said the suspects had no valid documents and were believed to have entered Thailand from Cambodia via Sa Kaeo. They reportedly told officers they were heading towards Myanmar and were supported by a network with backers in China and Myanmar, using Thailand as a transit route.