Phetkasem police seized money from the Chinese gray gang supplying mule accounts, returning 500,000 baht promptly to a victim who reported the case at Prachachuen Police Station. Pol. Maj. Gen. Samart Promchat, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 9, praised the effort as restoring happiness and presenting a New Year gift to the victim.
Following government policy, state officials have been ordered to urgently crack down on technology-related crimes that greatly harm the public. The Royal Thai Police have been tasked to vigorously implement this policy with concrete results by promptly freezing accounts used in crimes and recovering funds to compensate victims as quickly as possible.
Under the direction of Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol. Maj. Gen. Pallop Aermla, Deputy Commissioner, Pol. Maj. Gen. Phonthit Chairas, Deputy Commissioner, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Chotiwat Luangwilai, Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Crime Suppression Division, officers have been ordered to swiftly arrest suspects to restore happiness to citizens victimized by online fraud.
At 14:00 on 16 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Pol. Maj. Gen. Samart Promchat, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 9, Pol. Col. Theerachai Dedkhard, Pol. Col. Naruphon Thanakritanon, deputy commanders, Pol. Col. Pramot Janboonkaew, superintendent of Phetkasem Police Station, and Pol. Lt. Col. Denanai Wattanawijitnon, deputy investigation chief, held a press conference on the Money Cash Back operation, returning 500,000 baht to Mrs. Aranya (surname withheld), a victim of online fraud, at the Metropolitan Police Division 9 headquarters.
The case details are as follows: On 30 Oct 2025 GMT+7 at 15:04, Mrs. Aranya was deceived into transferring money from her account in four transactions totaling 2.7 million baht. The scammers posed as officials from a mobile network company, claiming her information was linked to a legal case. They transferred her call to an impersonated police officer from Phichit Provincial Police Station, added a Line account named after that station, provided case details, and instructed her to transfer money for verification. After realizing she was scammed, she filed an online complaint at Prachachuen Police Station. Subsequent investigation revealed that Phetkasem police arrested the Chinese gray gang supplying mule accounts withdrawing the cash at a department store in Bang Khae. Further inquiry found 500,000 baht cash on Mr. Thanakrit Siriwarang, who was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud at Phetkasem Police Station and the money was seized.
Upon discovering that the seized cash belonged to Mrs. Aranya, who had been defrauded by online criminals and had already filed a complaint, police coordinated with Prachachuen investigators to return the money to the victim.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Samart Promchat, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 9, said the victim was fortunate that police managed to seize the cash and contacted her to return it. This act restores happiness to the victim and serves as a New Year gift. He expressed gratitude to the Phetkasem police for their ongoing efforts in extending the investigation and disrupting the criminals’ operations. He noted that eight arrest warrants have been issued, five suspects charged, and searches conducted under the "Breaking the Mule Account Ring" operation, with the key achievement being the timely return of funds to the victim.
Mrs. Aranya, the victim, expressed great joy, saying she never expected to get any money back. When police contacted her to collect the refund, even though it was not the full amount, she was extremely happy and very thankful to the police. She warned the public not to trust scammers and to stay vigilant, as the chance of recovering lost money is very slim. She emphasized that the best protection is to avoid becoming a victim in the first place. She sincerely thanked the police once again, calling the refund a precious New Year gift.