Cyber police arrested a 41-year-old amulet expert after the amulet market declined. He devised the idea of selling lottery tickets featuring amulets online for more than two years, earning an average income of 20,000 baht per month.
On 9 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapol Prembutr, Commander of the Cyber Crime Division, together with Pol. Lt. Gen. Naradet Thiprak, Commander attached to the Royal Thai Police Office, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Kritchat Bamrungrattanayot, Commander of Cyber Crime Division 4, ordered Pol. Col. Anucha Srisamrong, Superintendent of Division 2, Cyber Crime Division 4; Pol. Lt. Col. Sirivit Mahatthanawisit, Deputy Superintendent of Division 2; Pol. Lt. Col. Phromphon Nitwiboon, Deputy Superintendent of the Intelligence Analysis Unit, Cyber Crime Division 4; assisted by Pol. Lt. Yutthapong Omramkonsil and Pol. Lt. Prempracha Utama, entered to arrest Mr. Chatchai, a 41-year-old amulet expert.
He was charged with "organizing gambling or using schemes to entice, advertise, or directly or indirectly induce others to gamble on electronic media without authorization from the authorities."
The investigation began when the Division 2 Cyber Crime Division 4 discovered a Facebook user with more than 10,000 followers posting lottery tickets and inviting the public to participate in online gambling for a chance to win amulets of Luang Pu Liu framed in gold and various consolation prizes. The results were announced on the 1st and 16th of every month, which is illegal.
Further investigation identified the Facebook account owner as Mr. Chatchai, residing in Bangkok. Police arrested him and seized one mobile phone as evidence.
During initial questioning, Mr. Chatchai admitted to owning the Facebook account. He works in online amulet trading, but business had slowed recently, and sales decreased. He then came up with the idea of posting popular amulets from various temples, priced from several thousand to tens of thousands of baht, selling them via lottery tickets linked to the official lottery draw results each period. This method had been in use for over two years, generating an average monthly income of 20,000 baht.
In the latest round, he posted a Luang Pu Liu amulet framed in gold valued at 10,000 baht, selling lottery tickets at 150 baht each to attract buyers. Each ticket gave buyers the chance to win prizes for both the top and bottom lottery numbers. If a buyer matched the last two digits of the official lottery, they would win the Luang Pu Liu gold-framed amulet as advertised. If they matched the first prize last two digits, they would receive a consolation cash prize of 2,000 baht. He was arrested during this operation.