Cyber police conducted an undercover purchase before raiding and arresting a "bank account mule" agent at a restaurant in Udon Thani Province, cutting off a scammer and call center gang that troubled the public.
On 22 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Pol. Lt. Gen. Suraphol Prembut, Commander of the Cyber Crime Division, along with Pol. Lt. Gen. Naradet Thiprak, Commander attached to the Royal Thai Police Headquarters assisting the Cyber Crime Division, Pol. Maj. Gen. Wiwat Khamchaman, Deputy Commander of the Cyber Crime Division, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Thinkorn Rangmat, Deputy Commander of the Cyber Crime Division, ordered Pol. Maj. Gen. Komkrit Sukthai, Commander of Cyber Crime Division 3, Pol. Col. Arunphan Wanichchanan, Superintendent 1 of Cyber Crime Division 3, and Pol. Lt. Col. Teerasak Narasri, Deputy Superintendent 1 of Cyber Crime Division 3, to lead forces to arrest Mr. Panupon Aduldecha, 36, from Udon Thani, along with five seized bank account mules.
He was charged with "acting as an intermediary in procuring, advertising, or revealing information in any way to facilitate the purchase or sale of mobile phone numbers registered under another person's name, where the actual user cannot be identified, knowing or having reason to know that these would be used for committing technology-related crimes or other criminal offenses," and "acting as an intermediary in procuring, advertising, or revealing information in any way to facilitate the purchase, rental, or loan of bank accounts, electronic cards, or electronic money accounts for use in committing technology-related crimes or other criminal offenses."
Investigations by the Cyber Crime Division 3's Investigation Unit 1 found a secret Facebook group where bank account mules were illicitly bought and sold. These accounts were used by scammer and call center gangs to commit fraud causing public distress. Undercover agents contacted the suspect, Mr. Panupon, to purchase five bank account mules along with mobile phones pre-installed with banking apps linked to those accounts. The agreed price was 80,000 baht. The meeting took place at a restaurant in Mak Khaeng Subdistrict, Mueang District, Udon Thani Province, where police revealed themselves and arrested Mr. Panupon with the seized items.
During interrogation, Mr. Panupon claimed this was his first time doing this but admitted he personally opened two bank accounts. For the other three accounts, he hired others to open them, paying 4,000 baht per account, then resold them for profit. He was taken into custody for legal proceedings.