Cyber police announced an operation to dismantle the "Jin Tao" scam gang that deceived retired officials from Nonthaburi Province into handing over cash directly to criminals, causing losses exceeding 9.5 million baht. They targeted a Chinese mastermind believed to be the top commander behind the scenes. Authorities are investigating and have seized assets worth over 20 million baht.
At 11:00 AM on 19 Feb 2026 GMT+7, at the Technology Crime Suppression Division headquarters in Muang Thong Thani, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi Province, Pol. Lt. Gen. Suraphol Prembutr, TCSD Commander, along with other senior officers, held a press conference on the operation to dismantle the "Jin Tao" scam gang that caused victims losses exceeding 9.5 million baht.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Siriwat explained that on 1 Feb, a 63-year-old retired official from Nonthaburi was targeted by criminals impersonating staff from a mobile network operator. They accused him of lending his SIM card to someone committing fraud, which he denied.
The criminals pressured the victim to file a police report. When he declined to go to the station citing inconvenience, they suggested he report online by adding a Line account named "Deputy Superintendent Khen Phu-O," whose profile showed a police officer. The victim communicated via chat and video calls several times and was told not to share the matter with others during the asset check.
They claimed that if no wrongdoing was found, the assets would be returned. Believing it was legitimate police and unrelated to any crime, the victim transferred money twice from his bank account to the criminals' account, totaling over 170,000 baht for the asset check.
Later, the criminals told the victim to switch from transferring funds to handing over cash directly after mule accounts were frozen. They arranged seven meetings where the victim left cash at his home and various shopping mall parking lots, totaling over 9.3 million baht. The criminals always wore masks and hats to hide their faces to avoid identification.
The gang forced the victim to stay on video calls constantly to ensure he was alone. Eventually, the victim's family learned of the scam and took him to file a report with cyber police. The total loss exceeded 9.5 million baht. While the victim was reporting, the criminals continued calling and threatening him to deliver more money for inspection.
Pol. Col. Rojsak Naiphongsri and the investigation team planned for the victim to comply with the criminals and agreed to hand over another 100,000 baht at a parking lot of a shopping mall in Lat Phrao, Bangkok.
At the arranged time, a masked man wearing a hat matching the victim's description arrived to collect the money. The investigation team raided and arrested him with evidence. The suspect was identified as Mr. Song Shiyang, 27, Chinese national.
Song Shiyang admitted he was responsible only for receiving money from successfully scammed victims and handing it over to Mr. Zhenkun Cai, 59, a Chinese leader residing in Sathorn District, Bangkok, under orders from the Chinese mastermind who commands the operation behind the scenes.
Authorities obtained an arrest warrant from the Criminal Court dated 18 Feb 2026 to apprehend Zhenkun Cai and search warrants for two residences linked to the network in Sathorn District, Bangkok.
The first search at a main house on Yenjit Road found no wrongdoing. The second search at another house on Yenjit Road uncovered two Chinese nationals involved in the scam, but Zhenkun Cai was not present. Authorities seized cryptocurrency, digital devices, exchange account access data, external wallet evidence, and multiple related assets.
Seized items included 1,243,540 baht cash, five computers, five phones, credit cards, 26 documents including licenses, 17 Kasikorn Bank passbooks, 10 coin exchange logs, one Hongi car, one Toyota Alphard, gold amulets and rings worth about 300,000 baht, one Rolex watch worth 600,000 baht, one Franck Muller watch worth 900,000 baht, a condominium deed worth 9 million baht, and six safes under investigation. Total seized assets exceed 20 million baht.
The network is large and based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, using Thai accomplices to call and scam victims. After successful scams, the "Jin Tao" group embedded in Thailand transfers assets or cash to the Chinese boss. Investigators are expanding efforts to identify all involved.
Police are charging the suspects with "collaborative public fraud" and "collaborative fraudulent or deceptive input of distorted or false data into a computer system likely to cause public harm."