Cyber police arrested two suspects acting as money mules for a call center gang involved in an online gold trading scam. The victims were deceived into transferring money to the criminals 15 times, with total losses exceeding 2.6 million baht.
On 20 May 2026, Pol. Lt. Gen. Suraphol Prembutr, Commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), together with Pol. Lt. Gen. Naradet Thiprak, Police Commander attached to the Royal Thai Police Office, ordered Pol. Maj. Gen. Komkrit Sukthai, Commander of CCIB Region 3, Pol. Col. Adichart Amornpradit, Chief of the Analysis and Special Tools Division of CCIB Region 3, Pol. Lt. Col. Somporn Butwong, and Pol. Lt. Col. Thawat Thukruea, investigators of the same division, to lead the arrest of Mr. Nantnap Yipinyo, 23, from Chiang Rai province, wanted under Surin Provincial Court warrant no. 235/2569, and Ms. Pattapimol Wongseng, 24, also from Chiang Rai, wanted under warrant no. 236/2569.
The case began when a male victim, a government official from a state agency, was contacted by criminals via the TikTok application. After some discussion, they persuaded him to invest in online digital gold trading through the ZFX platform, claiming affiliation with the company A ZEAL COMPANY ZFX capital market (UK) Limited. They asserted the business was legally authorized, headquartered in the UK, and registered with Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
When the victim showed interest in investing, the criminals explained the investment method and provided information about the business. They also presented forged evidence showing profits from trading, including withdrawals of several hundred thousand baht at a time. Eventually, the victim trusted them and decided to transfer money for investment, borrowing from several banks before sending funds to the criminals 15 times, totaling 2,696,473 baht. After investing, when he asked about profits, he was met with excuses and was later unable to contact them, realizing he had been scammed. He then reported the case to cyber police to pursue charges against the perpetrators.
Subsequently, investigators from the Analysis Division, CCIB Region 3, conducted inquiries and identified Mr. Nantnap and Ms. Pattapimol as members of the call center gang, operating money mule accounts to receive victims’ funds. They gathered evidence and obtained arrest warrants from the court, successfully apprehending both suspects in Chiang Rai province. Both confessed to the charges during preliminary questioning.
Police have charged them with "aiding others in committing fraud against the public, and aiding others in committing offenses of dishonesty or deception by introducing distorted, forged, or false computer data." The suspects are now in custody to face prosecution under the law.