Chiang Mai – Police Region 5 launched Operation "Seize the 17 Million," arresting 14 suspects under warrants after uncovering links to a call center gang that tricked a retired nurse into investing in stock trading. The victim transferred money multiple times, hoping for a 37 million baht dividend. The Police Region 5 Commander revealed police had previously warned the woman at her home, but she ignored the warnings.
On 27 May 2026, officers from the Police Cyber Taskforce (PCT) Region 5 raided and arrested suspects involved in mule accounts across northern, central, and southern Thailand. These suspects were part of a call center gang receiving money from a network that deceived a retired nurse in Mae Sariang District, Mae Hong Son Province, causing losses exceeding 17 million baht.
The incident occurred in October 2025. The victim, a retired nurse, used social media to find pages offering investment knowledge and profit opportunities in stock trading or similar investments, though she had no prior experience. She saw stock trading ads on Facebook inviting investments, then added a Line group named 'Members' to discuss details. A person using the account name SEC.MIW, claiming to be the group's secretary, advised her to trade stocks and persuaded her to buy shares through the CAPFAST investment app, promising high profits. The victim trusted this and began investing from 7 October 2025 onward.
She made over 21 investment transfers totaling 8,039,000 baht. Later, a letter allegedly from iFAST Corporation Public Company Limited claimed she had accumulated profits of 37,459,687.21 baht but could not withdraw funds until paying analysis fees, taxes, and platform charges. She was tricked into transferring money six more times, totaling 9,616,968.62 baht. However, she still could not withdraw funds, and her bank accounts were frozen, preventing transactions. Realizing she had been scammed, she filed a complaint at Mae Sariang Police Station in Mae Hong Son Province, reporting total damages of 17,655,968.62 baht.
Police Lieutenant General Kritthaphon Yisakhon, Commander of Police Region 5, stated this operation began after a retired nurse in Mae Sariang District was scammed by a call center gang into stock trading investments. Initially, the scheme showed good returns, luring the victim to invest 17 million baht with promised dividends of 35 million baht. The victim believed the promises despite police warnings at her home, which she ignored. Eventually, the gang prevented her from withdrawing money and encouraged continued investment until she realized the fraud and reported it. Police subsequently froze her accounts and those linked to the gang using the platform name 'CAPFAST,' involving 57 suspects.
Officers from the Cyber Crime Suppression Center, Police Region 5 (CCSC Region 5), investigated and analyzed financial transactions related to the case. They identified 35 related accounts: 12 corporate accounts, 7 partnership accounts, and 16 personal accounts. Money transferred among these accounts was then moved to final accounts in Laos.
Police gathered evidence and submitted it to investigators to request court approval for arrest warrants against 35 individuals involved in the criminal activities.
On 26 May 2026, Police Region 5 launched a nationwide operation to simultaneously arrest suspects named in the warrants.
They successfully arrested 14 suspects, consisting of:
1. Mr. Pajon (surname withheld), 42, residing in Phana Subdistrict, Phana District, Amnat Charoen Province.
2. Ms. Kwanta (surname withheld), 39, residing in Din Daeng District, Bangkok.
3. Mr. Phisit (surname withheld), 59, residing in Ban Klang Subdistrict, Mueang Pathum Thani District, Pathum Thani Province.
4. Ms. Penpayom (surname withheld), 38, residing in Sala Daeng Subdistrict, Mueang Ang Thong District, Ang Thong Province.
5. Ms. Panatda (surname withheld), 26, residing in Sala Daeng Subdistrict, Bang Nam Priao District, Chachoengsao Province.
6. Mr. Pongsak (surname withheld), 43, residing in Napa Subdistrict, Mueang Chonburi District, Chonburi Province.
7. Ms. Malisa (surname withheld), 20, residing in Phan Nam Yoi Subdistrict, Nong Phok District, Roi Et Province.
8. Mr. Chayanat (surname withheld), 31, residing in Muang Wai Subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
9. Mr. Chanathip (surname withheld), 20, residing in Mu Mon Subdistrict, Mueang Udon Thani District, Udon Thani Province.
10. Mr. Kasemphan (surname withheld), 42, residing in Tha Sala Subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai Province.
11. Mr. Somsah (surname withheld), 61, residing in Ban Khok Subdistrict, Mueang Mukdahan District, Mukdahan Province.
12. Mr. Sarawut (surname withheld), 43, residing in Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province.
13. Mr. Chanakan (surname withheld), 23, residing in Chomphu Subdistrict, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai Province.
14. Mr. Akrom (surname withheld), 22, residing in Bong O Subdistrict, Ra-ngae District, Narathiwat Province.
Initial charges include "collaborative fraud against the public and jointly inputting distorted or false computer data likely to harm the public, or knowingly allowing others to use one’s bank accounts, electronic cards, or electronic money accounts without intent for personal or related business use, knowing or reasonably expecting such use to facilitate cybercrime."
Authorities continue to expand investigations of communications, command routes, and financial trails of all involved individuals to request additional arrest warrants for other gang members.
Besides arresting mule account suspects, police also returned funds under the Money Cash Back program (Close Accounts, Hunt, Recover Funds) to five victims in Chiang Mai and Lampang provinces, totaling 3,149,900 baht.