Cyber police arrested a Vietnamese call center gang at the airport after defrauding victims of over 3 million baht by enticing investments in a beauty clinic, then laundering money by converting assets into gold bars.
On 13 Sep 2026, reports stated that on 12 Sep, Police Lieutenant General Surapol Prembut, Commander of the Cyber Crime Division, together with Police Lieutenant General Naradet Thiprak, Commander attached to the Royal Thai Police Office, and other senior officers ordered the arrest of Van, a 31-year-old Vietnamese suspect wanted under a Nonthaburi Provincial Court warrant No. J.1016/2569 dated 15 Jul 2026.
He faces charges of "collaborative fraud by impersonating another person, jointly committing computer fraud by inputting distorted or false computer data likely to cause public harm, conspiracy by two or more persons to commit money laundering, and related money laundering offenses due to conspiracy and joint actions."
The arrest followed an investigation by the Cyber Crime Division into a sophisticated scam where the gang used nominee profiles to impersonate a female doctor from a renowned beauty clinic. They pretended to accidentally message victims on Line chat, building rapport and persuading them to invest in a fake platform promising returns of 10 percent.
One victim transferred over 3,000,000 baht. When attempting to withdraw funds, the gang claimed an additional 25 percent tax was required, buying time and extracting more money. The group then quickly transferred funds within an hour through both personal and corporate mule accounts, laundering money by having representatives buy gold bars at shops with cash or transfers to convert assets and complicate financial tracking.
Further investigation revealed Van as a key figure who acted as a representative purchasing gold at shops. He had fled Thailand previously but returned on 11 Sep, suspected of preparing to reoffend. Authorities stationed officers at the international arrivals exit at Suvarnabhumi Airport, where Van was spotted and arrested. He is now in custody facing legal proceedings.