Provincial Police Region 4 announced the arrest of 8 suspects involved in a horse account scam in Khon Kaen and Kalasin provinces. The suspects admitted to opening accounts and withdrawing money. Authorities are urgently investigating links to the Grey Chinese network. The term "horse account" refers to bank accounts opened by others to facilitate illegal money transfers.
At 11:00 a.m. on 7 Mar 2026 GMT+7, at the Investigation Operations Center of Provincial Police Region 4, Pol. Maj. Gen. Nopakao Somnat, Deputy Commander of Region 4 Police, along with Pol. Col. Preecha Kengsarikit, Deputy Commander of Khon Kaen Provincial Police,Pol. Col. Wongsakorn Wanchai, Chief of Investigation Division, Khon Kaen Provincial Police,Pol. Col. Khajornrit Wongrat, Deputy Commander of Kalasin Provincial Police, andPol. Col. Nopwit Ditthathanathorn,Chief of Investigation Division, Kalasin Provincial Police,jointlyheld a press conferenceto report the results of operations by the Cyber Crime Suppression Center of Provincial Police Region 4, which led to the arrestof a total of 8 suspects.
The Deputy Commander of Region 4 Police said the operation was conducted by the investigative team of Khon Kaen Provincial Police, which arrested four suspects: Mr. Dew, 19 years old; Mr. Yao; and two women, both 20 years old, charged with being members of a group that conceals its methods and aims to conduct unlawful activities,. The suspects were arrested with evidence including 178,540 baht in cash, four mobile phones, one sedan car, and one bank passbook.
The arrest followed an incident on 6 Mar 2026 GMT+7, when the Investigate Digital Channel's Financial Crime unit at Krung Thai Bank detected a victim had been defrauded of 120,000 baht. The bank found that Mr. Dew had withdrawn this amount. The bank then notified the Royal Thai Police, who informed Provincial Police Region 4, which directed the Cyber Crime Suppression Center to investigate and arrest the perpetrators. Pol. Col. Wongsakorn Wanchai led the Khon Kaen investigative team to Krung Thai Bank, Central Khon Kaen branch, to apprehend the suspects.
Upon investigation, police found that Mr. Dew did not act alone but hadthree accomplices.After Mr. Dew withdrew the money and completed the count, he left the bank area and proceeded to the elevator where the money was divided among the group, while the remainder was prepared to be transferred to the accountsof the mastermind. Police then identified themselves and arrested all four suspects, bringing them in for questioning..
During interrogation, all four suspects consistently stated that they acted under the instructions of a man named Mr. M from Bangkok. Mr. M communicated with Mr. Dew, who owned two bank accounts used to receive transfers and withdraw cash totaling 670,000 baht. Mr. Dew was paid a 30% commission from the amount received and withdrawn. After deducting his commission, he was required to transfer the remaining funds into corporate or horse accounts.
The two women were contacted by Mr. M to accompany Mr. Dew during cash withdrawals and transfers, pretending to be ordinary bank customers. They flew from Don Mueang Airport to Khon Kaen to follow Mr. M's instructions.
Mr. Yao was ordered to drive from Phitsanulok Province to Khon Kaen to pick up Mr. Dew and the two women to carry out Mr. M's orders. After arrest, all admitted that Mr. Dew owned the accounts and handled withdrawing and transferring money, earning 30% commission from the transferred funds. The other three received 7% to share. They were caught dividing the money when police intervened. Authorities have identified Mr. M and are gathering evidence to request an arrest warrant for prosecution under the law.Police officershave identified the full name of Mr. M and are collecting evidence to request an arrest warrant to detain him for prosecution according tothe law.
Additionally,the Deputy Commander of Region 4 Police reported that Kalasin Provincial Police arrested four more suspects: Ms. A, 23, owner of a horse account and ATM withdrawer; Mr. Q, 24, responsible for controlling the base of operations;he supervised the activities; Mr. Fu, 24, who served as coordinator; and Mr. Yi, 23, who ordered and coordinated operations. Police seized 300,000 baht in cash, one horse account bank passbook, six mobile phones, and one vehicle used in the crimes.
Before the arrest, the Kalasin investigative teamnoticedoutsiders entering the area and recruiting locals to open bank accounts to receive transfers. After opening the accounts, they were taken to withdraw cash atbank countersand ATM machines ofbanksin Kalasin Province, offering 4,000 to 7,000 baht per account as payment.
On 6 Mar 2026 GMT+7, police observed the suspects driving a white Toyota Yaris with Khon Kaen license plates withdrawing money from the Government Savings Bank, Lotus Kalasin branch. Police then identified themselves and arrested the four suspects along with the seized items.
Preliminary interrogation revealed that Mr. Yi and Mr. Fu are not Thai nationals but live in the northern highlands. They cannot read or write Thai but can speak it. Some of the seized phones showed communication in Chinese. Police are using interpreters to translate the conversations to determine with whom and about what they were communicating.
Both men admitted they came from the northern region, rented vehicles, and recruited locals to open bank accounts under orders from a Chinese boss, paying 4,000 to 7,000 baht per account. Police charged them with being members of a group that conceals its operation methods and aims to conduct unlawful activities,. They are also charged under anti-gangster laws.
The Deputy Commander of Region 4 Police added that since 2022, Kalasin Province has recorded 7,077 online crime cases causing damages totaling 337 million baht. The five banks most frequently targeted in Region 4 include the Government Savings Bank Lotus Kalasin branch, which suffered 16 withdrawal incidents. The ATM most often used for thefts, with 17 withdrawals, is located at the Government Savings Bank in Namon District, Kalasin. The arrests of outsiders committing crimes in Region 4, especially Kalasin, may be linked to the Grey Chinese network defrauding Thai people. Authorities warn the public to remain cautious and not fall for scams.TheGrey Chinese network