Phuket financial investigation leads to 30 arrests in Thailand call-centre scam case

Suspicious withdrawals of tens of millions of baht a day in Phuket helped trigger an investigation that led to the arrest of 30 suspects in an alleged call-centre fraud network, according to The Phuket Express.

The Central Investigation Bureau and Crime Suppression Division carried out coordinated raids at 30 locations in 11 provinces, including Phuket, Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Saraburi and Nakhon Ratchasima, under warrants issued by the Criminal Court.

The suspects face charges including membership of a secret society, organised fraud, forgery and the use of fake government documents, computer crime and money laundering. Those detained included Anisra, 25, Sattha, 54, and Ritthiporn, 30.

The Anti-Scam Coordination Center flagged the financial activity in Phuket. Investigators then linked it to a case in Kalasin province in which a senior woman was allegedly deceived by people posing as police officers from Nakhon Phanom.

According to the report, the woman was threatened with false money-laundering allegations and transferred her entire savings of B12.2 million to accounts controlled by the gang. Authorities said the operation was directed by a Chinese mastermind.