Suspect Arrested in Nakhon Ratchasima for Setting Up Over 200 Mule Accounts for Cambodian Scam Gangs
NAKHON RATCHASIMA – A man suspected of orchestrating the creation of hundreds of mule bank accounts for scam gangs based in Poipet, Cambodia, has been arrested in a hotel in Chok Chai district, authorities said Monday.
The suspect, identified only as Winai, was apprehended by officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) just as he was about to escort another individual to open a fraudulent bank account.
Pol Maj Gen Atip Phongsiwapai, TCSD commander, revealed that Winai had been on the run since late 2024, wanted on charges linked to transnational organized crime and financial fraud. Authorities said he worked directly for a Chinese ringleader, helping facilitate scams that targeted Thai and foreign victims.
Investigators believe Winai’s responsibilities included recruiting individuals to open bank accounts, configuring mobile apps linked to those accounts, and monitoring financial activity. He allegedly received 15,000 baht per month, with an added bonus of 1,000 baht per account successfully opened.
Winai is suspected of arranging at least 200 mule accounts in Nakhon Ratchasima alone. He reportedly entered Thailand via an illegal forest trail earlier this year to avoid arrest after a crackdown on scam operations in Poipet.
In a previous case connected to his network, eight suspects were arrested and assets worth 80 million baht were seized in 2024.
According to police, Winai confessed to all charges and admitted to being involved in mule account operations since 2023. He is now in custody awaiting further legal proceedings. Authorities are continuing efforts to dismantle the broader scam network operating out of Cambodia.
