Thailand's "Anti-Scam Matrix" Raids 11 Provinces: 39 Arrested, Including 8 Chinese Nationals, Over ETO TH Fake Stock App
BANGKOK — Thai police announced on October 13 the results of "Operation Anti-Scam Matrix": coordinated searches at 27 locations across 11 provinces led to the arrest of 39 suspects — 30 Thai nationals, eight Chinese nationals and one Myanmar national — and the seizure or freezing of assets worth more than 500 million baht. Arrest warrants were issued for 71 people in total; of the remaining suspects, 22 are abroad, six are in custody in other cases and four are in hiding in Thailand.
According to police, the investigation began when the Anti Cyber Scam Center (ACSC) under the Central Investigation Bureau cross-checked holders of Thailand Privilege visas against online-crime complaints and found that accounts held by several Chinese visa holders were receiving transfers linked to scam activity. The operation was led by Police Lieutenant General Chirapop Phuridej, Assistant Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police and a deputy director of the online anti-fraud center. Raids covered Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Samut Prakan, Saraburi, Sing Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Chon Buri, Kalasin, Narathiwat and Ranong.
Police say the network lured victims through social-media advertisements promising high returns, then moved them into messaging-app groups where accomplices posed as experienced investors and "instructors" and steered victims to a fake stock-trading application called ETO TH. Victims saw apparent profits in the app but were told to pay additional fees whenever they tried to withdraw, and never recovered their money. At least 74 victims have reported losses totaling more than 173 million baht, with the first two victims alone losing about 26.5 million baht combined.
Seized assets included eight properties worth over 330 million baht, condominium units and land deeds in Bangkok's Rama 9 area worth over 90 million baht, a house in the Krungthep Kreetha area worth over 60 million baht, 10 luxury cars, more than 4.2 million baht in cash and foreign currency, USDT and other cryptocurrencies, jewellery, luxury watches and branded bags.
Police said one Chinese suspect admitted to laundering money since 2022 on behalf of scam-compound operators in Poipet, Cambodia, in amounts totaling more than 3 billion baht, with proceeds moved through bank accounts, informal money-transfer channels, payment gateways and cryptocurrency. Those arrested face allegations including public fraud, impersonation, entering false computer data and money laundering. Police said they are working with relevant agencies to tighten screening of Privilege visa applicants and to re-examine existing visa holders.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 泰国国家警察总署大楼（曼谷）。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，Chainwit. 摄，CC BY 4.0 授权 / Royal Thai Police headquarters, Bangkok. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, by Chainwit., CC BY 4.0.
