Thai police dismantle 100-billion-baht scam network in crackdown on mule accounts

Thai authorities have arrested hundreds of suspects and identified 55 recruiting networks as part of a nationwide crackdown on "mule accounts"—bank accounts rented or sold to facilitate online fraud that has cost victims more than 100 billion baht since 2022. The operation, conducted between November 18-26, 2025, represents one of the most extensive efforts yet to dismantle the financial infrastructure supporting transnational scam networks operating across Thailand.

Background and Context

Online fraud has reached epidemic proportions in Thailand, with the Technology Crime Suppression Centre under the Royal Thai Police recording more than 1.09 million complaints since 2022. The cumulative damage exceeds 100 billion baht, making these scams a significant threat to public financial security. Mule accounts—legitimate bank accounts deliberately opened or rented to criminals—serve as critical conduits for laundering illicit proceeds, allowing scam operators to evade detection and move money across borders with relative ease.

Key Figures and Entities

According to Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Phuridej, Assistant National Police Chief and deputy director of the Technology Crime Suppression Centre, the operation led to the arrest of 339 suspects under court warrants, with 209 confessing to opening mule accounts. Investigators identified 25 additional masterminds and 87 individuals involved in "real-time" scam operations, 58 of whom admitted being paid to open mule accounts. The crackdown uncovered 55 recruiting cells or "mule barns" operating across 27 provinces, revealing how organized these networks have become.

Legal and Financial Mechanisms

The scam networks employ sophisticated methods to move money quickly through the financial system. During raids, police intercepted parcels containing mobile phones and bank passbooks destined for Chinese financiers in neighboring countries, intended for immediate use after mule accounts were activated via facial recognition. The operation also dismantled "mule farms" in Sakon Nakhon where individuals were paid to scan their faces and open accounts, and uncovered illegal SIM box installations in multiple provinces used to facilitate communications. Under Thai law, mule-account holders face up to 3 years imprisonment and/or fines up to 300,000 baht, while recruiters face 2-5 years and fines between 200,000-500,000 baht.

International Implications and Policy Response

The crackdown highlights both progress and challenges in international cooperation against transnational crime. While Chinese and U.S. authorities have demonstrated strong commitment through information-sharing and joint operations, cooperation with Cambodia has been problematic. Thai authorities provided precise intelligence about scam hubs in Cambodia, but the reported results did not match the intelligence supplied. China has established a six-country anti-scam coordination centre among Mekong-region states to enhance data exchange, acknowledging that many offenders are Chinese nationals operating abroad with second citizenships. Despite recent declines in daily cases and damages after implementing more systematic frameworks, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop emphasized that combating scammers remains a long-term battle requiring sustained efforts across enforcement, technology, financial oversight, and public education.

Sources

This report draws on statements and data provided by the Technology Crime Suppression Centre under the Royal Thai Police, briefing materials from the Central Investigation Bureau, and operational results from the "Lightning Strike: Shaking Mule Accounts Across the Country" crackdown conducted in November 2025.