Thai, S. Korean police bust scam centres in Bangkok
published : 20 Oct 2026 at 07:56
writer: Gary Boyle
ORIGINAL SOURCE/WRITER: Wassayos Ngamkham
Thai and South Korean police have arrested two Chinese nationals and eight South Koreans suspected of operating three call scam centres in Bangkok that allegedly defrauded South Korean victims of more than 100 million baht.
Around 30 Thai immigration officers and their South Korean counterparts raided three rented houses on Monday. The properties were in the Lat Phrao-Huai Khwang, Watcharapol-Chatuchot and Ratchada-Phra Ram 9 areas.
Police arrested the 10 suspects and seized 13 computers and 21 mobile phones.
The Chinese suspects allegedly supervised the scam centres, while the others allegedly posed as South Korean government officials and public prosecutors to defraud their compatriots of more than 100 million baht.
The raids followed an investigation launched after the arrest in Thailand on Sept 4 of another South Korean man wanted by South Korean authorities in connection with alleged public fraud. Investigators found that he was linked to call scam centres and gambling websites allegedly operated by Chinese and South Korean nationals.
Police focused on the three houses after finding that they were equipped with computers and high-speed internet and were frequently visited by Chinese and South Korean nationals.
Last week, China's embassy in Thailand warned citizens to carefully plan their trips and pay extra attention to transport security following a string of high-profile kidnappings targeting Chinese nationals. The embassy's latest advisory highlighted particular concern over the growing number of entertainers and online influencers being lured to Thailand and trafficked.
Vocabulary
- bust (verb): to arrest someone, especially for offences relating to drugs, gambling, etc. - จับ, จับกุม
- counterpart (noun): someone who has the same job or purpose as another person, but in a different country, time, situation or organisation - คนที่อยู่ในตำแหน่งเดียวกันของอีกประเทศ หรือ กลุ่มหนึ่ง
- defraud: to get money illegally from a person or an organization by tricking them - โกง, ฉ้อโกง, หลอก
- fraud: the crime of intentionally deceiving someone or cheating in order to gain an advantage or benefit - การฉ้อโกง การหลอกลวง เล่ห์เพทุบาย
- lure: to attract something - ล่อใจ, หลอกล่อ, ยั่วยวน
- national: a citizen of a particular country - ประชาชน
- pose: to pretend to be something - วางท่า
- raid: to forcefully and suddenly enter a place to catch criminals or to search for something like drugs - ใช้กำลังเข้าค้นสถานที่หรือ จับกุมคนร้าย
- seize: to take something using official power and force - จับกุม
- string: a series of similar or connected events that happen one after the other - การเรียงต่อเนื่องของเหตุการณ์หรือสิ่งต่างๆ
- supervise: to be in charge of an activity and to check that everything is being done correctly - ดูแล ควบคุม
- traffick: to obtain and sell things illegally, especially illegal drugs - ค้าขายยาเสพย์ติดหรือมนุษย์



