Thailand Arrests 100 in Border Scam Center Crackdown

Thailand Arrests 100 in Border Scam Center Crackdown

By Fly Cable News

Thai police have arrested at least 100 people for allegedly operating a scam center in Cambodia, marking the first major crackdown on Thai nationals involved in regional fraud networks.

Crackdown on Scam Operations
According to Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, arrest warrants have also been issued for two Chinese nationals, suspected to be the ringleaders. The arrests follow a joint raid by Thai and Cambodian authorities in Poipet last month.

For years, scam centers have been active along Thailand’s borders with Myanmar and Cambodia, but a high-profile case involving the abduction of a Chinese actor in Thailand—who was later forced into a Myanmar-based scam center—prompted multinational efforts to dismantle these fraud networks. The actor has since been returned home.

Human Trafficking and Fraud Networks
A United Nations report revealed that criminal syndicates have trafficked hundreds of thousands into fraud compounds, using advanced schemes to steal billions of dollars annually.

In February, Myanmar handed over 260 individuals from scam centers to Thai authorities, as part of an ongoing repatriation process. So far, around 7,000 people from over 20 nationalities, mainly Chinese, have been rescued, though many still struggle to return home.

Thai Victims and Financial Losses
Thai police estimate that over 1,000 Thai nationals remain trapped in scam centers across borders. Since 2022, telecom fraud has cost Thai victims nearly 80 billion baht ($2.37 billion).

The 100 suspects arrested on Wednesday are believed to be part of the criminal gang behind the scams, impersonating government officials to defraud victims. Thai authorities continue to coordinate efforts to dismantle these operations and rescue victims.