Thai Man Arrested for Money Laundering Linked to Call Centre Gangs

A Thai man was arrested for laundering money for over 70 call centres, revealing the complexity of scam operations. He operated as a translator and money handler for a Chinese gang, generating significant revenue through fraudulent activities.

A Thai individual was arrested for laundering money connected to over 70 call centre gangs, according to the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD). The suspect, who wished to remain unnamed, was apprehended in Chiang Rai’s Mae Fah Luang district after returning from Poipet, where he had been working to evade a major crackdown on these criminal operations initiated in February.

He faces multiple charges, including transnational crime, public fraud, and falsifying information in a computer system. The suspect confessed to serving in an office run by a Chinese gang leader from November 11, 2023, until February 13, 2025. He stated that the operation generated approximately 30 million baht through a commission of 8-12% from call centre scams.

To facilitate money laundering, the gang established twenty Thai mule accounts for daily transactions. The suspect revealed that he received between 8,000 to 12,000 baht per account and performed several tasks, including translating for the Chinese gang leaders, overseeing the setup of mule accounts, and scanning account holders for money transfers.

Additionally, he converted cash from these accounts into Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency using platforms like Binance and Bitkub. Ultimately, he transferred the USDT to the Chinese boss’s wallet, who then redistributed the funds to various call centre gangs based on their revenue.

The arrest of a Thai man involved in laundering money for numerous call centre gangs highlights the ongoing issues related to transnational crime in Thailand. With significant revenue generated from scams, operations are complex, relying on multiple mule accounts and cryptocurrency for transactions. This case underscores the importance of continued law enforcement efforts against such illicit activities.

Original Source: www.nationthailand.com