Chinese-Led Call Centre Gang Busted in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Strategic Insights -

Police officers from the Region 5 Technology Crime Suppression Centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand, have arrested a Chinese-led call centre gang along with their Thai cash mules at a well-known shopping centre. The gang was caught in the act of withdrawing stolen money from an ATM, with police seizing 1,539,000 baht in cash. The group was linked to a recent scam targeting a minimart owner in Nakhon Sawan, who lost 2.7 million baht after being tricked into investing in a fake promotional app.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Chinese-led call centre gang was caught withdrawing stolen money from an ATM at a Chiang Mai shopping centre, with police seizing 1,539,000 baht in cash.
  • The gang was linked to a recent scam targeting a minimart owner in Nakhon Sawan, who lost 2.7 million baht after being tricked into investing in a fake promotional app.
  • The group included Mr Zhang Rui (37), Mr Mingxi Yi (29), Ms Rawiwan Rengrakngam (33), and Mr Sarapong Thanyasathien (27), who were detained with the cash.
  • The suspects admitted to working for an unnamed Chinese boss, collecting cash from Thai mules and delivering it to people in Thailand.
  • The group had completed this task more than three times, moving a total of about five million baht.
  • The suspects were charged with fraud, computer crimes, arranging bank accounts and electronic cards for illegal use, and criminal association.
  • Police will continue to investigate to find other members of the scam and are preparing to return the seized assets to the victims.
  • The group's leader, Mrs Meme Latsamivong, a Lao national, contacted Ms Rawiwan Rengrakngam on Line to manage mule accounts and arrange meetings.

Statistics:

  • 1,539,000 baht in cash was seized by police from the call centre gang.
  • 2.7 million baht was lost by the minimart owner in Nakhon Sawan due to the scam.
  • The suspects had completed this task more than three times, moving a total of about five million baht.
  • The group's members were paid 45,000 baht a month, deducted from the amount delivered.
  • Ms Rawiwan Rengrakngam was paid 2,000 baht for her work.

Sources:

  • "Police arrest call centre gang, seize cash worth 1.54 million baht" (Source: Bangkok Post, 2025)