Thai Couple Arrested Over Cross-Border Online Shopping Scam Linked to 601 Cases
Thai Couple Arrested Over Cross-Border Online Shopping Scam Linked to 601 Cases
BANGKOK, 10 Aug 2026 — Thai cybercrime police have arrested a Thai couple accused of playing key roles in an online shopping scam network allegedly linked to 601 cases and losses of more than 23 million baht.
The suspects, identified as 27-year-old Chatchai and 31-year-old Suparat, were arrested on August 9 after returning to Thailand from Laos, following an investigation conducted with Chiang Saen Immigration authorities.
Police said the couple had been wanted in connection with the “Style Cycle” scam network, which allegedly targeted people interested in starting online businesses and persuaded them to make repeated payments before preventing them from withdrawing their money.
According to investigators, Chatchai told police that he worked as a manager for a scam operation allegedly led by a Chinese national. The group was reportedly based in Cambodia from mid-2025 before later moving to Laos.
He allegedly helped create fraudulent websites, sourced bank accounts to receive victims’ money and coordinated team leaders who communicated directly with victims.
Suparat was allegedly involved in finding potential victims, making initial contact with them and referring them to team leaders who continued the deception.
Police said the network had a structured operation covering the creation of scam platforms, recruitment of victims, collection of funds and management of the proceeds.
The couple face multiple charges, including jointly defrauding the public, fraud by impersonation, entering false computer data likely to cause public harm, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering and participation in a secret society.
The Technology Crime Suppression Division said the network advertised on social media, targeting people interested in selling products online.
Those who responded were reportedly added to Line chat groups and directed to websites designed to appear legitimate.
After victims opened online shops, fake customers allegedly placed orders. The scammers then demanded additional payments for purposes such as shop registration, increasing visibility, building credit or topping up the system before claiming that the victims could receive or withdraw their sales proceeds.
In one case, victims reportedly made 25 separate transfers and lost more than 14 million baht, but were ultimately unable to withdraw any money.
The investigation followed raids on 19 locations across 11 provinces on July 15 and 16, during which police arrested 17 people allegedly involved in the network and seized assets worth more than 23 million baht.
Investigators subsequently identified 548 bank accounts allegedly used to receive victims’ transfers.
Checks against Thailand’s online reporting system linked the accounts and websites to 601 reported cases, involving losses exceeding 23 million baht.
Police said the wider network allegedly employed various forms of online fraud, including fake call-centre operations, fraudulent job offers, bogus online loans, fake stock-trading investments and hybrid scams.
