Bangkok Online Scam Probe Leads to Arrests of Two Chinese Nationals
Bangkok Online Scam Probe Leads to Arrests of Two Chinese Nationals
BANGKOK, November 9, 2026 — Thai police have arrested two Chinese nationals in connection with an alleged online scam that resulted in an elderly woman handing over gold jewellery weighing five baht.
The suspects were arrested on November 7 at Colour Apartment in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district.
One suspect, Mai Zhujun, 47, was arrested under Criminal Court warrant No. 6494/2569, issued on November 5, 2026. He faces an allegation of jointly defrauding the public by impersonating another person or supporting others in carrying out the offence.
The second suspect, Shi Ruibo, 40, was charged with illegally entering Thailand after immigration checks allegedly found no record of his arrival in the country.
Elderly woman deceived into handing over gold
According to police, the case began on October 23, 2026, when an elderly woman received calls from individuals claiming to be police officers. They allegedly told her she was connected to criminal activity and that her assets needed to be handed over for examination.
The woman subsequently gave gold jewellery weighing five baht to another elderly woman at a shopping centre in the Tao Poon area. Investigators said the second woman had also allegedly been deceived into acting as a courier.
An 18-year-old man identified as Anon later collected the gold, according to police. Investigators said he had previously been involved in another online scam case handled by Rat Burana Police Station.
Police said the jewellery was allegedly sold for cash, which was placed in a bag on the ground floor of Colour Apartment in Pracha Rat Bamphen Soi 13, Huai Khwang, following instructions from a Chinese supervisor. A Chinese man then reportedly collected the bag and took it to an upstairs room.
Cash, mobile phones and bank accounts seized
Investigators identified the man as Mai and obtained an arrest warrant through Tao Poon Police Station.
At approximately 2 p.m. on November 7, officers located him on the ground floor of the apartment building and searched his room. They seized six bank account books, 14 mobile phones, 36,700 baht in cash and 12 credit or debit cards.
Mai allegedly told investigators that his role was to receive money from Thai cash couriers, exchange it for USDT cryptocurrency and transfer it to a superior as instructed.
Passport leads police to second suspect
During the search, officers discovered a passport belonging to Shi. Mai reportedly told police that Shi was his friend and was staying in Room 501 opposite his room.
Police said the passport contained no Thai entry or exit stamps, while immigration checks found no record of Shi entering the country.
When officers approached Room 501, Shi allegedly admitted that he had entered Thailand from China’s Yunnan province by car through a neighbouring country without passing through immigration controls. He reportedly told investigators that he had been in Thailand for more than a year.
Chinese authorities also informed Thai police that Shi was wanted in Shandong province and was subject to an Interpol Red Notice over an alleged fraud scheme. The scheme reportedly involved promising victims commission payments for placing product orders intended to artificially increase sales figures.
