Chinese Duo Arrested in Bangkok Over Fake SMS Scam
Chinese Duo Arrested in Bangkok Over Fake SMS Scam
BANGKOK, April 30, 2026 — Thai cyber police have arrested two Chinese nationals accused of using a fake mobile base station to send fraudulent SMS messages containing malicious links across Bangkok, authorities said.
The suspects, identified as Jiang Zhaosi, 46, and a 64-year-old man surnamed Chen, were detained in the Thonburi area on Wednesday after officers intercepted their vehicle and discovered a device designed to mimic legitimate mobile towers.
Police said the equipment allowed the suspects to disrupt nearby mobile signals and inject scam messages directly to users without passing through official telecom networks, making detection more difficult.
The arrests followed an investigation launched in March after telecom operators reported unusual signal interference in several densely populated parts of the capital. Authorities traced the activity to a moving signal, leading to targeted surveillance.
Officers seized the fake base station device along with mobile phones used in the operation.
The suspects told police they were unaware the equipment was illegal, but they have been charged with possession and use of unlicensed radio communication equipment and operating an unauthorised radio station.
Authorities said such devices are increasingly used by organised scam networks to carry out phishing attacks and financial fraud.
Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the suspects are linked to a wider criminal network, with officials working alongside telecom providers to strengthen detection and prevent similar incidents.
