South Korean Scam Network Dismantled in Pattaya
South Korean Scam Network Dismantled in Pattaya
PATTAYA, May 6, 2026 — Thai immigration police have arrested nine South Korean nationals accused of operating a call centre scam in Pattaya that allegedly deceived victims into opening bank accounts and surrendering financial information under the guise of lottery refunds, authorities said on Wednesday.
The arrests followed a joint investigation between Thailand’s Immigration Bureau and South Korean law enforcement agencies. Officers raided five condominium units in Pattaya after obtaining warrants from Pattaya Provincial Court.
Police said the suspects were found with evidence including Korean-language call scripts, 62 mobile phones, eight laptop computers, six tablet devices and around 480,000 baht ($13,000) in cash.
Investigators said the group posed as representatives of Korean lottery companies, falsely informing victims they were eligible for refunds or compensation linked to past lottery purchases.
Victims were allegedly persuaded to open new bank accounts and provide one-time passwords (OTP), enabling the suspects to access accounts, obtain loans and transfer funds into accounts controlled by the network.
Authorities also discovered spreadsheets containing information on hundreds of potential victims, suggesting the operation may have been conducted on a large scale.
Thai officials said three of the nine suspects are wanted in South Korea under arrest warrants related to fraud and call centre scam offences.
The case was developed through intelligence-sharing between Thai and South Korean authorities, who identified Pattaya as a suspected operational base for the group.
Immigration officials said the suspects’ permission to stay in Thailand had been revoked and that they had been transferred to investigators for further legal proceedings.
South Korean authorities have reportedly requested access to seized digital evidence through Interpol channels as investigations continue into possible additional victims and wider criminal links.
Thai authorities said the operation reflects growing regional cooperation against transnational cybercrime and online fraud networks operating across Southeast Asia.
