Three held in Pattaya over fake cyber police scam
Three held in Pattaya over fake cyber police scam
PATTAYA, October 14, 2026 — Police in Pattaya have arrested three people accused of impersonating cybercrime officers to target people who had previously lost money to scams, promising to recover their funds before allegedly deceiving them again.
The suspects were arrested on October 13, 2026, after police raided a suspected call-centre office in central Pattaya, Chon Buri province.
The operation was led by Major General Kiatthesak Sarathong-oi, commander of the Provincial Police Region 2 investigation division, with officers from Investigation Division 1 of the Region 2 Investigation Bureau and Pattaya City Police Station.
Suspects allegedly posed as cyber police
According to police, the group targeted previous scam victims by claiming to be officers from the Technology Crime Investigation Police, commonly known as cyber police.
The suspects allegedly told victims they could trace and recover money lost in earlier fraud cases. They then sent QR codes for victims to scan as part of the process.
Police said the suspects demonstrated how they communicated with victims to make their calls appear credible. Investigators are examining how the QR codes were used, the financial trail, the extent of the alleged losses and whether other individuals were involved.
The three Thai suspects reportedly admitted during initial questioning that they had previously worked for call-centre gangs in Cambodia for approximately one year. After returning to Thailand, they allegedly established the Pattaya office and used mobile phones to contact potential victims in several parts of the country.
Phones and financial records seized
During the raid, officers seized one laptop, five mobile phones, three items including SIM cards and related documents, three notebooks containing information, two bank account books and one backpack.
Investigators will examine the seized devices and documents for contact records, usage history and other electronic evidence. Police are also working to determine the number of victims and establish whether the suspects were connected to a wider criminal network.
Authorities warned the public to be cautious of anyone claiming to be a cyber police officer or government official who promises to recover money lost in a scam, particularly if the person sends a QR code or requests action involving a bank account.
People who receive such approaches should not act immediately. Instead, they should independently verify the caller’s identity through official government channels and avoid scanning suspicious QR codes or sharing sensitive banking information.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against the three suspects have not been established in court.
