Police Raid Bank in Pattaya, Question Manager and Staff Over 100 Plus Accounts

[misskit]

On May 19th, 2025, a major police operation caused a stir among locals as over 20 officers, both in uniform and plainclothes, descended on a bank located on Sukhumvit Road. The raid was part of an ongoing investigation into a Chinese call center scam syndicate, prompting authorities to search for evidence and question the branch manager and two bank employees.


According to reports, the operation was led by Maj. Gen. Thirachai Chamnan, Commander of the Region 2 Investigation Division, alongside officers from the Region 2 Investigation Unit and Banglamung Police Station. The team collected evidence at the scene and interrogated the branch manager and two staff members responsible for opening bank accounts. Following the search, the manager and the two employees—one male and one female—were taken to Banglamung Police Station for further questioning.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the raid stemmed from the recent arrest of a large Chinese call center gang in Bangkok. Further probes uncovered that a group of Chinese nationals, holding tourist visas, had opened over 100 bank accounts at the Pattaya branch. These accounts were allegedly used to facilitate scams targeting the public. The manager and employees claimed they were unaware that the accounts were being used for illegal activities related to the call center syndicate.


Police confirmed that the operation was backed by three arrest warrants. However, Region 2 investigators declined to provide further details, stating that Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitaneeyabut, Inspector General of the Royal Thai Police and Deputy Director of the Technology Crime Suppression Center, would personally address the media in an official press conference at a later date. Authorities also noted that additional evidence is being gathered, as the case involves multiple individuals still under investigation.


The police have requested time to expand their probe, stating the complexity of the case and the need to pursue all leads. Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.


Note: Images and names of the bank and unrelated individuals have been blurred and redacted due to the ongoing investigation by Thai police.

Police Raid Bank in Pattaya, Question Manager and Staff Over 100 Plus Accounts Allegedly Linked to Chinese Call Center Scam - The Pattaya News

[misskit]

Chon Buri bank manager arrested for helping call centre gang

Three bank employees, including a manager, in Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri, along with two interpreters, are in police custody for allegedly helping members of a Chinese call centre scam gang to open accounts in Thailand, which were allegedly used to park their ill-gotten gains, before they were transferred elsewhere.


Warrants for the arrests of 15 Chinese nationals have also been issued.


Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, the police inspector-general, told a news conference today that the three bank employees have been charged with falsifying documents to facilitate the opening of 15 bank accounts by the Chinese nationals, who entered Thailand on tourist visas, but who were actually working for a Chinese call centre, preying on both Chinese and Thai people.


He said that the scammers would use their ATM cards to withdraw money, cheated from their victims, from various ATMs, adding that about 90 million baht had been withdrawn over a relatively short time.


Thatchai claimed that the call centre had caused damage, estimated at about two billion baht, to hundreds of victims in Thailand and noted that there is a loophole in the Thai law, making it easy for people holding tourist visas to open a bank account in Thailand, saying that this loophole needs to be closed quickly.

Chon Buri bank manager arrested for helping call centre gang

[misskit]

Chon Buri bank manager arrested for helping call centre gang

Three bank employees, including a manager, in Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri, along with two interpreters, are in police custody for allegedly helping members of a Chinese call centre scam gang to open accounts in Thailand, which were allegedly used to park their ill-gotten gains, before they were transferred elsewhere.


Warrants for the arrests of 15 Chinese nationals have also been issued.


Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, the police inspector-general, told a news conference today that the three bank employees have been charged with falsifying documents to facilitate the opening of 15 bank accounts by the Chinese nationals, who entered Thailand on tourist visas, but who were actually working for a Chinese call centre, preying on both Chinese and Thai people.


He said that the scammers would use their ATM cards to withdraw money, cheated from their victims, from various ATMs, adding that about 90 million baht had been withdrawn over a relatively short time.


Thatchai claimed that the call centre had caused damage, estimated at about two billion baht, to hundreds of victims in Thailand and noted that there is a loophole in the Thai law, making it easy for people holding tourist visas to open a bank account in Thailand, saying that this loophole needs to be closed quickly.

Chon Buri bank manager arrested for helping call centre gang

[Shutree]

making it easy for people holding tourist visas to open a bank account in Thailand

That has not been my experience.

[harrybarracuda]

This rattled a *lot* of cages up and down the country, since said bank is one used by crooked agents and immigration to handle retirement visas for those who have insufficient funds to meet visa requirements. (I'm amazed how many people even oop North use this same immigration office).

All they heard was that the police had raided the bank.

For those that don't know, that immigration office is known for working with agents to temporarily deposit funds into potless farangs' accounts so they can get their extensions, and charging them a premium for it.

Huge sighs of relief when they found out it was the chinkies they were after.

[misskit]

^ There’s only one bank and one immigration office doing this?

Imma say no.

[harrybarracuda]

^ There’s only one bank and one immigration office doing this?

Imma say no.

Maybe there are more than one, but this was the one usually mentioned. Unsurprisingly, the Pattaya News deleted their story about it, probably got told off.

AFAIK only Pattaya offer this "service", and possibly one out in the Isaan sticks.

[taxexile]

what is the name of the bank?

[taxexile]

Maybe there are more than one, but this was the one usually mentioned. Unsurprisingly, the Pattaya News deleted their story about it, probably got told off.

AFAIK only Pattaya offer this "service", and possibly one out in the Isaan sticks.

hua hin immigration also offer this service to potless farangs..

[harrybarracuda]

hua hin immigration also offer this service to potless farangs..

Immigration or agents?

[taxexile]

it used to be an officer, maybe he or she still does it, i dont know. i havent needed to go to immigration since before covid.

immigration phoned the bank and told the applicant to go there and everything will be arranged, just bring the paperwork back here to be authorised, and then go back to the bank to have it all cancelled. i cant remember which bank they used.

now i think agents are used as middlemen between the bank and the officer.

[harrybarracuda]

Not something you usually associate with Hua Hin but it is a massive Darby and Joan Club and the money must be tempting.