Woman allegedly set up nominee fronts for B100m scam gang

PUBLISHED : 7 Jul 2026 at 15:15

A woman accused of setting up nominee companies used by a call centre scam gang to launder more than 100 million baht has been arrested in Chiang Mai province.

Officers from the Crime Suppression Division announced on Tuesday the arrest of 46-year-old Thanyarat (surname not released) at an apartment in Saraphi district of Chiang Mai.

According to the CSD, Ms Thanyarat was named in an arrest warrant issued by Phra Khanong Criminal Court on June 9 on charges of colluding in public fraud, putting false information into a computer system, conspiracy to commit money laundering, membership of a criminal association and participation in a criminal gang.

Her apprehension arose from an investigation into an investment scam conducted through online platforms. The perpetrators impersonated legitimate businesses to gain victims’ trust and operated through a highly organised structure.

Members were assigned specific roles, including recruiters who lured victims to operators responsible for opening mule accounts and fronting corporate entities and nominee companies.

Investigators said at least 50 companies had been established as fronts to receive money transfers from victims. Many people were taken in by the scammers, suffering combined losses exceeding 100 million baht.

Complaints were filed with police in several provinces, enabling investigators to gather evidence and secure arrest warrants for more than 50 suspects connected to the network.

Ms Thanyarat allegedly served as a director of one of the nominee companies, among the more than 50 firms used as fronts by the syndicate. Victims transferred more than 3 million baht into accounts held by that company alone.

The woman fled into hiding in Chiang Mai, where police tracked her down and made the arrest.

During questioning, Ms Thanyarat allegedly confessed she had previously worked for a call centre scam gang and for an online gambling operation in a neighbouring country, where she learned how the criminal networks operate.

She later joined former colleagues in setting up nominee companies and opening four corporate bank accounts, which were then handed over to call-centre gangs for use in illegal financial transactions.

She allegedly told investors she received dividend-style payments, or a percentage share of the proceeds.

The suspect  also admitted procuring and registering mobile phone SIM cards, known as "mule SIMs", for use by call centre scammers in defrauding members of the public, according to the CSD.

She has been handed over to investigators at Klong Tan police station in Bangkok for further legal proceedings. The investigation continues.