Picture is copied from The N nation
18 Chinese Nationals Arrested in Call Centre Scam Raid at Luxury Chiang Mai Mansion
According to The N nation news, On Wednesday, a joint team from Provincial Police Region 5, the Technology Crime Suppression Division, and the Tourist Police raided a luxury mansion in the Huay Sai subdistrict of Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai. The property, estimated to be worth around 40 million baht, was searched under a warrant issued by the Chiang Mai Provincial Court.
The residence was allegedly being used as the headquarters of a Chinese-run call centre scam. Authorities say the group had been targeting Chinese victims through various online platforms and mobile applications.
During the operation, police found several suspects actively engaged with computers and mobile phones, believed to be tools used in the fraudulent scheme. All individuals found at the scene were taken into custody for further investigation.
As police moved in, all of the suspects attempted to escape, with some jumping from the second floor of the mansion, which was over 8 metres high. This resulted in 8 people being injured, including one who broke their leg, while others sustained minor injuries from falls and abrasions.
During the search, authorities seized over 20 computers, more than 100 mobile phones, and Chinese SIM cards used to contact victims in China. The group had defrauded over 10 Chinese victims.
Maj. Gen. Thawatchai Pongwiwatchai, Deputy Commander of Provincial Police Region 5, disclosed that the 18 Chinese nationals arrested in the recent raid had been residing in Thailand for approximately three months. The luxury mansion in Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim District, valued at 40 million baht, was rented on their behalf by a Chinese ringleader who coordinated their accommodation and operations.
The suspects were reportedly living and working out of the property full-time, conducting fraudulent activities around the clock. According to preliminary findings, each member of the gang was earning between 10,000 and 20,000 yuan per month—equivalent to roughly 50,000 to 100,000 baht.
The scam involved targeting Chinese citizens through various online channels. Tactics included fake online product sales, impersonating officials to demand money transfers for fabricated airline or banking problems, and extortion—typical hallmarks of a call centre fraud network.
Authorities have now widened the scope of their investigation to trace the key mastermind behind the operation. Initial evidence points toward connections with larger, international cybercrime syndicates, suggesting the group may be part of a broader transnational criminal network.
