Bangkok: Authorities have arrested "Joi," the leader of a network operating fake bank Facebook pages that swindled victims out of hundreds of thousands of baht through online loans.
According to Thai News Agency, a commando unit apprehended "Joi" at Don Mueang train station. He was identified as a key account manager in an online loan scam network. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), through its Special Operations Division, revealed that his tactics included creating fake pages mimicking well-known financial institutions to trick victims into transferring deposit money and system unlocking requests. This deception led to nine separate transactions, resulting in losses exceeding 130,000 baht. It was also discovered that Joi had a history of opening bank accounts in Poipet, Cambodia, earning tens of thousands of baht per person.
The operation was launched at the train station under the direction of Pol. Lt. Gen. Natthasak Chaowanasai, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Theerachart Theerachartthamrong, Commander of the Special Operations Division. A team led by Pol. Lt. Col. Paiboon Pimkamnoed arrested Mr. Khuan, also known as "Joi" Intararat, who is 51 years old, under an arrest warrant issued by the Don Mueang Provincial Court. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the public, importing false information into a computer system, and opening a fraudulent account. The arrest took place in front of Don Mueang Train Station while the suspect was traveling from his hometown to Bangkok. The case dates back to an incident in early 2015 when a victim, facing financial hardship, found a fraudulent loan source on Facebook.
The scam involved drawing the victim into the LINE application to chat with someone claiming to be a loan officer named "Mr. Chaiyasiri" or "Ton." The perpetrator sent a fake employee ID card to verify their identity, leading the victim to request a loan of 30,000 baht. However, deceptive tactics ensued, with claims of required "processing fees."
Desperate for money, the victim transferred money in nine installments totaling 127,665 baht, but did not receive the loan and was eventually blocked from all communication.
During the investigation, Mr. Khuan confessed to all charges. He revealed that in early 2025, an acquaintance persuaded him to open bank accounts for money. A criminal syndicate arranged for him to be transported to Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province, and then illegally cross the border into Poipet, Cambodia. Held captive for several days, he was forced to open three online bank accounts, receiving 12,000 baht as payment before being deported back to Thailand and arrested.
The arresting officers stated that this case exemplifies a criminal syndicate exploiting public distress using fake Facebook pages and impersonating a well-known bank. They warned that genuine loans never require upfront payments and advised the public to be wary of any demands for deposits or system unlocking fees. The suspect has been handed over to Bo Luang Police Station in Chiang Mai Province for legal proceedings, and the investigation will continue to identify the mastermind behind the fake Facebook pages.