The cases were outlined at a press conference held at Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters, led by Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, together with senior officers from Region 8 Police and investigators from Kathu, Wichit and Chalong police stations.
Nominee motorcycle rental business
Chalong Police reported progress in a nominee investigation involving Big Bike Rental and Sales Co Ltd, following repeated traffic accidents involving foreign motorcycle riders in the Chalong area.
Police said investigations revealed that several foreign riders involved in accidents had rented motorcycles from the same company. Undercover officers later confirmed that rental transactions were handled by foreigners, with payments transferred directly to a foreign bank account.
Company records showed that the business was initially registered in 2023 under Thai shareholders, before shares were later transferred to a Belarusian national and another foreigner. Police said evidence indicated the Thai shareholders had no role in managing the business and were used solely as nominees to circumvent foreign business restrictions.
Searches authorised by the Phuket Provincial Court uncovered rental contracts signed by foreigners acting as lessors. Police concluded the operation constituted an illegal nominee arrangement and said legal action was being taken against the foreign operators and all Thai nationals involved.
Call centre gang – Russian suspect arrested
In a separate case, Kathu Police arrested a Russian national suspected of acting as a money mule for a call centre gang after multiple ATM withdrawals were detected in the Kathu area.
Police said the suspect was linked to five ATM withdrawals totalling more than B110,000. A court-approved search of a condominium uncovered 34 mobile phones, 27 ATM cards, a laptop, cash, gold items and a motorcycle.
The suspect was later arrested under a warrant issued by the Lampang Provincial Court on charges of conspiracy to defraud the public and computer-related fraud. He was transferred to Ngao Police Station in Lampang Province for further legal proceedings.
Police impersonation scam targeting business owners
Chalong Police also dismantled a fraud network in which suspects impersonated police officers and contacted business owners to solicit money under the pretext of border security assistance.
Police said victims were instructed to transfer funds via PromptPay and bank transfers, resulting in losses of more than B900,000. Investigators traced the transactions and arrested several suspects in Surat Thani and Nong Bua Lamphu provinces.
Police said the suspects admitted to handling funds for the scam network in exchange for small commissions, with money rapidly moved through multiple accounts to conceal its origin.
Fake police collecting ‘donations’ from foreigners
Another impersonation case involved suspects posing as senior police officers who visited foreign residents in Rawai and requested cash donations to support soldiers and police.
CCTV footage led investigators to a white pickup truck registered in Bangkok. Two suspects were later arrested in Chumphon Province and admitted to targeting areas with large foreign populations to solicit money.
Following media reports, additional victims came forward to file complaints, police said.
Money laundering accounts uncovered in Wichit
Wichit Police also announced arrests in a money laundering investigation after bank officials alerted police to a suspect attempting to withdraw B500,000 at Central Festival Phuket.
Four suspects were arrested, with police seizing multiple bank passbooks, ATM cards and mobile phones. The suspects admitted opening bank accounts for online scam operations in exchange for payment, with funds later transported toward the Thai-Lao border.
Police said five related fraud cases had been identified, with total damages exceeding B9.3 million. Investigators are coordinating with police stations nationwide to pursue further legal action.
Phuket Provincial Police reiterated warnings to the public about online scams, nominee business arrangements and police impersonation schemes, urging anyone approached for suspicious financial requests to immediately contact authorities.