Nigerians arrested Thailand romance scam as police foil 13-member syndicate targeting Thai and foreign women with fraud schemes

Thai authorities have arrested 11 Nigerians as part of a crackdown on a suspected 13-member international romance scam syndicate operating in Muang Thong Thani, Thailand.

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Two Ivorians were also apprehended in the operation, according to reports from Thailand News on Thursday.

Investigations began in 2025 after a Thai woman in Nong Khai filed a complaint alleging she had been defrauded by a Facebook user posing as a Chinese engineer.

The suspect, identified as “Bingwen Fu,” convinced her to transfer over two million baht into mule accounts under the pretense of being unable to access funds for a construction project.

Police traced the transactions and subsequently uncovered the organised network behind the scam.

The syndicate reportedly operated from a condominium in Nonthaburi, with members assigned specific roles, including scammers, account recruiters, and money withdrawers.

The joint operation, ordered by Immigration Bureau Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Phanumas Boonyaluck, led to the discovery of the suspects conducting live scams on electronic devices. Some tried to flee barefoot but were apprehended at the scene.

Authorities revealed that eight of the suspects had overstayed their visas, while five Nigerians entered Thailand illegally through the Laos border. They now face charges related to visa overstay and illegal entry.

Investigators seized 34 electronic devices, including computers and mobile phones, which contained evidence of coordinated scams targeting Thai and foreign women by impersonating wealthy European and Asian nationals.

The investigation also linked the operation to the Nong Khai case and revealed that funds were being transferred to Nigeria via cryptocurrency.

Police are expanding their probe to dismantle the wider network and identify additional accomplices.

The arrests follow another high-profile Nigerian apprehension in Thailand. Ukoma Jefta Nuzbech was arrested for allegedly fleeing a drug-peddling trial in Koh Pha Ngan. Jefta Nuzbech was previously arrested in March 2025 for allegedly selling cocaine to an undercover officer.