How 11 Nigerians Fell in Thailand Fraud Sting
No fewer than 11 Nigerians are facing serious legal trouble in Thailand after immigration and police authorities dismantled a suspected international romance scam syndicate operating from a luxury condominium in the Muang Thong Thani area of Nonthaburi Province. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
The arrests were carried out on Monday and confirmed in a report published by Thailand News on Thursday.
According to the report, the suspects were part of a 13-member fraud network, allegedly engaged in online romance scams targeting both Thai and foreign women.
Investigations reportedly began in late 2025 after a Thai woman lodged a formal complaint, claiming she had been defrauded by a Facebook user she believed to be her romantic partner.
The suspect allegedly posed as a Chinese engineer, using the name “Bingwen Fu,” and reportedly built a strong emotional relationship with the victim before claiming he was unable to access funds needed for a construction project.
The woman was said to have transferred over two million baht to several bank accounts later identified by authorities as mule accounts linked to the syndicate.
Thai authorities revealed that investigators tracked the suspicious financial transactions, arrested Thai account holders, and uncovered the wider organised network behind the scam.
“The group operated from a condominium in Nonthaburi, with members assigned specific roles such as online scammers, money withdrawers, and account recruiters,” the report stated.
Acting on intelligence, the Immigration Bureau Commissioner, Pol Lt Gen Phanumas Boonyaluck, ordered a joint operation involving immigration and police officers.
The operation led security operatives to the suspected hideout, where the suspects were allegedly caught conducting live romance scams using laptops and mobile phones.
During the raid, a total of 13 suspects — 11 Nigerians and two Ivorians — were arrested. Some reportedly attempted to flee the apartment barefoot but were apprehended by officers.
Authorities disclosed that eight of the suspects had overstayed their visas, while five Nigerians admitted to entering Thailand illegally through the Laos border.
Police also seized 34 electronic devices, including laptops and smartphones, believed to contain evidence of coordinated online scams, involving impersonation of wealthy European and Asian nationals.
Investigators further uncovered evidence linking the syndicate to the Nong Khai romance scam case and traced parts of the fraud proceeds to Nigeria through cryptocurrency transactions.
Thai authorities said investigations are ongoing to dismantle the wider network and identify additional accomplices involved in the international fraud ring.