CHONBURI, Thailand – On August 6th, 2025, at 11:06 PM, a joint operation led by the Thai Tourist Police, Chonburi Immigration Office, and the South Korean Embassy dismantled a sophisticated Korean-Chinese call center scam network operating in Chonburi’s Huai Yai and Na Jomtien areas. The raid resulted in the arrest of eight suspects and the seizure of substantial evidence, including computers, mobile phones, and internet routers.
The operation was initiated following a distress call from Mr. Hyunsub An, a 31-year-old South Korean national, who reported to police being assaulted and feared for his safety. Acting swiftly, a team led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Phuak-am, Commander of the Tourist Police, Pol. Col. Songwut Chueplakij, Deputy Commander of Tourist Police Division 1, and Pol. Col. Napassapong Kosit Suriyamanee, Superintendent of Chonburi Immigration, conducted an overnight rescue mission.
Authorities located Mr. Hyunsub An at a single-story house in Na Jomtien, where he was found injured with visible marks of assault on his face, head, neck, and body. While relieved to be rescued, investigations revealed that Mr. Hyunsub An was previously linked to a similar call center operation busted on June 21st at a pool villa in Banglamung, Chonburi, where 22 South Koreans were found running a loan sharking and call center scam.
Further investigation led police to two residences in a Banglamung housing estate. The first housed two South Korean men, one Chinese man, and one South Korean woman, while the second contained four South Korean men. All admitted to operating a call center scam based in a two-story commercial building in Huay Yai.
The building was divided into 10 glass-partitioned rooms equipped with computers, mobile phones, and related equipment. Two medium-sized rooms were used to impersonate government officials to deceive victims, while a larger room served as the command center for the operation’s leader. Evidence suggested that some equipment had been removed, and some accomplices may have fled before the raid.
Police seized 17 laptops and desktop computers, 15 mobile phones, and internet routers. The eight suspects arrested were identified as:
1. Mr. Linhao Tian, 23, Chinese
2. Mr. Damsik Lee, 24, South Korean
3. Mr. Joon Mo Ye, 36, South Korean
4. Ms. Jiyoung Lee, 25, South Korean
5. Mr. Sungeun Lee, 34, South Korean
6. Mr. Soonbum Park, 26, South Korean
7. Mr. Jindong Lim, 31, South Korean
8. Mr. Sangwoo Park, 21, South Korean
All suspects confessed to their involvement in the call center scam. They were handed over to Chonburi Immigration for visa revocation and further legal action, while the seized evidence was transferred to Huai Yai Police Station for processing. The investigation continues to uncover additional members of the network who may have escaped.
