Foreign scammers were arrested as Thai police dismantled a massive cyber fraud network in Thailand.

The suspects reportedly created 2,000 fake websites to sell non-existent products and services to individuals in more than 20 countries.

The sprawling online scam was said to have caused more than two billion baht (61,300 USD) in financial damage before the gang were caught by Thai authorities in raids across 11 locations nationwide on May 29.

Officers identified the alleged scammers as Livinus from Nigeria, Derrick and Ghong from Cameroon, and Thai nationals Chitpas, Thanitphopm, Anuchart, Jantarat, Panusaya, and Orawan.

The foreign men were said to have entered Thailand on tourist visas, and extended their stay by obtaining marriage or employment visas.

Police Major Yutthana Praedam, director general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), said the arrests were part of 'Operation Shadow Bay' targeting fraudulent e-commerce platforms. The investigation was launched in 2020, after the DSI received more than 40 complaints of fake websites selling medical gloves and face masks.

He said: 'There were more than 30 members of the gang, many of whom were Cameroonians, Nigerians, and Indians posing as language teachers to stay in Thailand.

'They went on to register more than 100 fake companies and over 500 mule accounts to funnel illicit funds. Their Thai spouses were also involved, helping set up sham companies and persuading others to open bank accounts with promises of profit-sharing.'

Victims were reportedly misled by the professional appearance of the websites, leading them to pay for products or services that were never delivered.

Police said the suspects will face charges of money laundering, conspiring to participate in a transnational organised crime organisation, conspiring to input false computer data into a computer system in a manner likely to cause damage to the public and national economic security, and conspiring to defraud the public by impersonating another person.

The DSI urged those who have been scammed to call the Technology and Information Case Division to provide their testimonies.

(1 USD = 32.63 THB)