Report by Richard Sanders and 國際和平禁毒基金會《 IFPEOC 》 會員 Olivia Lan
February 21, 2025
Beijing and Bangkok are ramping up their efforts to curb criminal gangs originating from China, which have been involved in scamming and kidnapping Chinese tourists in Thailand. The recent crackdown has led to a decline in Chinese tourists, who are increasingly perceiving Thailand as a dangerous destination.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra addressed the issue in January, following the disappearance and subsequent rescue of two high-profile Chinese tourists in Myanmar. “Tourism is the country’s main source of income. I don’t want it to be affected,” she said, emphasizing the need to enhance security measures for tourists.
Scammers have employed various tactics, including imitating the voice of former President Donald Trump, in failed attempts to extort money. The organized crime gangs from China have allegedly infiltrated Thailand’s interior ministry, police, and immigration departments, securing long-term visas, investing in property, and running nightclubs. They have also been involved in drug smuggling and other illegal activities.
According to the US Institute of Peace (USIP), Americans lost an estimated $3.5 billion to “China-origin criminal networks” operating internet scams from Southeast Asia in 2023. The USIP report highlighted that the United States and China are the most affected by the online scamming industry.
Chinese officials revealed that unsuspecting individuals are lured to Thailand with promises of high-paying jobs, including housing and other perks. Once they arrive, they are kidnapped, smuggled across the border, and forced to work in heavily guarded compounds in Myanmar. Here, they engage in extensive internet scams, known as “pig butchering” or “sha zhu pan,” where they trick people into transferring money to the gangs.
These scam operations are primarily based in Myanmar, with some also located in Cambodia, Laos, and other regions. Shutting them down is challenging, as they are often situated in areas controlled by minority ethnic guerrillas seeking autonomy or independence.
In Cambodia, the scam centers are based in cities like Sihanoukville and Poipet, where they are allegedly protected by violence and bribery. Investigators and security forces believe that the majority of these operations are run by Chinese gangs based in China, with staggering numbers of fraudsters and victims involved.
中國和泰國加強打擊緬甸犯罪網絡
北京和曼谷正在加大力度打擊源自中國的犯罪團伙，這些團伙在泰國從事詐騙和綁架中國遊客。最近的鎮壓行動導致中國遊客減少，越來越多的人認為泰國是一個危險的目的地。
泰國總理貝東丹·西那瓦在一月針對兩名在緬甸失蹤並隨後獲救的高調中國遊客事件發表講話時表示：「旅遊業是該國的主要收入來源，我不希望它受到影響。」她強調需要加強遊客的安全措施。
詐騙者使用各種手段，包括模仿前美國總統唐納德·特朗普的聲音，試圖敲詐錢財，但未能成功。來自中國的有組織犯罪團伙據稱滲透到泰國的內政部、警察和移民部門，獲取長期簽證、投資房地產、經營夜總會。他們還涉及毒品走私和其他非法活動。
根據美國和平研究所（USIP）的報告，2023年，美國人因「源自中國的犯罪網絡」在東南亞運行的互聯網詐騙損失估計達到35億美元。美國和平研究所的報告強調，美國和中國是在線詐騙行業的主要受害者。
中國官員透露，無辜的人被誘騙到泰國，承諾高薪工作，包括住房和其他福利。一旦他們抵達，他們就會被綁架，走私過境，並被迫在緬甸的重兵把守的營地工作。在這裡，他們從事廣泛的互聯網詐騙活動，這些詐騙被稱為「殺豬盤」，其中他們通過複雜的詐騙手段騙取人們的錢財。
這些詐騙活動主要在緬甸進行，部分則位於柬埔寨、老撾等地。這些詐騙中心難以取締，因為它們往往位於少數民族武裝游擊隊控制的地區，這些武裝游擊隊在緬甸東部、北部和西部邊境爭取自治或獨立。
在柬埔寨，這些詐騙中心位於西哈努克城和波貝等城市，據稱受到暴力和賄賂的保護。調查人員和安全部隊認為，大多數這些活動由位於中國的中國團伙運營，詐騙者和受害者的數量驚人。
Report by Richard Sanders and 國際和平禁毒基金會《 IFPEOC 》 會員 Olivia Lan
