Thai police arrest 6 Nigerians running AI scams targeting older women

The Thai police force has successfully uncovered an AI-enabled romance scam being run by six men from Nigeria using a luxury riverside condominium in Nonthaburi. This operation took place on Friday, May 22, 2026, highlighting the growing trend of using artificial intelligence to facilitate fraudulent activities.

Police forces under the Metropolitan Police Bureau seized three condominiums in Bang Kraso, Muang, located close to the Phra Nang Klao Bridge.

Thai police raid the riverside condominium in an attempt to protect citizens

The raid, referred to by its code name “Dark Room Crackdown,” was carried out against a group that held student visas but showed no signs of having attended any lessons or worked.

The crackdown took an unexpected turn when the suspects tried to avoid opening the doors; this led to forced entry due to suspicions that they were attempting to destroy potential evidence. 

One individual tried to escape through the balcony, while another was discovered hiding in a bathroom, attempting to send messages. All six Nigerians between the ages of 23 and 35 were arrested.

According to reports, these Nigerians impersonated foreigners who appeared to be prosperous and well-to-do in their profiles, such as pilots, American military personnel, doctors, lawyers, and engineers. 

🇹🇭 Thai police arrested six Nigerians running a romance scam ring built on AI-generated faces and fake video calls.

They posed as pilots, doctors, and engineers, targeting Thai women, and claimed a package was stuck in customs requiring a transfer fee.pic.twitter.com/eG498kWKEe

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 23, 2026

With the help of AI, they created portrait faces and communicated with the victims via video conferencing to establish an intimate relationship. Following the scripted conversation, they manipulated the minds of the victims with their emotionally seductive talks.

When they established an emotional attachment with the victims, they falsely claimed that they had sent gifts or parcels from other countries, which were being held back due to customs charges. 

After that, they demanded money to resolve the matter. According to the report, they targeted people through various platforms, including Messenger, Facebook, WeChat, TikTok, Line, and Zalo. Their victims were mostly elderly ladies from Thailand who were alone and emotionally vulnerable.

Suspects tied to a drug network, awaiting further investigations

The arrested suspects include Denis, aged 23 years (overstaying his visa for 726 days); Ejikeme, aged 24 years (overstaying his visa for 827 days); Ibekwe, aged 29 years (overstaying his visa for 1,166 days); Okorom, aged 26 years (overstaying his visa for 695 days); Nwosu, aged 30 years (overstaying his visa for 1,560 days); and Obielu, aged 35 years.

18 mobile phones, 3 laptops, and 3 bank passbooks were also seized by the police. The mobile phones, laptops, and bank passbooks contained logs of romantic chat scripts and AI-generated images.

The probe on the romantic scam case followed that of a cocaine drug syndicate in April 2026. In a previous arrest case, five persons, including one identified as Patrick, were arrested, and their property valued at 2.5 million baht was confiscated. 

Financial dealings revealed a connection between the cocaine syndicate and the present gang from Nigeria. Some of the seized phones in May contained live communications regarding illegal drug dealings.

According to Pol Maj Gen Theeradej Thammasuthee, the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the arrested individuals admitted to committing the crimes of criminal association (secret society membership) and overstaying in Thailand without valid residence permits. 

Thai law enforcement officials have called for people to be watchful against any unwanted romantic approach that rapidly turns into financial demands. They will be charged with additional fraud when investigations are coordinated with other complainants about romantic scams.

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