CIB Cracks Down on "Binat Thailand" Gold Trading App Scam Built on Romance Deception

Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has arrested six members of an online scam syndicate that posed as investment advisers and tricked victims into trading gold through a fake app called “Binat Thailand.” Authorities seized cash, gold bracelets, mobile phones, and other evidence during coordinated raids.

The case began when a victim reported being duped by a woman using the alias “Omnicha” on the Line messaging app. Using photos of an attractive woman to build trust, she claimed to be a professional advisor and persuaded the victim to try short-term gold trades, promising profits within 10–20 minutes.

She directed the victim to download “Binat Thailand” and “Thai ID” via links she provided, assuring that analysts would guide the trades. Convinced, the victim transferred 11,645,000 baht across multiple transactions. Soon after, the trading app vanished from the victim’s phone, and “Omnicha” could no longer be reached. 

Scam Money Flow

Investigators from the Anti-Cyber Scam Center (ACSC) uncovered three main channels used to funnel funds:

• Mule accounts: First-tier accounts funneled money overseas via payment gateways or converted it into USDT, then moved to untraceable crypto wallets.
• Cash handovers: Couriers delivered money at coffee shops in Ratchaburi and Bangkok to a Chinese ringleader.
• Cash-withdrawal contractors: Funds were withdrawn from contractors’ accounts through bank officers and passed to the same ringleader.

Arrests and Warnings

The Thai police obtained warrants for seven suspects, arresting six across multiple provinces. Some confessed, while others denied involvement. Assets were seized for further examination.

Authorities stressed that scammers often use attractive profile photos and friendly chat messages to lure victims into fraudulent online investment schemes. The public is urged not to trust unknown investment advisors and always verify before transferring money.

This latest bust underscores a recurring pattern: online fraudsters blend romance tactics with fake trading platforms to exploit trust and steal money. As reported in November, the bogus platform “Muropro” nearly ensnared a former Thai TV news anchor through similar romance‑investment tactics.