BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s Crime Suppression Division (CSD) has arrested six suspects in a nationwide crackdown on an alleged fraud syndicate known as the “Buffalo Gang,” accused of targeting elderly victims and swindling them out of more than 64 million baht through a rigged gambling scheme that operated for over 15 years. The operation, dubbed “Buffalo Hunter,” was announced on May 29 by senior officers at the Central Investigation Bureau. The six suspects were arrested on charges including criminal association, conspiracy to commit fraud, and participation in an organized criminal enterprise.
Police seized more than 1 million baht in cash, bank books, credit cards, 17 baht-weight of gold, a firearm, ammunition, counterfeit banknotes, luxury goods, jewelry, electronic devices, and other assets during raids in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Surat Thani.
Investigators said the case began after a 66-year-old woman from Hua Hin filed a complaint. The victim had advertised land for sale online for 7 million baht when members of the gang allegedly approached her posing as interested buyers. After gaining her trust, they introduced her to a woman claiming to be a wealthy gambler who carried large amounts of cash and enjoyed betting on a traditional seed-counting game.
Police said the scheme was carefully staged. During the first several rounds, the supposed wealthy gambler intentionally lost to build the victim’s confidence. Once larger sums of money were involved, gang members allegedly manipulated the game by secretly removing a seed, ensuring the outcome favored the fraudsters. The victim was then blamed for the discrepancy and pressured to cover the losses. Investigators said she was persuaded to borrow money from banks, mortgage property, and seek loans from friends and relatives in an attempt to recover her losses. She was also allegedly tricked into transferring money to mule accounts under the pretense of providing gambling guarantees. Her total losses exceeded 10 million baht.
According to police, further investigation revealed that the gang’s alleged leaders had long histories of involvement in similar fraud cases. Authorities believe the network has targeted victims across Thailand for more than a decade, with total damages exceeding 64 million baht. Police described the group as highly organized, with members assigned specific roles, including identifying targets, building relationships, staging gambling sessions, and handling money transfers. Officers said the suspects frequently used aliases and concealed their true identities to evade detection.
Authorities have also compiled a watchlist of 63 individuals believed to have links to similar “Buffalo Gang” operations nationwide. While not all are currently subject to arrest warrants, investigators believe they may have played roles in past or ongoing fraud schemes. The Crime Suppression Division is now working with Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office to investigate whether assets seized during the raids were acquired through criminal proceeds. Additional money laundering charges may follow if authorities determine that the suspects’ wealth is inconsistent with their legitimate income. Police are urging anyone who may have fallen victim to similar gambling-related scams to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation.
