Chinese fugitive arrested for ‘Deepfake SIM-Swap Scam’ in Thailand
A Chinese fugitive wanted over a deepfake SIM card swapping scam was arrested in Thailand.
Zhang, 30, allegedly used AI face-swapping tools to impersonate victims and take control of their phone numbers.
Using custom camera software, he would pose as the victims and call their telecom provider to claim the SIM card had been lost, requesting a replacement.
The new SIM allowed him and three accomplices to receive SMS one-time passwords, giving them access to the victims' cryptocurrency account.
Zhang was allegedly identified as the mastermind and a Chinese arrest warrant was issued against him in 2025 by the Public Security Bureau of Guangdong province.
He fled to Thailand to escape arrest, but was detained at a luxury condominium in resort town Pattaya on September 8.
Police said the arrest followed a tip about a suspicious Chinese national living reclusively at the condo. He apparently had no job, but owned a car and substantial funds.
Officers spotted Zhang outside the condo at around 11 am and stopped him to check his passport.
They found that his visa had expired. Further identity checks revealed he was wanted in China over the cryptocurrency theft worth around 33 million yuan.
Thai police initially charged Zhang with overstaying and handed him over to Pattaya City Police for prosecution.
Authorities were coordinating with the Chinese embassy and relevant agencies over his deportation.
Police Major General Songprod Sirisukha, commander of Immigration Division 3, said: ‘This operation, which resulted in the arrest of a key perpetrator, highlights the evolving methods and plans of criminals who misuse AI technology.
‘The Immigration Bureau would like to raise public awareness and encourage self-protection measures against such cyber threats.
‘Furthermore, we reaffirm our clear policy to strictly inspect and screen foreigners residing unlawfully in the country, particularly those subject to foreign arrest warrants who use Thailand as a hiding place.'
