Taobao (Thailand) director arrested over unlicensed payment and FX services

Police arrested an authorised director of Taobao (Thailand) Co Ltd in Bangkok on November 1, 2026, over alleged unlicensed payment, foreign-exchange and international money-transfer services. Investigators reported more than 170 million baht in transactions through five associated bank accounts over a one-year period.

Police identified the suspect as Parin, a 38-year-old Thai national whose surname was withheld. Parin was charged with jointly operating regulated payment services without authorisation and jointly providing foreign-currency exchange and international money transfers without authorisation.

Officers searched Taobao (Thailand) Co Ltd’s premises in a three-storey townhouse in Tha Raeng subdistrict, Bang Khen district, Bangkok. Police seized four laptops, five mobile phones and one folder of documents.

Pol Lt Gen Natthasak Chaowanasai, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), ordered the operation. The officers assigned to carry it out included Pol Maj Gen Tatpoom Jaruprach, commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), and Pol Col Krit Worathat, superintendent of ECD Sub-Division 5.

Bank of Thailand information leads to website investigation

Investigators from Sub-Division 5 of the Economic Crime Suppression Division received information from the Bank of Thailand about Fupay and Taobao Thailand. Police alleged that the websites advertised payment services and the exchange of yuan and other foreign currencies without the required licences.

Police said the two websites operated in the name of Taobao (Thailand) Co Ltd and offered yuan exchange, transfers into Alipay accounts and top-up services for purchases from China.

According to investigators, customers registered as members before the websites created user accounts and electronic wallets. Customers could top up, deposit and withdraw funds, and use their wallets to pay for goods on Chinese shopping platforms including 1688, Taobao and Tmall.

Police said these activities were regulated payment and foreign-exchange services that required licences and fell under Bank of Thailand supervision.

Police report links involving two yuan accounts

Police cited information from the Royal Thai Police’s Anti Cyber Scam Center (ACSC) linking two of the accounts used for yuan exchange and payments to accounts used in cybercrime. The amount associated with those links totalled more than 270,000 baht, according to police.

Police urge consumers to check e-money licences

Natthasak urged the public to use electronic money, or e-money, services only through legally authorised providers supervised by the Bank of Thailand. Regulatory controls and scrutiny were necessary to prevent widespread harm to users and the national economy, Natthasak said.

Natthasak also urged anyone who suspected illegal transactions to contact police or the relevant financial institution immediately. Consumers can check providers’ authorisation through the Bank of Thailand’s BOT License Check service.