Con call: Elderly scammed out of 2.4 million baht in Yasothon
A phone scam targeting elderly people in Yasothon resulted in a 68 year old woman and a 75 year old man losing 2.4 million baht. After the incident, the fraudsters taunted the victims’ son by claiming his mother had been deceived to the point of shock.
In late January, an unfamiliar number contacted Nanta, a 68 year old resident of Yasothon, claiming to be a representative from Krungthai Bank.
The caller alleged that Nanta’s name had been used to open a bank account for illegal activities and advised her to report the matter to the police at the Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station. However, due to transportation difficulties, she was unable to visit in person.
The caller provided a contact number, supposedly for the police, ensuring that an officer would handle her case.
When Nanta called the given number, a man answered, claiming to be a police officer and transferred her to someone posing as a superintendent. This individual made a video call dressed in a police uniform, convincing Nanta of his authenticity.
The supposed officer informed her that her bank account was implicated in a 14 million baht money laundering scheme and had been sold to a call centre gang for 50,000 baht. In a panic, Nanta was told to surrender all her assets for inspection or risk having them seized, which would also endanger her two children’s government jobs.
Account deposit
Nanta complied, showing the caller her cash savings of 90,000 baht and gold jewellery weighing 9 baht via video call. The caller instructed her to sell or pawn the gold and deposit all the cash into a bank account.
Nanta transferred money in several instalments, each over 400,000 baht, under constant video surveillance from the caller, who forbade her from discussing the matter with anyone, including her children, and insisted she remain home.
By February 21, with no funds remaining, Nanta borrowed 100,000 baht from a neighbour for a final transfer. During this time, the caller requested her son’s phone number.
Later that afternoon, her son returned home, explaining that the call centre gang had contacted him, mockingly stating, “Go check on your mother, she’s about to go into shock after being deceived out of everything.”
They further insulted him for neglecting his parents and shared images of Nanta’s cash and gold. It was then they realised they had fallen victim to a scam.
The total loss amounted to 2.4 million baht, with multiple transfers made to ever-changing accounts. Nanta and her companion, 75 year old Sanchai, have since turned to the media, urging the police to expedite efforts to recover their lost funds, reported KhaoSod.
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