Scam caller demands 120,000 baht from Surin official

A mysterious call claiming to be from a high-ranking official in Surin province demanded 120,000 baht from the director of the Sri Narong District Lifelong Learning Centre in the province to clear up a complaint against her.

The Facebook page Watchdog Operation recently published a post and images accusing Nitaya, the director of the Sri Narong District Lifelong Learning Centre, of receiving her salary without attending work, claiming she only worked from home.

Following these allegations, her superiors initiated an official investigation to verify the claims. Nitaya responded to the accusations, explaining that she sometimes works in the field, which might explain why her presence at the office wasn’t always visible.

A reporter received an audio clip yesterday in which a person, impersonating a senior official in the province, called Nitaya the day before, offering to help resolve the issue by forming a committee of six members. In return, the caller demanded that she provide 20,000 baht to each member, totalling 120,000 baht, to be transferred through a central account.

“We will set up a committee of six people to assist, but you need to put 20,000 baht in an envelope for each member. Make sure you transfer the amount through the central account.”

Nitaya expressed her confusion and concern about the situation. She mentioned that the caller suggested that once the money was transferred, the committee would help her retire peacefully in her hometown. However, this needed to be handled discreetly, and the funds were required upfront to entertain the committee members.

Demand for money

The conversation continued with the caller pressing for an immediate transfer through the central account, asking how much Nitaya could manage. When she suggested 30,000 baht, the caller insisted on the full amount. They further advised her to borrow the money if necessary and to keep the matter confidential. The caller promised to provide a number for the central person who would receive the transfer.

Nitaya did not comply with the caller’s demands. Instead, she shared the incident with several other directors. The next morning, the caller contacted her again, inquiring about the money. Nitaya informed them that she could not gather such a substantial amount.

She also questioned the caller’s identity, asking if they were genuinely a high-ranking official and requesting their name. The caller responded angrily, questioning her professionalism and suggesting she verify their identity with the provincial Lifelong Learning Centre director before abruptly ending the call.

Nitaya reported that the provincial Lifelong Learning Centre director was also unaware of the caller’s identity. She admitted that she was shocked by the incident and had never experienced anything like it before, reported KhaoSod.