Taiwan warns citizens about visiting Thailand over fraud risks
Taiwan issued a stark warning to its citizens, naming Thailand among five Southeast Asian countries considered high-risk destinations due to their association with fraud rings. The advisory also includes Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.
According to a Taiwan News report, the Taiwanese Interior Ministry is taking proactive measures to protect its citizens from falling victim to scam operations.
Travellers to these countries will now see warnings printed on their plane tickets and will be urged to download a travel safety application designed to keep them informed and secure while abroad.
“Over the past few years, there have been several incidents involving Taiwanese being lured to Cambodia or Myanmar to work for scam gangs,” stated the ministry.
In one notable incident, Myanmar recently freed 260 foreigners from a scam centre, including seven Taiwanese nationals who are currently being interviewed by Thai police before their expected return to Taiwan.
In response, Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency and Aviation Police Bureau are intensifying security at airports to prevent Taiwanese citizens from being duped into joining criminal networks abroad. Airlines have also been instructed to cooperate by printing security warnings on electronic tickets.
To further safeguard travellers, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry is promoting its travel safety guidance application, launched in 2022, which provides real-time alerts and essential travel information.
This high-alert advisory is part of Taiwan’s broader strategy to combat the growing issue of human trafficking and fraud operations targeting its citizens. By taking these preventative steps, Taiwanese authorities hope to protect their nationals from the dangers of international scam syndicates, particularly in Southeast Asia, reported Asia News Network.
As Thailand and its neighbouring countries grapple with this reputation, it remains to be seen how these warnings will impact tourism and international relations.
In similar news, Thai police arrested 10 of 32 suspects linked to a 2 billion baht money laundering scheme for a call centre scam gang.
The Central Investigation Bureau announced the arrests on February 18, following raids at 20 locations across eight provinces. Five suspects were key members, while the others were mule account holders.
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