Scams
- Thailand News
Krungthai Bank warns customers of scam letters
Krungthai Bank has issued a cautionary notice urging its customers to remain vigilant against scammers impersonating both the bank and police. These fraudsters have been distributing counterfeit letters alleging irregularities in bank accounts that necessitate financial scrutiny. Customers are advised to directly contact the bank or law enforcement if they have any doubts. Krungthai Bank took to their Facebook page,…
- Thai Life
Phone call scams you can get in Thailand
Phone call scams are surging in Thailand, and the government and organisations are actively warning the public. In 2023 alone, scammers made nearly 79 million fraudulent calls, highlighting the growing threat. This article will explore the most common phone scams, explain how they operate, and provide practical tips to protect yourself from falling victim. Types of phone call scams The…
- Thailand News
How to detect call centre scams with two simple steps
A simple trick reveals how to check if a strange number calling you is from a call centre scam. Just follow two easy steps to know immediately if it’s a scammer. Call centre scams have become a widespread issue in Thailand, affecting people of all ages, professions, and backgrounds. Many individuals have become wary and have started avoiding answering calls…
- Thailand News
Police target tourist scammers in major Pattaya cleanup
To make Pattaya safer for tourists, the Tourist Police Bureau has joined forces with the embassies of five countries to combat tourist scams and dismantle 10 criminal gangs operating in the bustling resort city. Bureau Commissioner Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phuek-am led a crucial meeting on Thursday to establish robust safety measures for tourists in Chon Buri’s popular destination. The…
- Business News
Deepfake dilemma: AI scam rise, posing as kin for data snatch
Artificial intelligence (AI) deepfakes, used for identity theft and impersonating identities of the victim’s relatives are now being used for personal data collection, in a rising trend of scams in Thailand. Titinun Suttinaraphan, the Regional Marketing Director of Southeast Asia for Gogolook, developer of the Whoscall app, states that the total number of Thai were victims of 217,047 scams per…
- Business News
Thailand ranked in top three for financial fraud scams, says Google
Google’s 2023 Bad Apps Report ranked Thailand among the top three countries in the Asia-Pacific region with a significant spike in financial fraud scams last year. Aman Dayal, Asia-Pacific head of trust & safety operations for Google Play, stated during an online media briefing that Singapore, Thailand, and India were particularly affected. With over 90% of smartphone penetration rates, the…
- Thailand News
Thai SEC crackdowns on unlicenced crypto operators
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand (Thai SEC) has declared war on unauthorised digital asset services, aiming to safeguard investors from financial pitfalls. Pornanong Busaratrakul, Secretary-General of the Thai SEC stated that at the meeting on April 19, it was resolved to order the SEC to submit information on unauthorised digital asset service providers to the Ministry of Digital…
- Thailand News
Thai, US officials to discuss cybersecurity following call scam outbreak
A cybersecurity discussion is on the agenda between Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, as a result of call scammers fraudulently using the names of Thai diplomats. This issue was brought to light during a meeting with Thai officials at the Thai embassy in Washington DC, according to the Thai ambassador to the United…
- Crime News
Lesson learned: Thailand issues recruitment scam alert for assistant teacher gigs
Education officials in Thailand urged people to be wary of potential scams linked to the recruitment of assistant teacher positions. This warning comes after the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) received complaints about attempts to extract benefits from the special selection process for assistant teachers. The OCSC is currently refining the selection criteria, aiming for transparency, fairness, and…
- Thailand News
Thailand intensifies fight against online fraud
A heightened crackdown on online fraud and call centre scams is in motion, as directed by Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The 61 year old PM’s call for increased vigilance arose after he was personally targeted by scammers. His advice for the public is to adhere to the guidelines provided by the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry to avoid…
- World News
SkyCity alerts public to rising scam gambling sites misusing Its brand
SkyCity Casino is the online division of SkyCity Entertainment Group. The group is an entertainment firm situated in Auckland. It owns and runs five casinos on land in New Zealand. Additionally, it is listed as stock on the New Zealand Exchange, or NZX. SkyCity Casino opened its virtual gates in August 2019. Ever since, it has been the preferred option…
- Thailand News
Thai CIB crackdown reveals 500 million baht online loan scam
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has launched the CIB Anti Online Scam, a crackdown operation against a ruthless online loan scheme that has been running through various mobile applications. The operation, which took place at 11am today, led to the arrest of two key suspects and the discovery of more than 500 million baht in circulation. CIB’s operation took place…
- Phuket News
Phuket authorities warn against rising LINE app and Facebook scams
A criminal group has been flagged for attempting to scam people by posing as the Thai Red Cross Society, on LINE and Facebook according to a warning issued by Phuket’s Public Relations Department (PR Phuket). The scam involves an OpenChat group on LINE, a popular Thai messaging app, where members are invited to donate money under the guise of the…
- Crime News
Thailand’s DES ministry intensifies fight against rising online fraud
Damages in Thailand by online fraud have seen a surge, despite a decrease in the victim count to an average of 580 daily complaints, a drop from the earlier 800, the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry reports. This is attributed to the implementation of a new law targeted at curbing cybercrime. Prasert Jantararuangthong, DES Minister, observed that scammers are…
- Business News
Digital economy minister urged to support SMEs and combat online scams in Thailand
The newly appointed Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister is being urged by industry leaders to combat online scams, bolster cross-border e-commerce for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and provide additional incentives to businesses for technological investments. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is also looking to collaborate with the minister, Prasert Chanthararuangthong, on various initiatives to bridge the…
- Crime News
Thai model caught in billion baht cryptocurrency scams and money laundering bust
Royal Thai Police swooped on 30 targets, capturing an illicit Chinese network involved in cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, and money laundering. The operation, led by Police Colonel Siriwat Deephor, Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), and his team of over 200 officers, resulted in the arrest of the infamous model, known as Kiki Maxim, and the seizure of almost…
- Business News
Chinese tourism deterred by tourist scams in Thailand, says ATTA
Fear of being conned by tourist scams poses a bigger concern to prospective Chinese tourists than Thailand’s political ambiguity, advises the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA). Given a sluggish economic recovery on the mainland, the Chinese tourism market could slightly be affected. Calling for tougher safety measures, ATTA’s president, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, indicated that improving the country’s image and reassurances…
- Thailand News
Key Chinese Ponzi scheme member arrested in Bangkok over cybercrime
A key member of a Chinese Ponzi scheme network wanted in China for cybercrime, fraud, and investment scams, has been apprehended by immigration police. The 35 year old individual, known only as Zhao, was arrested following coordination between the Chinese embassy in Bangkok and the Immigration Bureau (IB). Zhao and his associates operated an investment firm that lured people into a…
- Crime News
New cyber crime law helps banks and victims
A new Royal Decree on Cyber Crime Prevention and Suppression is now in effect in Thailand. The new law has provisions to help victims, banks and authorities combat illegal online activities. The decree allows victims of online scams to use a hotline to report mule accounts set up using their stolen identity immediately to 15 banks. Victims can also file…
- News
Thailand’s lovers warned about ‘sextortion’ ahead of Valentine’s Day
The Thai police have warned women to be wary of “sextortion” scams as lovers throughout the world tomorrow celebrate the most romantic day of the year – Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day on February 14 has become a symbol and celebration of romance and love throughout the world. Couples come together and make an extra special effort to show their love…
- Crime News
Police on the prowl for scam gang after Thai teen commits suicide
Police are on the prowl for a scamming gang after a teenage boy committed suicide in Thailand’s central Nonthaburi province. The boy, 15 year old Arthit, hung himself in a wooded area in the Pakkret district on Sunday. Arthit left a note apologising to his mother for stealing up to 15,000 baht from her purse. Investigators later found that criminals…
- Tourism News
Tourist police warn travellers of Thai scams
Spiderman’s uncle once said, “With great tourism, comes great scamability.” We might be paraphrasing a bit, but as Thailand is welcoming international tourists once again pouring into the country, the tourist police are warning that perhaps not-so-welcomed scammers are also returning to prey on fresh foreign victims. The commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau says that they are increasing police presence…
- Crime News
Ponzi schemes in the crosshairs for DSI, Finance Ministry
Sometimes cracking down on scam crimes just creates smarter criminals. The Ministry of Finance and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) are teaming up to crack down on new forms of the classic Ponzi scheme. The director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office announced that the ministry was meeting with the DSI to discuss updates on the laws regarding new scams.…
- China News
China to join Thailand in cracking down on transnational crimes
China has pledged to assist Thailand in cracking down on transnational crimes, according to a Facebook post by the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok. The embassy acknowledged several criminal cases that were subject to Thai police investigations. It says the Chinese government places importance on law enforcement and the suppression of illegal narcotics, indecent acts, and gambling. Now, the embassy says…
- Crime News
Thais cautioned against fake government websites
Thais are being told to be aware of websites pretending to be government agencies’ pages. A deputy government spokesperson said on Friday that cybercriminals are using these fake sites to get people’s data and even hack their devices. The spokesperson, Rachada Dhnadirek, gave one example that showed just how advanced some of the fake government sites are. A fake Department…
- Central Thailand News
Police find fake Covid-19 tests worth millions in central Thailand
After raids this week, police have found tens of thousands of falsely labelled Covid-19 tests, along with medical supplies, in central Thailand worth about 2 million baht. Police posed as customers to crack down on a building in the province of Nakhon Pathom, and a house in the province of Nonthaburi, on July 11. In the Nakhon Pathom building, police…
- Northern Thailand News
Former police inspector in North Thailand scammed, loses retirement funds
A scam gang, pretending to be police, have tricked a former police inspector in North Thailand into handing over all of his retirement money, totalling 1.8 million baht. The former inspector, who lives in Lampang province, said the scammers called him on June 1, claiming to be from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission. The scammers told the former inspector…
- Crime News
Thai police arrest 6 suspects for 20 million baht Covid-19 test scam
Police from Thailand’s Consumer Protection Police Division announced today that 6 suspects have been arrested for a 20 million baht Covid-19 test scam. The suspects allegedly offered to sell ATK tests on 4 Facebook pages, charging about 10,000 people 900 baht per box when there was a shortage of test kits, according to Police Major General Anant Nanasombat. After the…
- Crime News
Thailand’s police warn, don’t fall for ‘deepfake’ scams
A Thai deputy police spokesman warned people today that scammers are using so-called ‘deepfake’ technology to pretend to be police on video calls, and pressure people to transfer money to them. The spokesman pointed out that Royal Thai Police does not have a policy of making video calls to anybody involved in a criminal case, be it the defendant, suspect…
- Bangkok News
American arrested in Bangkok for alleged 3 million baht fraud
Bangkok police arrested an American national in Klong Toey district of Bangkok yesterday (reported as Nana in some media). The man arrested allegedly lured investors into fraudulent contracts. Thailand’s Economic Crime Suppression Division says the victims lost over 3 million baht altogether. The man allegedly offered victims options in energy and precious metals as well as futures contracts through 60…
