Bangkok: The Anti-Online Fraud Center (ACSC) has disclosed recent fraudulent activities exploiting e-wallet payment systems and impersonation tactics affecting newly graduated nurses. These scams have resulted in significant financial losses, including a case where a gang posing as government officials swindled over 800,000 baht from victims.
According to Thai News Agency, the ACSC, under the leadership of Pol. Gen. Thana Chuwong and Pol. Lt. Gen. Jiraphop Phuridet, reported that from November 30 to December 6, 2015, a total of 7,353 cases were reported through Thaipoliceonline. The total damages amounted to 411,285,507 baht, with daily losses averaging 58.75 million baht. Although the number of cases rose by 827 from the previous week, the financial damage decreased by 16,727,788 baht, indicating a shift in criminal strategies favoring quantity over the value of scams.
The data revealed that Facebook remains a popular platform for fraud, with 3,274 cases reported, though the highest financial damages occurred through other channels. This suggests that fraudsters are diversifying their methods across new platforms, requiring public vigilance against these tactics.
Online shopping frauds accounted for 61.8 percent of reported cases, driven by consumer behavior around early-month shopping and year-end promotions. Scams involving money transfers for prize claims and extra income opportunities were also prevalent. Fraudulent transfers for prize claims topped the damage value chart, followed by investment scams promising high returns, with a slight increase noted in scams involving extra income schemes.
The report highlighted the growing trend of cross-border scams, with fraudsters using mule accounts from neighboring countries like Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia to avoid detection. E-wallets are increasingly targeted, with scammers employing fake SMS messages purportedly from companies like PTT or Caf© Amazon, urging victims to redeem expiring points or prizes.
The ACSC's report noted that scammers continue to trick the elderly by impersonating electricity authority officials, using fake Line accounts to execute scams such as "money meter deposit refunds." Sales of goods via social media, particularly items like concert tickets and mobile phones, remain common scams, as do schemes offering part-time work or investment opportunities that begin with small, genuine payouts to build trust.
Children and youth are also targets, with criminals pretending to be officials from agencies like the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) or Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), coercing them into adding fake government profiles on Line and controlling them through video calls to extort ransom payments from their parents.
Over the past week, the ACSC coordinated with local police to investigate and assist victims. In total, 14 cases were actively investigated, and 23 cases, involving over 4,362,200 baht, were identified. Noteworthy cases include a 23-year-old nurse who was tricked into transferring money under the pretense of clearing her name from fraudulent accusations, and a 67-year-old victim who was scammed into transferring money through a fraudulent mobile phone purchase scheme on social media.