Bangkok: The Anti-Online Fraud Center (ACSC) has disclosed a significant online fraud scheme that resulted in victims losing nearly a billion baht. This announcement also included a list of government agencies most often impersonated in these scams.
According to Thai News Agency, the ACSC, led by Pol. Gen. Thana Chuwong and Pol. Lt. Gen. Jirapop Phuridej of the Royal Thai Police, shared detailed statistics on fraudulent activities reported in February. A staggering 28,180 cases were documented, with fraudulent online purchases being the most prevalent. The majority of these involved deceitful transactions related to general goods, with 3,753 cases reported. Notably, the most frequent scam profile, "Donut Nut," focusing on concert ticket sales, was linked to 23 incidents, causing damages exceeding 220,000 baht.
Fraudulent employment schemes were the second most common, with 4,576 cases. These scams were categorized into three types: online side job scams (2,404 cases, over 380 million baht in damages), fraudulent online store setups (681 cases, nearly 79 million baht in damages), and impersonation of employers charging various fees (60 cases, over 6 million baht in damages).
Additionally, scams promising financial benefits were rampant. These included online loan scams via different platforms, amounting to millions in damages. Furthermore, fraudulent claims related to prizes, inheritances, and financial assistance were prevalent, with pension scams alone resulting in 59 cases and damages exceeding 22 million baht.
Impersonation fraud was also significant, involving 2,415 cases. Fraudsters frequently impersonated officials from four key organizations. These included electricity authority officials (234 cases, nearly 25 million baht in damages) and various government officials, including those from the police and Anti-Money Laundering Office (133 cases, nearly 37 million baht in damages).
The ACSC advises the public to remain vigilant, especially on social media, where most scams are conducted. The center emphasizes the importance of verifying the identity of individuals or organizations before engaging in any transactions. This caution extends to phone calls from unknown sources or individuals claiming to be acquaintances seeking financial assistance.