Widespread online scams pose daunting challenge to Thai authorities

[webfact]

 

Thai victims of online scams have lost an estimated over 10 billion baht a year in recent years.

 

Wetang Phuangsup, deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, recently revealed that between March 1, 2022 and July 15, 2023, a total of 296,063 cases of online scams were reported, inflicting financial fraud amounting to 39.1 billion baht.

 

During the same period, 20,667 people were lured by fraud investment schemes run by criminal gangs, inflicting losses of 20.7 billion baht on these victims, Wetang, who is also spokesperson of the ministry, said.

 

Cheating through impersonation 

 

Pakorn Peetathawatchai, president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), said that many people had become victims of investment scams, as scammers impersonate organizations and well-known figures in order to lure people into their fraudulent investment schemes and online criminal activities.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/widespread-online-scams-pose-daunting-challenge-to-thai-authorities/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-07-31

 

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[HuskerDo2]

This is happening world-wide. Too many people spend their days online or on social media. The world was far better without Social Media, Twitter, Facebook and all the rest that keep people planted in front of a screen all day rather than interacting with people face to face. Unfortunate. As I've said many times, I'm glad I was born when I was as I don't want to see what this world has turned into 30 years from now.

 

Young people will never understand how great life was in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Even most of the 80's. Unfortunately, those days will never return. Too bad for today's youth.

[Skipalongcassidy]

To quote... "There's a sucker born every minute"

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, HuskerDo2 said:

This is happening world-wide. Too many people spend their days online or on social media. The world was far better without Social Media, Twitter, Facebook and all the rest that keep people planted in front of a screen all day rather than interacting with people face to face. Unfortunate. As I've said many times, I'm glad I was born when I was as I don't want to see what this world has turned into 30 years from now.

 

Young people will never understand how great life was in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Even most of the 80's. Unfortunately, those days will never return. Too bad for today's youth.

Tend to agree with most of what you say, the internet is a great tool... but no-one really envisaged the darker side that would evolve.

But then that's not down to the internet, it's the people?

[2baht]

Damn internet!

[bannork]

32 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Tend to agree with most of what you say, the internet is a great tool... but no-one really envisaged the darker side that would evolve.

But then that's not down to the internet, it's the people?

The problem is the kids are addicted to the phones from a really young age. They can't imagine life without them whilst us oldies don't remember getting bored in our youth. Card games, board games, cards on rainy days, and on sunny days mother would tell us to get out of the house and enjoy some sunshine.

But the article here is about scams, bogus companies, impersonating famous figures.

Constant warnings on state media is one answer but online transfer of money is so easy, the predators only need one victim in a hundred to make it worthwhile.

A personal example of internet mystery - this month my AIS bill jumped from its standard 640 baht to 840 baht. Upon making enquiries, the staff pointed to one evening in July where my phone apparently sent 24 international SMS messages at 9 baht apiece in the space of one or two seconds apart, all to the same number!

I pointed out I most certainly never sent these messages and my phone was definitely in my possession at the time (9.00 pm).

But what can a poor boy do? Pay up or get cut off 

 

[RichardColeman]

The Idiot Tax strikes again 

[spidermike007]

This is worldwide. There are simply too many devious people, who refuse to work for a living. They are social vampires, sucking the blood of society. 

 

Alot of people just do not understand how corrosive, damaging, degrading and nasty social media can be. There are an infinite number of scammers, predators and fraudsters out there. Most of us have the good sense to avoid them, and not get taken in by their unwillingness to do actual work for a living. 

It boggles the mind, to consider the number of people who fall for these scams. Someone calls you, or contacts you online, and you send them money? Someone you have never met? Someone you have not researched? What gives? Where are the survival instincts? 

 

How is a youngster supposed to have the wisdom to know? Granted being asked to send naked pics to a stranger is a bit much. But, I am sure it happens all the time. There is little chance of these people getting apprehended. Very little.

And it is a strong indication of just how bent, warped and misguided contemporary culture and society is, that someone can be considered an idol or celebrity just because they have alot of followers on Tik tok, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 

 

Personally, I consider social media to be the most corrosive and degenerate force in culture today, and they can be downright dangerous, on multiple levels. 

[Scouse123]

6 hours ago, HuskerDo2 said:

This is happening world-wide. Too many people spend their days online or on social media. The world was far better without Social Media, Twitter, Facebook and all the rest that keep people planted in front of a screen all day rather than interacting with people face to face. Unfortunate. As I've said many times, I'm glad I was born when I was as I don't want to see what this world has turned into 30 years from now.

 

Young people will never understand how great life was in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Even most of the 80's. Unfortunately, those days will never return. Too bad for today's youth.

+1

[Scouse123]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

This is worldwide. There are simply too many devious people, who refuse to work for a living. They are social vampires, sucking the blood of society. 

 

Alot of people just do not understand how corrosive, damaging, degrading and nasty social media can be. There are an infinite number of scammers, predators and fraudsters out there. Most of us have the good sense to avoid them, and not get taken in by their unwillingness to do actual work for a living. 

It boggles the mind, to consider the number of people who fall for these scams. Someone calls you, or contacts you online, and you send them money? Someone you have never met? Someone you have not researched? What gives? Where are the survival instincts? 

 

How is a youngster supposed to have the wisdom to know? Granted being asked to send naked pics to a stranger is a bit much. But, I am sure it happens all the time. There is little chance of these people getting apprehended. Very little.

And it is a strong indication of just how bent, warped and misguided contemporary culture and society is, that someone can be considered an idol or celebrity just because they have alot of followers on Tik tok, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 

 

Personally, I consider social media to be the most corrosive and degenerate force in culture today, and they can be downright dangerous, on multiple levels. 

Fabulous accurate post and just what many of us are thinking every day.

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, bannork said:

Constant warnings on state media is one answer but online transfer of money is so easy,

Wifi on my phone always off.

No apps other than the Samsung ones that I cannot delete.  ????

Mind you, I too could be 'scammed' with the International SMS's that hit you, except that my AIS package has unlimited SMS.

Cloning a phone these days is all too easy for the technical savvy criminals.

[Bangkok Barry]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Tend to agree with most of what you say, the internet is a great tool... but no-one really envisaged the darker side that would evolve.

But then that's not down to the internet, it's the people?

Absolutely right. Whatever man invents, man corrupts. Drones are now being used as weapons of war, and I dread what will happen with AI. Already it has been used by some to make the world's most deadly chemicals even more lethal. I'm pretty sure that it won't be too long before the human race destroys itself. Certainly, Planet Earth would be far better off without us.

[HuskerDo2]

4 hours ago, bannork said:

The problem is the kids are addicted to the phones from a really young age. They can't imagine life without them whilst us oldies don't remember getting bored in our youth. Card games, board games, cards on rainy days, and on sunny days mother would tell us to get out of the house and enjoy some sunshine.

But the article here is about scams, bogus companies, impersonating famous figures.

Constant warnings on state media is one answer but online transfer of money is so easy, the predators only need one victim in a hundred to make it worthwhile.

A personal example of internet mystery - this month my AIS bill jumped from its standard 640 baht to 840 baht. Upon making enquiries, the staff pointed to one evening in July where my phone apparently sent 24 international SMS messages at 9 baht apiece in the space of one or two seconds apart, all to the same number!

I pointed out I most certainly never sent these messages and my phone was definitely in my possession at the time (9.00 pm).

But what can a poor boy do? Pay up or get cut off 

 

Something similar happened to me many years ago. I called the phone company and they said there was nothing they could do about it and that I'd have to pay. I then asked for a supervisor. I told her that if I was charged for these bogus charges I'd stop my service. I told her to consider the difference between what the bogus charges were and what they'd make off of me if I remained a customer for the next 10 years. She immediately dropped the bogus charges.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Drones are now being used as weapons of war, and I dread what will happen with AI.

This will answer some questions as to the militarisation of drones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofcM5ckxyE