Attempted Scam

[jayboy]

Over the last few days I have received a number of calls from different numbers.The callers all had my full name and obviously my phone number.The callers claimed to be officials and Chaeng Wattana was mentioned a few times.The suggestion was made in the first call I should meet next week.I'm not sure how the scam develops because I terminated and blocked the following calls very quickly.I didn't give the matter much thought - presumably a database has been hacked - but by chance I found that exactly the same thing has been happening to a couple of acquaintances.

 

Has anybody else experienced anything like this recently? I wonder what the nature of this scam is.

[Negita43]

Out of interest was the call in your native tongue or Thai?

 

My Thai partner gets at least one call a day ofyrn the country code gives them away (but a lot don't show a number - all you can do is block them

[jayboy]

3 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

Out of interest was the call in your native tongue or Thai?

 

My Thai partner gets at least one call a day ofyrn the country code gives them away (but a lot don't show a number - all you can do is block them

 

All in Thai

[baansgr]

Could be immigration, give them a call and ask if they have been calling you..a lot now going on with banking apps where phone numbers need to be registered with proof from your supplier 

[OneMoreFarang]

Do any real Thai officials call farangs for whatever reason? I don't think I ever received a phone call from an official.

I think normally we receive letters.

[jayboy]

38 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Could be immigration, give them a call and ask if they have been calling you..a lot now going on with banking apps where phone numbers need to be registered with proof from your supplier 

 

Why would immigration call about banking apps?

[jayboy]

27 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Do any real Thai officials call farangs for whatever reason? I don't think I ever received a phone call from an official.

I think normally we receive letters.

 

Good point. But I'm sure it's a scam. Just cant see the angle at the moment (probably because I put the phone down on them).

[OneMoreFarang]

9 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

Good point. But I'm sure it's a scam. Just cant see the angle at the moment (probably because I put the phone down on them).

For a scam to work it should be believable.

If I would get a phone call from someone who claims to be someone official then likely I just wouldn't believe that person.

Worst case I would ask for the name of the government administration and the name of the person and maybe some case number and with that information I would find out the official address of that department and go there or maybe let my accountant call them or something like that.

[NE1]

My Mrs got one Tuesday morning , called her by her full name , stating he was from the Electricity board and they have installed a new metering system etc.

and she needs to download an app.
She hung up on them , and popped down the road to the local Electricity office.
As she was explaining to the manager what had happened the scammers called again , so she put it on speaker so the manager could talk to to them .

They quickly hung up and she blocked the number.

[Centigrade32]

I usually just reply in a foreign language, not English and they don't bother me again.

[GammaGlobulin]

My phone is always...OFF.

Meaning, the sound/ring is always kept in the mute position.

Nobody calls me, anyway.

Sometimes, and unrecognized number shows up, though rarely.

 

I suggest everyone just keep your phone on AIRPLANE mode, 24/7.

 

Not sure where these phone scam calls originate.

Maybe in Burma, or someplace?

 

[couchpotato]

12 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

My phone is always...OFF.

Meaning, the sound/ring is always kept in the mute position.

Nobody calls me, anyway.

Sometimes, and unrecognized number shows up, though rarely.

 

I suggest everyone just keep your phone on AIRPLANE mode, 24/7.

 

Not sure where these phone scam calls originate.

Maybe in Burma, or someplace?

 

Probably not Burma, as it doesn't exist.

[worgeordie]

6 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

Probably not Burma, as it doesn't exist.

I does for me ...always will

 

regards Worgeordie

[Nemises]

5 hours ago, jayboy said:

Has anybody else experienced anything like this recently?

No, because I never answer calls from unknown numbers. Those callers get to enjoy the pleasure of leaving a message - if they want to. 

[Puccini]

7 hours ago, couchpotato said:

Probably not Burma, as it doesn't exist.

 

Burma, latterly called Myanmar.

 

It is fashionable to change the names of countries and cities. Back to the future.

 

Cambodia  —>  Kampuchea

Turkey  —>  Tūrkiye

Bombay  —>  Mumbai

etc, etc.

[Tropicalevo]

12 hours ago, NE1 said:

My Mrs got one Tuesday morning , called her by her full name , stating he was from the Electricity board and they have installed a new metering system etc.

and she needs to download an app.
She hung up on them , and popped down the road to the local Electricity office.
As she was explaining to the manager what had happened the scammers called again , so she put it on speaker so the manager could talk to to them .

They quickly hung up and she blocked the number.

 

I had a similar scam call stating that they were from the PEA and were going to change the meter.

I told them to go ahead. 

I live on a private development and the electricity is distributed by the developer.

[BangkokReady]

13 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

For a scam to work it should be believable.

If I would get a phone call from someone who claims to be someone official then likely I just wouldn't believe that person.

 

I think the scammers are used to targeting Thais, so assume that everyone will believe the same kind of scam.

 

A lot of Thais seem to fall for someone who messages them in Line, tells them they are under suspicion of money laundering, and they need to transfer millions of Baht to the scammer so they can "inspect" their money.  🤷‍♂️

[recom273]

14 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Do any real Thai officials call farangs for whatever reason? I don't think I ever received a phone call from an official.

I think normally we receive letters.

I have had a couple of calls from immigration - they go along the lines of 

 

“Hello, your darling? Yoo? Darling - - yoo?” 

 

or “S-peak Thailand?”

 

 

[baansgr]

14 hours ago, jayboy said:

 

Why would immigration call about banking apps?

You didnt say specifically immigration called you, just CW was mentioned..from last week people are being asked to prove the sim card used for banking app for visa funds is theirs..a letter from their supplier..easiest thing to do is just phone immigration but if too much trouble forget about it 👍 

[pomchop]

ignore it all...truly amazing how many scammers there are and how dumb some of them are and how dumb people are to fall for it to the tune of billions of $$ a year...i guess it happens in all countries and all languages.

 

hello this is court calling...u missed jury duty so you have to send me 460 $ of walmart gift certificates to avoid arrest...ok heading to walmart right now...how frigging dumb can you be?

[jayboy]

24 minutes ago, baansgr said:

You didnt say specifically immigration called you, just CW was mentioned..from last week people are being asked to prove the sim card used for banking app for visa funds is theirs..a letter from their supplier..easiest thing to do is just phone immigration but if too much trouble forget about it 👍 

 

They said they were from CW but I'm sure they were just scamsters. But in any case even hypothetically I'm sure CW wouldn't get involved in checking sim card etc.I also wouldn't dream of phoning Immigration for even a valid reason. Also I don't need visa.

[Negita43]

5 hours ago, Puccini said:

It is fashionable to change the names of countries and cities. Back to the future.

You forgot two:

Canada > 51st State of America

Greenland > 52 Stste of America

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, recom273 said:

I have had a couple of calls from immigration - they go along the lines of 

 

“Hello, your darling? Yoo? Darling - - yoo?” 

 

or “S-peak Thailand?”

 

How did you answer? "No darling me. Have boyfriend already"

[baansgr]

2 hours ago, jayboy said:

 

They said they were from CW but I'm sure they were just scamsters. But in any case even hypothetically I'm sure CW wouldn't get involved in checking sim card etc.I also wouldn't dream of phoning Immigration for even a valid reason. Also I don't need visa.

👍 

[FritsSikkink]

18 hours ago, jayboy said:

Has anybody else experienced anything like this recently? 

No

[Digitalbanana]

3 hours ago, baansgr said:

You didnt say specifically immigration called you, just CW was mentioned..from last week people are being asked to prove the sim card used for banking app for visa funds is theirs..a letter from their supplier..easiest thing to do is just phone immigration but if too much trouble forget about it

and the most bizarre post of the week, replying to an earlier bizarre comment, award goes to...

[Hamus Yaigh]

18 hours ago, baansgr said:

Could be immigration, give them a call and ask if they have been calling you..a lot now going on with banking apps where phone numbers need to be registered with proof from your supplier 

When going in person, which counter at CW immigration handles banking accounts and SIM cards? Couldn't find in on their online appointments web site.

[baansgr]

21 minutes ago, Digitalbanana said:

and the most bizarre post of the week, replying to an earlier bizarre comment, award goes to...

Maybe bizarre for you 👍 

[PJ71]

On 2/8/2025 at 1:21 PM, jayboy said:

Over the last few days I have received a number of calls from different numbers.The callers all had my full name and obviously my phone number.The callers claimed to be officials and Chaeng Wattana was mentioned a few times.The suggestion was made in the first call I should meet next week.I'm not sure how the scam develops because I terminated and blocked the following calls very quickly.I didn't give the matter much thought - presumably a database has been hacked - but by chance I found that exactly the same thing has been happening to a couple of acquaintances.

 

Has anybody else experienced anything like this recently? I wonder what the nature of this scam is.

How do you even know it was a scam?

[jayboy]

21 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

How do you even know it was a scam?

It might not be but its very unlikely it's not.One gets a sixth sense after a time. I guess I'll shortly find out one way or the other.

 

1.Bureaucrats in Thailand don't communicate like that - phone calls out of the blue from a succession of different people.If it was important CW would rustle up an English speaker.My affairs are stonkingly dull and I know for a fact I have nothing that can be pinned on me.

 

2.Other (2) expatriates in my area have reported similar calls.The drift seems to be to attempt to scare expats about problems extending their visas. (but I don't need to extend my visa or show any money)

 

Famous last words.We'll see.