Report Elderly Woman Scammed Out of 760,000 Baht; Calls for Banking Reform

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Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

A distressing call centre scam targeting Thailand’s elderly has been brought to light by well-known prosecutor Supaporn Nipavanich, whose nearly 80-year-old mother fell victim, losing 760,000 baht. The sophisticated scam exploited banking system loopholes, complicating timely investigation.

 

Prosecutor Supaporn, from the Office of Narcotics Case Litigation, reported the crime to the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau on May 12. The scammer, posing as a reputable Vietnamese businessman named Harry, engaged her mother on social media. Through pleasant conversations on platforms like WhatsApp, he gained her trust, concocting urgent financial needs related to fictional business dilemmas and persuading her to transfer money over several days.

 

Her mother transferred nearly her entire savings via internet banking and further withdrew and deposited cash at a bank counter, funnelling funds through several mule accounts. Realising the scam, Supaporn promptly reported it, leading to charges of computer-related fraud and public deception. The swift action allowed police to freeze involved accounts, thanks to the bureau's online complaint system, which expedites account freezes upon notification.

 

Complications arose with tracking the scam through the online system, as transactions made at bank counters lacked case IDs necessary for online processing. This disparity complicated tracking and delayed investigations. Banks, citing procedural constraints, only issued case IDs for online transactions, forcing victims to manually contact different branches.

 

Supaporn stressed the need for banks to fortify protection measures, particularly for seniors, and streamline processes to avoid victim confusion and delays. The traditional requirement to manually pursue issues is difficult for the elderly, highlighting a critical area for reform.

 

Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau officials acknowledged the system's need for enhancement, as the absence of a case ID hampered swift processing. Manual procedures including daily logs and postal summons further delay justice, underscoring a dire need for banking and system improvements to prevent future exploitation and streamline victim support.

 

The incident spotlights significant vulnerabilities in safeguarding against modern scams, urging systemic advancement in banking practices to protect vulnerable populations and facilitate efficient law enforcement responses.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-13