Crime Call Centre Scam Shocks Chiang Mai University, Millions Lost

[webfact]

Chiang Mai University. Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

 

A cunning call centre scam has struck Chiang Mai University, leaving ten students out of pocket by millions in a single day. The fraudulent operations, persisting during a recent long holiday, have pushed both local authorities and the university into urgent action.

 

In a disturbing revelation, a male student was conned into transferring over 2 million baht through four transactions. Convincing fake documents and relentless pressure via video calls were used to dupe the student and his family. Utterly helpless, they transferred amounts ranging from 400,000 to 600,000 baht before communication was cut.

 

A different scam saw a female student instructed to don headphones and bring a knife to a police station. Fortunately, the astute duty officer noticed the unusual behaviour, defused the situation, and confiscated the knife. It highlights the power of psychological tactics used by these scammers, preying on the young’s lack of worldly experience despite their academic prowess.

 

Five of the ten students fell prey directly through call centre tactics, while others were tricked by fake government impersonations, video call threats, and bogus scholarship offers. Authorities are doing their best, having frozen some bank accounts and monitoring financial activities. Recoveries have been made, yet many cases remain distressingly unresolved.

 

CMU is actively working with police to arm students with information and support. Assurances have been given that no major data breach has occurred, noting these scams as isolated events. However, the call for vigilance remains strong amidst ongoing investigations.

 

Solving this scam epidemic needs a united stand between universities, telecom providers, and authorities to forge strong prevention measures. Students and families should stay cautious, alert, and informed to avoid falling victim. As of now, authorities press on in a rigorous crackdown against this devious crime wave.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-06

 

 

[topt]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

A different scam saw a female student instructed to don headphones and bring a knife to a police station. Fortunately, the astute duty officer noticed the unusual behaviour, defused the situation, and confiscated the knife. It highlights the power of psychological tactics used by these scammers, preying on the young’s lack of worldly experience despite their academic prowess.

Can someone explain what was the point of this?

[Gottfrid]

Sad to hear that the education level is that low, so universities are not teaching the students what they need to know in life.

[hotchilli]

22 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Sad to hear that the education level is that low, so universities are not teaching the students what they need to know in life.

Nail on the head... 

[newbee2022]

On 6/6/2025 at 6:13 AM, webfact said:

Chiang Mai University. Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

 

A cunning call centre scam has struck Chiang Mai University, leaving ten students out of pocket by millions in a single day. The fraudulent operations, persisting during a recent long holiday, have pushed both local authorities and the university into urgent action.

 

In a disturbing revelation, a male student was conned into transferring over 2 million baht through four transactions. Convincing fake documents and relentless pressure via video calls were used to dupe the student and his family. Utterly helpless, they transferred amounts ranging from 400,000 to 600,000 baht before communication was cut.

 

A different scam saw a female student instructed to don headphones and bring a knife to a police station. Fortunately, the astute duty officer noticed the unusual behaviour, defused the situation, and confiscated the knife. It highlights the power of psychological tactics used by these scammers, preying on the young’s lack of worldly experience despite their academic prowess.

 

Five of the ten students fell prey directly through call centre tactics, while others were tricked by fake government impersonations, video call threats, and bogus scholarship offers. Authorities are doing their best, having frozen some bank accounts and monitoring financial activities. Recoveries have been made, yet many cases remain distressingly unresolved.

 

CMU is actively working with police to arm students with information and support. Assurances have been given that no major data breach has occurred, noting these scams as isolated events. However, the call for vigilance remains strong amidst ongoing investigations.

 

Solving this scam epidemic needs a united stand between universities, telecom providers, and authorities to forge strong prevention measures. Students and families should stay cautious, alert, and informed to avoid falling victim. As of now, authorities press on in a rigorous crackdown against this devious crime wave.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-06

 

 

Not the brightest candles to achieve academic degrees 🥴

[blazes]

22 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Sad to hear that the education level is that low, so universities are not teaching the students what they need to know in life.

 

Nothing new there.  Ask all those who owe thousands of dollars after taking a degree in loser areas like Gender Studies with no job that fits those "qualifications".

 

(Of course, if you can prove you are an oppressed victim, you can easily find a job under D.E.I. regulations.)

[FlorC]

On 6/6/2025 at 6:13 AM, webfact said:

they transferred amounts ranging from 400,000 to 600,000 baht before communication was cut.

Some rich students a CMU.

[Patong2021]

23 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Sad to hear that the education level is that low, so universities are not teaching the students what they need to know in life.

 

Similar thefts occur every day in the "advanced" and "educated" nations.  Social engineering is a common  fraud, and targets the elderly. The most common is the   Revenue/Taxation office calling and threatening. Next up is the grandchild in distress. Thailand, had a different variation.

[Gottfrid]

7 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 

Similar thefts occur every day in the "advanced" and "educated" nations.  Social engineering is a common  fraud, and targets the elderly. The most common is the   Revenue/Taxation office calling and threatening. Next up is the grandchild in distress. Thailand, had a different variation.

Yeah, sure! Targets the elderly. Her we were talking about a young university student.

[Patong2021]

3 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Yeah, sure! Targets the elderly. Her we were talking about a young university student.

 

A victim of social engineering and extortion is found at any age. You are obviously living in a bubble influenced by your own bias and lack of knowledge. Social engineering fraud comes in many forms. It is psychological manipulation. In the USA, the FTC found that 40% of adults age 20-29 lost money to fraud, while only 18% of adults over the age of 70 did so, challenging the narrative of older adults falling victim to scams.  https://blog.knowbe4.com/ftc-study-millennials-are-the-biggest-victims-of-social-engineering

 

Some of the more popular variations of social engineering are;

- Romance scams. 

- Investment/Boiler room fraud. The callers can be relentless and target older people and  other vulnerable groups.

- Sextortion. It targets young people usually  aged 13-16. How do you think adults are able to con western teenagers into sending nude photos and then extorting them?

 

A common  scam targeting vulnerable people are  extortionists  send emails claiming they've hacked the victim’s computer, stolen compromising webcam footage, and accessed personal contacts. To make the threat more convincing, they often include breached data and a Google Street View image of the victim’s home. Victims are then pressured to pay a ransom, typically in Bitcoin, to prevent the supposed release of the compromising material. 

 

Here' s a primer on social engineering of kids; https://www.eset.com/blog/en/home-topics-1/family-safety-online/highlighting-common-social-engineering-attacks-for-kids/

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

You are obviously living in a bubble influenced by your own bias and lack of knowledge.

OK, If you say so.

[NorthernRyland]

On 6/6/2025 at 6:13 AM, webfact said:

Utterly helpless, they transferred amounts ranging from 400,000 to 600,000 baht before communication was cut.

 

What could they do but transfer the money? It was a matter of life and death!

 

[lavender19]

Got some pretty rich students up there

[hotsun]

On 6/6/2025 at 9:56 AM, Gottfrid said:

Sad to hear that the education level is that low, so universities are not teaching the students what they need to know in life.

That applies everywhere, for most students

[Quentin Zen]

On 6/6/2025 at 6:13 AM, webfact said:

A different scam saw a female student instructed to don headphones and bring a knife to a police station

If this isn't a red flag, I'm afraid.  Deeply afraid for our future.  OK, now wrap fake dynamite around your waist, walk into a shopping mall, and......   Oh, OK, that sounds like fun!!!!!   Huh?

 

Hey dear, where are you going with that knife?    Mom, police station.  Caller told me to do it.   Oh, OK dear.  Have fun!!!!