Crime Cyber Police, AIS Nab Teens for SMS Fraud in Bangkok

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News.

 

Cyber police, in collaboration with AIS, have arrested two men suspected of using a False Base Station (FBS) device to send fraudulent SMS messages containing fake links aimed at stealing money from victims across Bangkok.

 

The operation, named “Operation Pinklao,” was announced on 10 August by Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiwpan, Commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Division and Wisit Sakchai, AIS Corporate Relations Manager. The suspects, aged 20 and 21, were found driving around the city sending out fake SMS messages impersonating government and private agencies. The messages falsely warned recipients that their reward points were about to expire, urging them to click on malicious links that would drain their bank accounts.

 

Previous similar cases had been reported in Sathorn, Rama IV, Sukhumvit and Phetchaburi areas, involving both Thai and foreign suspects. This latest arrest followed complaints to AIS from customers receiving suspicious SMS messages. Working closely with AIS engineers, cyber police tracked the suspects to a petrol station on Sirindhorn Road in Bang Phlat district, where they were stopped and searched.

 

The two suspects, identified as Nirun (20) and Kittiwara (21), were found with an FBS device and four mobile phones inside their vehicle. During questioning, Nirun admitted they were hired via a Chinese financier on the Telegram app, earning 2,500 baht daily to send the scam SMS. The pair confessed to carrying out the scheme three times.

 

They face six charges, including illegal possession and use of radio transmission equipment, operating a radio station without a licence, unauthorised use of radio frequencies, attempted fraud, signal interception and involvement in a criminal gang.

 

Mr Wisit explained the FBS device can broadcast fake SMS messages within a radius of 1-2 kilometres, sending over 20,000 fraudulent texts per day. AIS reaffirmed it does not send links asking customers to input personal data nor make direct phone calls for such purposes. The company pledged continued cooperation with cyber police to combat scams and protect users.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Daily News 2025-08-12