Crime South Korean Arrested Over Fake SMS Scam Using Spoofing Device

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Cyber police have arrested a 35-year-old South Korean man who was allegedly driving around Bangkok with a false base station (FBS) device, sending out fraudulent SMS messages designed to trick people into handing over personal and banking details.

 

The suspect, identified as Mr. Dohyong Kim, was detained on Asok-Din Daeng Road after officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), working with engineers from AIS, traced abnormal frequency signals moving with his vehicle.

 

Inside the car, police found an operational FBS device, a mobile power supply, a signal distribution unit and three mobile phones. The equipment was being used to mimic legitimate network signals, allowing fake SMS messages with phishing links to be delivered directly to nearby phones.

 

Investigators discovered Telegram chats between Kim and a Chinese handler. He admitted he had been hired to drive through busy parts of Bangkok, broadcasting the fake messages and reporting his activity every 30 minutes. He said he had carried out the operation three times between 17–19 August, earning around 100,000 won per day, and had previously been paid USD 550 weekly for the work.

 

Police Major General Trirong Piwpan, Commissioner of the CCIB, said the crime formed part of a wider organised call-centre scam. He confirmed Kim faces charges including belonging to a criminal organisation, customs violations for possession of the illegal FBS device and potentially fraud and transnational crime if victims are identified.

 

Authorities also believe the gang may be linked to recent scams targeting Thai citizens. In the past three weeks alone, cyber police have arrested three suspects using the same method.

 

Officers warned the public to remain vigilant: “Banks and shopping centres will never send links requesting personal information. If you receive suspicious SMS messages, especially where your phone signal suddenly drops from 5G to 3G or below, do not click on any links and report immediately to the AOC hotline 1441 or emergency number 191.

 

The investigation is continuing to track down the Chinese mastermind who allegedly hired Kim.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-08-21