Teen Duped by Call Centre Scam, Father Alerts Chiang Mai Police

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

A desperate father took his teenage son to the police in Chiang Mai after a cunning call centre gang posed as officials, tricking the boy into transferring money. The deceitful gang even forced him to video call through the night, threatening his family with asset seizure if he didn't comply.

On 24th August 2023, Mr. Kritsakorn reported his 17-year-old son, a Year 11 student, to the Mae Ping Police Station after the lad fell for a frightening scam. The criminals, posing as Department of Special Investigation agents, frightened him by claiming he was involved in money laundering and demanding cash.

The student initially dismissed the first call, but threats involving his civil servant parents later scared him into compliance. Manipulating his fear, the gang sent official-looking documents through a messaging app, convincing him to transfer a small amount first to verify a supposed account. Lured in, he ended up sending a further 2,619 baht to an account under “Napa”.

The ordeal intensified as they held him in a video call from 2:30 PM to 9:00 AM the next day. Thankfully, the boy managed to alert his parents at dawn, who then involved school staff to block further actions by the scammers. His father, Mr. Kritsakorn, rushed to Chiang Mai to file the complaint, concerned about how the gang knew specific details, including their civil servant status.

Tension heightened by the discovery that the bank account used in the scam was set up during a school banking workshop and had not been actively used. There’s now a push to investigate how the scammers accessed his personal data. During the enforced video call, the scammers also sent a link to block incoming calls, a chilling tactic aimed at isolating the victim.

Mr. Kritsakorn cautions that students are becoming prime targets for such crimes, urging young people to inform guardians immediately if they receive suspicious calls. Fortunately, his son had limited funds, preventing a larger financial loss, reported Thai Rath.

Police Major Adulsiri Wongtankas of Mae Ping Police is now handling the case online due to its digital nature. Once formal procedures are complete, the family will provide statements and evidence, marking a crucial step in tackling this wave of sophisticated fraud.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Rath 2025-08-25