Three students have collectively lost millions of baht in separate, sophisticated scams that impersonated police officers and offered fake overseas scholarships. The Anti Cyber Scam Centre (ACSC) provided assistance to the victims, with details of the incidents emerging recently. The perpetrators deceived the students into transferring money and other assets by falsely claiming they were involved in criminal cases and needed to transfer funds to prove their innocence.
Sophisticated Impersonation Tactics Used by Scammers
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, deputy chief of the ACSC, detailed how the fraudsters employed elaborate schemes to gain the trust of their targets. These scams often began with initial contact from individuals posing as employees of telecommunication companies, who would then transfer the call to fake police officers. To enhance their credibility, the scammers sometimes used video calls while wearing police uniforms.
Case 1: The 19-Year-Old Student and the SIM Card Scam
In the first incident, a 19-year-old female student was contacted by a scammer claiming to be from a mobile network provider. The scammer alleged that her national identification number had been used to register a SIM card in Khon Kaen, which was subsequently linked to a mule account. The conversation was then escalated to an individual impersonating a police officer from the Muang Khon Kaen police station. Communication shifted to the Line messaging app and video calls, where the fraudster, dressed in a police uniform, further convinced the student of the legitimacy of their claims.
The victim was informed that she was implicated in a serious criminal case and was instructed to transfer all her savings for verification purposes. She was also explicitly warned against disclosing the situation to her family or anyone else. Fearing legal repercussions, the student transferred a total of 1,249,985 baht. She later filed a complaint with the Min Buri police station in Bangkok.
Case 2: The Graduate and the Fake Scholarship Deception
A 22-year-old recent university graduate became the target of a similar scam. Initially contacted by fake telecom staff about his phone number being connected to a mule account, he was then threatened with criminal charges by a fake police officer. The situation escalated when another scammer, posing as a university lecturer, contacted him. This fraudster claimed the student had been awarded a scholarship for overseas studies but needed to demonstrate sufficient funds in his bank account for a financial statement and to prove he had no criminal record.
Under duress, the victim was pressured to remain isolated and continuously engaged in video calls while being persuaded to solicit funds from his parents. He transferred 995,000 baht. The scammers then demanded an additional 500,000 baht. Fortunately, the scam was partially thwarted when a bank employee noticed the suspicious transaction and contacted the victim’s father, alerting him to the potential fraud and preventing further financial loss.
Case 3: The Student and the AMLO Verification Scam
The third victim, a 19-year-old male student, was approached by a fake police officer who claimed his national ID number had been used to register an illegal SIM card in Ranong province. The fraudsters asserted that money needed to be transferred to the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) for verification and promised its swift return within an hour. Simultaneously, they instructed the student to inform his parents that he had secured a scholarship to study in Britain and required funds for a financial statement and visa application.
He complied, transferring 498,999 baht. Anti-cyber scam officials intervened in this instance, assisting the student in filing a complaint with the Thung Maha Mek police station before the entire sum could be lost.
Expert Advice to Prevent Future Scams
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop strongly advised students and the general public to exercise extreme caution when receiving calls from individuals claiming to represent police, Amlo, or the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). He emphasized that any requests to transfer money or assets for verification, accept arrest warrants via messaging apps, or undergo questioning via video call should be treated as highly suspicious and likely fraudulent.
A critical point highlighted by the ACSC deputy chief is that legitimate law enforcement and government agencies never ask individuals to transfer money or assets to prove their innocence. Such demands are a definitive hallmark of a scam. Authorities urge the public to verify any such claims through official channels and to report suspicious activities immediately.
Conclusion: Vigilance is Key Against Evolving Scams
These incidents underscore the persistent threat of sophisticated scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly students who may be seeking financial opportunities or are less experienced with such deceptive tactics. The impersonation of trusted authorities and the exploitation of desires for educational advancement highlight the evolving nature of cybercrime. Maintaining a high level of skepticism towards unsolicited communications, especially those involving financial transactions or threats, is paramount. Verifying information through official, direct contact with institutions and reporting any suspicious activity are crucial steps in protecting oneself and others from falling victim to these damaging schemes.
