Have you ever been a victim of cybercrime? I have. Once I picked up a "ransomware" virus that locked a number of files on my PC. The ransom was I was supposed to send US $1500 to get the files unlocked. Of course, I sent nothing. None of the files were of significant importance and fortunately I had backups. I simply replaced those files.
Only last week I received a threat Email saying I'm a victim of the Pegasus virus and they have my password. They showed me the password. It was an old password I hadn't used for years and for US$600 they would clear the virus off my computer. They too got nothing and you'll notice I'm still here, my computer is untouched, the board is untouched, my smartphone is untouched, and my bank accounts are secure.
The board itself has been attacked too. With the help of Moses that was also cleared up.
I hope everyone reading this has sense enough never to respond to any suspicious Email or ever open it, especially if it is in your spam folder. Just delete it. Dr. Mwene Mweleki from Nigeria is not going to put US $47-million into your bank account.
They even attempt to attack mobile phones. Simply re-starting your phone once a day can help prevent viruses from getting in.
Part of the way to deal with it is to refuse to give in to their blackmail attempts. I'd close down the board and/or wipe my computer clean before even thinking about giving in to their attempts. I will not stand for being coerced, bullied, or blackmailed.
I protect my computer and phone as best as I can and I do make backups, but if it turns out that is not enough, I hope Thailand's efforts will put a stop to it or at least take down a significant number of these criminals.
I hope they find ways to make sure AI works for us, not against us.
________________________________
Cops digitise war against cybercrime
AI, data, teamwork drive crackdown
by Wassayos Ngamkham
October 30, 2025
The Royal Thai Police is stepping up efforts against call centre gangs and online scammers after the government declared cybercrime suppression a national priority.
Under the leadership of Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, assistant commissioner-general and deputy director of the Police Cyber Task Force (PCT), the force is adopting a data-driven approach to trace and dismantle criminal networks by building what he calls a "financial DNA" of scammers.
In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said law enforcement authorities are now tracking criminal money flows -- from the creation of mule accounts to the conversion of stolen funds into digital assets -- with the aim of recovering victims' money and capturing the masterminds behind these operations.
He added this strategy forms part of the national initiative to develop a "Digital Police" force capable of tackling complex forms of cybercrime.
New framework
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said police are enforcing the 2025 Royal Decree on the Prevention and Suppression of Technology Crimes, a landmark law that modernises legal tools for combating online fraud.
The decree empowers the police to act as the lead criminal prosecution agency and to coordinate with financial and digital institutions to collect and use data effectively.
"To make the law work, officers must fully understand and correctly apply it," Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said, noting the force is conducting workshops and online training programmes nationwide to enhance officers' legal literacy and operational skills.
"Police are no longer looking only at the 'destination account'," Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said.
"We're now building the 'financial DNA' of criminal groups by following money trails from the moment mule accounts are opened until the funds are converted into digital currencies or transferred overseas."
Only a few police units possess the expertise to investigate digital transactions at present. To address this gap, the PCT is developing specialised training courses and operational manuals for regional and provincial investigators.
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said police must evolve into a fully digital organisation. "We're moving from traditional investigation to a proactive, technology-driven model," he said. "Our aim is to predict and prevent crimes before they occur."
He outlined plans to expand staffing in three core areas: digital forensic analysts, data scientists, and cyber investigators. These specialists will be critical to the modernisation of the Royal Thai Police and its ability to combat transnational cybercrime.
The PCT's internal structure has also been reorganised into 13 specialised divisions, covering areas such as data analytics, digital and gold assets, telecommunications and VoIP, online platforms, and border control. Each division operates under a unified data system to enhance coordination and effectiveness.
Harnessing Big Data and AI
The PCT uses a big data system to compile and analyse information for tracing criminal networks. Artificial intelligence is increasingly employed for proactive work -- such as screening suspicious online posts, generating automated reports, and even simulating victims in police training programmes.
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said cooperation with banks and online platforms has improved under the new legal framework. Financial institutions now work in real time with police through "war room" operations to detect and freeze suspicious accounts.
A colour-coded system classifies mule accounts by severity: "grey mules" (first-line mule accounts) are immediately suspended; "black mules" are publicly listed and banned from transactions for three years; and "brown mules" are identified by banks' internal risk systems. Banks have also tightened account-opening procedures for both individuals and businesses.
Online platforms, meanwhile, have stepped up efforts to block fraudulent accounts and share user data to support investigations. In return, police provide feedback and prevention models derived from data analysis to help platforms detect and prevent future fraud attempts.
Prevention as best defence
"The best suppression is prevention," Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said.
"Building digital immunity among citizens is just as important as catching criminals." He compared cybercrime awareness to vaccination during the Covid-19 pandemic, noting that widespread knowledge can reduce the spread of online viruses.
He said the police are partnering with the media and private sector to roll out public-awareness campaigns targeting all age groups and regions. The outreach aims to educate people about common scams and promote access to the national cybercrime hotline at 1441.
One alarming new trend involves scammers impersonating government officials to target students. "Criminals call students, threaten them into isolation, then contact their parents to demand ransom," Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said. The PCT is working with the Education and Higher Education ministries to alert schools and universities nationwide.
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop also warned of a surge in fraudulent investment schemes that use the likenesses of celebrities to gain credibility. Such scams often lure victims through online advertisements claiming to teach investment basics or offer free trading tips. Once victims register, they are tricked into downloading fake investment apps.
"These are among the most damaging scams we've seen," he said. The PCT has established a war room to monitor online platforms and identify fake articles or ads before they spread. The team then submits takedown requests and collects digital evidence by deploying undercover officers posing as victims.
Regional cooperation
Recognising that many call centre gangs operate across borders, Thailand has begun working closely with neighbouring countries. Recently, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop represented the Royal Thai Police in signing a bilateral action plan with Cambodia aimed at cracking down on scam operations. The agreement includes intelligence sharing, joint investigations, and a joint task force comprising 12 officers from each side.
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop is optimistic. "With shared data, real-time coordination, and advanced technology, we're finally starting to close in on these criminal networks," he said.
Thailand's evolving fight against cybercrime may still be in its early stages, but with the integration of financial analytics, artificial intelligence, and regional cooperation, it is moving from reactive policing to a proactive digital era -- one that aims not only to catch scammers but to outsmart them before they strike.
How Thailand is stepping up war on cybercrime
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Re: How Thailand is stepping up war on cybercrime
Tougher action vowed against scams, no leniency says Anutin
B10bn seizure from Cambodian gang boosts government resolve
by Wassayos Ngamkham
December 3, 2025
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Wednesday promised that his government would continue and expand its suppression of online scamming.
The affirmation follows the huge seizure of assets worth about 10 billion baht from major suspects linked to gangsters in Cambodia.
Mr Anutin told reporters at the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok on Wednesday that suppression activity would be expanded to encompass other individuals involved in the scams.
“There will be no leniency… Investigations will focus on evidence and offenders' behaviour. Legal action will be taken against them, without prejudice for any individuals,” the prime minister said.
Scam suppression would continue on a daily basis and offenders would be apprehended, regardless of their name, Mr Anutin said.
“These operations will be maintained until things are in order… and our people are safe,” the prime minister said.
Pol Maj Gen Sophon Sarapat, deputy commissioner of the CIB, said the 10-billion-baht assets seizure resulted from investigations involving about 700 online scam victims dating back as far as 2021.
Police found that victims’ money had been transferred through several layers of mule accounts, and that the money finally reached just two bank accounts.
They were Bangkok Bank and Kasikornbank accounts held by Cambodian businessman Yim Leak. These accounts received more than 3 billion baht in all.
Further investigation led police to identify 42 suspects, 29 of whom were arrested. The 13 suspects still at large included Yim Leak himself, his Thai wife Wiranya, and another Cambodian.
Police searched 50 locations in 22 provinces during the investigation. They impounded assets worth a total of 10.16 billion baht - six stock trading accounts with securities worth 8.11 billion baht, eight luxury vehicles worth 78 million baht, an 800-million-baht yacht, 1.17-billion-baht cash in bank accounts, and three blocks of land.
Thepsu Bowornchotedara, secretary-general of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), said the suspects set up front companies which laundered scam money by acquiring properties and securities, including shares in Bangchak Corporation.
He said Yim Leak and his wife had a "Miss Taengthai" handle financial transactions on their behalf.
Miss Taengthai had also handled financial transactions for foreign businessman Ben Smith, and between 2017 and 2022 total transactions exceeded 15 billion baht, Mr Thepsu said.
Amlo would in 90 days ask public prosecutors to push for the confiscation of the impounded assets so that they could later be put up for auction and the proceeds returned to scam victims, he said.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ays-anutin
B10bn seizure from Cambodian gang boosts government resolve
by Wassayos Ngamkham
December 3, 2025
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Wednesday promised that his government would continue and expand its suppression of online scamming.
The affirmation follows the huge seizure of assets worth about 10 billion baht from major suspects linked to gangsters in Cambodia.
Mr Anutin told reporters at the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok on Wednesday that suppression activity would be expanded to encompass other individuals involved in the scams.
“There will be no leniency… Investigations will focus on evidence and offenders' behaviour. Legal action will be taken against them, without prejudice for any individuals,” the prime minister said.
Scam suppression would continue on a daily basis and offenders would be apprehended, regardless of their name, Mr Anutin said.
“These operations will be maintained until things are in order… and our people are safe,” the prime minister said.
Pol Maj Gen Sophon Sarapat, deputy commissioner of the CIB, said the 10-billion-baht assets seizure resulted from investigations involving about 700 online scam victims dating back as far as 2021.
Police found that victims’ money had been transferred through several layers of mule accounts, and that the money finally reached just two bank accounts.
They were Bangkok Bank and Kasikornbank accounts held by Cambodian businessman Yim Leak. These accounts received more than 3 billion baht in all.
Further investigation led police to identify 42 suspects, 29 of whom were arrested. The 13 suspects still at large included Yim Leak himself, his Thai wife Wiranya, and another Cambodian.
Police searched 50 locations in 22 provinces during the investigation. They impounded assets worth a total of 10.16 billion baht - six stock trading accounts with securities worth 8.11 billion baht, eight luxury vehicles worth 78 million baht, an 800-million-baht yacht, 1.17-billion-baht cash in bank accounts, and three blocks of land.
Thepsu Bowornchotedara, secretary-general of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), said the suspects set up front companies which laundered scam money by acquiring properties and securities, including shares in Bangchak Corporation.
He said Yim Leak and his wife had a "Miss Taengthai" handle financial transactions on their behalf.
Miss Taengthai had also handled financial transactions for foreign businessman Ben Smith, and between 2017 and 2022 total transactions exceeded 15 billion baht, Mr Thepsu said.
Amlo would in 90 days ask public prosecutors to push for the confiscation of the impounded assets so that they could later be put up for auction and the proceeds returned to scam victims, he said.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ays-anutin
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Gaybutton
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- Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
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Re: How Thailand is stepping up war on cybercrime
How to protect your finances and fight fraud
Scamming has become a serious problem in Thailand at the same time as online shopping has surged in popularity, but there are ways and means of keeping yourself safe while making purchases on the internet, writes Somruedi Banchongduang.
by Somruedi Banchongduang
December 15, 2025
If you are an avid online shopper who regularly joins flash sales and loves snapping up discounted items, you need to be extra careful before making any transfers. Even if you made it through the 12.12 sales smoothly, it is important to stay alert during the upcoming 1.1 promotions and beyond. Fraudsters posing as online merchants remain widespread.
Check Before You Transfer
Flash sales are a major marketing tactic used by online merchants across almost every platform to boost sales. Because discounts are offered for only a short period, shoppers often feel pressured to make quick decisions and transfer money immediately. This rush can lead buyers to skip proper checks on sellers, increasing the risk of falling victim to financial scams.
On the Bank of Thailand's Facebook page, the regulator warns shoppers: "Don't let discounts make your money disappear," and recommends checking eight key points before transferring funds to any seller.
1. Are you shopping at a genuine store?
Look for the store's official social media pages or storefront. Search their name on Google or Facebook to see whether others have reported scams.
2. Are there any customer reviews?
Reviews from real buyers help you make better decisions. Be cautious if the store uses repetitive review images.
Repetitive or duplicated review images on a store's page may indicate a fake storefront and signal potential fraud.
3. Is the price too good to be true?
Extremely low prices can be a major red flag. If it seems impossible, there is likely a reason.
4. Is the payment channel secure?
Transferring money to an anonymous account or one that doesn't match the store name is risky. Opt for cash on delivery, credit cards, or trusted e-commerce platforms whenever possible.
5. Is the website or app trustworthy?
Look closely at the URL. Fake sites may use extra or unusual characters (e.g., "XXZ.shop") to deceive buyers. Ensure you are on the official site -- not a copy.
6. Is there clear proof of the transaction?
Keep screenshots of the purchase confirmation, order details, and payment slip. Do not delete them -- your receipt represents important evidence.
7. Is the chat suspicious or unusually informal?
Be careful if the seller's messages seem strange, off-topic, or if they push you to transfer money quickly. These are potential warning signs.
8. Double-check before confirming the transfer
Always verify everything one more time before finally clicking the transfer confirmation button.
As special offers tend to be available for a limited period, consumers often feel pressured to make a quick decision and transfer funds immediately.
If It Happens, contact the Police
If you become a victim of online shopping fraud, here is what you should do:
1. Gather all purchase evidence
Take screenshots of the website or online store.
Save screenshots of conversations with the seller.
Keep the seller's information: name, address, phone number, email and bank account number.
Keep proof of payment.
2. File a police report
Bring your ID and all evidence to a police station. Inform them that you want to proceed with a full prosecution, not just make a daily record. Do this as soon as possible -- ideally within three months of discovering the scam.
Submit the scammer's bank account number, the police report, and your transfer slip to the scammer's bank to request a refund or account freeze. You can contact the bank immediately to request the account be frozen.
Contact the Bank's Call Centre
Sirinuch Pornsathit, 35, an employee at a private company, shared her experience of making an online shopping transfer error. Fortunately, it was not a scam -- just human error.
She purchased goods from an online merchant but accidentally transferred more money than required. Ms Sirinuch then contacted the seller to return the excess amount. At that time, financial scams -- especially those involving bank transfers -- were widespread, causing both her and the merchant to be wary of each other over fear of mule accounts.
"Both the seller and I called the bank's call centre and asked the staff to verify and clear the transaction. In the end, the merchant transferred the excess amount back to me," she said.
Social Shopping Phenomenon
Online shopping through social media platforms has become increasingly popular among Thai consumers, with some online merchants and content creators generating significant sales. However, because certain platforms allow sellers to list products without registering as official stores, opportunities for fraudulent money transfers have also grown.
Not only buyers fall victim to fraudulent transfer scams -- sellers can also be deceived into sending money through various schemes. As a result, both consumers and merchants must exercise caution before making any transfers.
Sellers are advised to use banks' transfer-notification services for added security. They should also use their mobile banking app to scan the QR code on the e-slip to verify the authenticity of each transaction.
Measures to enhance protection
In August this year the Bank of Thailand introduced additional measures to strengthen financial security through a new system called "Customer Profiling". Under this measure, the regulator sets a daily transfer limit of 50,000 baht for vulnerable groups, defined as individuals at higher risk of falling victim to financial scams -- particularly children under 15 and elderly people over 65.
According to Daranee Saeju, the central bank's assistant governor for payment systems policy and the financial consumer protection group, the new measure aims to combat mobile banking scams and helps prevent the growing problem of mule accounts, setting transfer limits based on the risk profile of each customer segment.
Under the new measure, mobile banking users are divided into three groups: suspected fraudsters, general users, and vulnerable customers. Vulnerable customers include those aged under 15 and older than 65.
Transfer limits are categorised into three tiers: less than 50,000 baht a day, less than 200,000 baht a day and more than 200,000 baht a day.
The limit assigned depends on the customer's risk profile and each bank's know-your-customer assessment.
The measure has already been applied to new mobile banking applicants, with enforcement added for existing users gradually through the end of this year. Each bank determines the customer risk classifications for its customers based on its own methods.
Customers seeking higher transfer limits can request an upgrade from their banks.
The central bank requires banks to pay special attention to vulnerable groups as they are more susceptible to fraud.
Thailand has around 12 million mobile banking users. The measure adds to existing central bank safeguards that cap mobile banking transfers at 50,000 baht per transaction (with facial recognition required) and 200,000 baht per day in total.
Financial fraud remains a serious concern. In June, 24,500 scam cases related to money transfers were reported, causing total losses of 2.8 billion baht -- an average of 114,000 baht per case. The largest fraudulent transfer amounted to 4.9 million baht, according to the regulator.
Across the nation, victims who transferred more than 50,000 baht per transaction to mule accounts accounted for the largest share of fraud cases at 22%, but comprised 76% of total losses.
On average, scammers needed only three minutes to siphon off half of the stolen funds, while victims typically took 19-25 hours to report the fraud.
For the first six months of this year, children younger than 15 were involved in 78,468 financial scams, while victims older than 65 accounted for 416,453 cases.
According to Ms Daranee, the central bank is now working with relevant agencies to implement a range of measures to combat financial crime, seeking to safeguard Thailand's financial system from being exploited as a channel for illicit funds.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... ight-fraud
Scamming has become a serious problem in Thailand at the same time as online shopping has surged in popularity, but there are ways and means of keeping yourself safe while making purchases on the internet, writes Somruedi Banchongduang.
by Somruedi Banchongduang
December 15, 2025
If you are an avid online shopper who regularly joins flash sales and loves snapping up discounted items, you need to be extra careful before making any transfers. Even if you made it through the 12.12 sales smoothly, it is important to stay alert during the upcoming 1.1 promotions and beyond. Fraudsters posing as online merchants remain widespread.
Check Before You Transfer
Flash sales are a major marketing tactic used by online merchants across almost every platform to boost sales. Because discounts are offered for only a short period, shoppers often feel pressured to make quick decisions and transfer money immediately. This rush can lead buyers to skip proper checks on sellers, increasing the risk of falling victim to financial scams.
On the Bank of Thailand's Facebook page, the regulator warns shoppers: "Don't let discounts make your money disappear," and recommends checking eight key points before transferring funds to any seller.
1. Are you shopping at a genuine store?
Look for the store's official social media pages or storefront. Search their name on Google or Facebook to see whether others have reported scams.
2. Are there any customer reviews?
Reviews from real buyers help you make better decisions. Be cautious if the store uses repetitive review images.
Repetitive or duplicated review images on a store's page may indicate a fake storefront and signal potential fraud.
3. Is the price too good to be true?
Extremely low prices can be a major red flag. If it seems impossible, there is likely a reason.
4. Is the payment channel secure?
Transferring money to an anonymous account or one that doesn't match the store name is risky. Opt for cash on delivery, credit cards, or trusted e-commerce platforms whenever possible.
5. Is the website or app trustworthy?
Look closely at the URL. Fake sites may use extra or unusual characters (e.g., "XXZ.shop") to deceive buyers. Ensure you are on the official site -- not a copy.
6. Is there clear proof of the transaction?
Keep screenshots of the purchase confirmation, order details, and payment slip. Do not delete them -- your receipt represents important evidence.
7. Is the chat suspicious or unusually informal?
Be careful if the seller's messages seem strange, off-topic, or if they push you to transfer money quickly. These are potential warning signs.
8. Double-check before confirming the transfer
Always verify everything one more time before finally clicking the transfer confirmation button.
As special offers tend to be available for a limited period, consumers often feel pressured to make a quick decision and transfer funds immediately.
If It Happens, contact the Police
If you become a victim of online shopping fraud, here is what you should do:
1. Gather all purchase evidence
Take screenshots of the website or online store.
Save screenshots of conversations with the seller.
Keep the seller's information: name, address, phone number, email and bank account number.
Keep proof of payment.
2. File a police report
Bring your ID and all evidence to a police station. Inform them that you want to proceed with a full prosecution, not just make a daily record. Do this as soon as possible -- ideally within three months of discovering the scam.
Submit the scammer's bank account number, the police report, and your transfer slip to the scammer's bank to request a refund or account freeze. You can contact the bank immediately to request the account be frozen.
Contact the Bank's Call Centre
Sirinuch Pornsathit, 35, an employee at a private company, shared her experience of making an online shopping transfer error. Fortunately, it was not a scam -- just human error.
She purchased goods from an online merchant but accidentally transferred more money than required. Ms Sirinuch then contacted the seller to return the excess amount. At that time, financial scams -- especially those involving bank transfers -- were widespread, causing both her and the merchant to be wary of each other over fear of mule accounts.
"Both the seller and I called the bank's call centre and asked the staff to verify and clear the transaction. In the end, the merchant transferred the excess amount back to me," she said.
Social Shopping Phenomenon
Online shopping through social media platforms has become increasingly popular among Thai consumers, with some online merchants and content creators generating significant sales. However, because certain platforms allow sellers to list products without registering as official stores, opportunities for fraudulent money transfers have also grown.
Not only buyers fall victim to fraudulent transfer scams -- sellers can also be deceived into sending money through various schemes. As a result, both consumers and merchants must exercise caution before making any transfers.
Sellers are advised to use banks' transfer-notification services for added security. They should also use their mobile banking app to scan the QR code on the e-slip to verify the authenticity of each transaction.
Measures to enhance protection
In August this year the Bank of Thailand introduced additional measures to strengthen financial security through a new system called "Customer Profiling". Under this measure, the regulator sets a daily transfer limit of 50,000 baht for vulnerable groups, defined as individuals at higher risk of falling victim to financial scams -- particularly children under 15 and elderly people over 65.
According to Daranee Saeju, the central bank's assistant governor for payment systems policy and the financial consumer protection group, the new measure aims to combat mobile banking scams and helps prevent the growing problem of mule accounts, setting transfer limits based on the risk profile of each customer segment.
Under the new measure, mobile banking users are divided into three groups: suspected fraudsters, general users, and vulnerable customers. Vulnerable customers include those aged under 15 and older than 65.
Transfer limits are categorised into three tiers: less than 50,000 baht a day, less than 200,000 baht a day and more than 200,000 baht a day.
The limit assigned depends on the customer's risk profile and each bank's know-your-customer assessment.
The measure has already been applied to new mobile banking applicants, with enforcement added for existing users gradually through the end of this year. Each bank determines the customer risk classifications for its customers based on its own methods.
Customers seeking higher transfer limits can request an upgrade from their banks.
The central bank requires banks to pay special attention to vulnerable groups as they are more susceptible to fraud.
Thailand has around 12 million mobile banking users. The measure adds to existing central bank safeguards that cap mobile banking transfers at 50,000 baht per transaction (with facial recognition required) and 200,000 baht per day in total.
Financial fraud remains a serious concern. In June, 24,500 scam cases related to money transfers were reported, causing total losses of 2.8 billion baht -- an average of 114,000 baht per case. The largest fraudulent transfer amounted to 4.9 million baht, according to the regulator.
Across the nation, victims who transferred more than 50,000 baht per transaction to mule accounts accounted for the largest share of fraud cases at 22%, but comprised 76% of total losses.
On average, scammers needed only three minutes to siphon off half of the stolen funds, while victims typically took 19-25 hours to report the fraud.
For the first six months of this year, children younger than 15 were involved in 78,468 financial scams, while victims older than 65 accounted for 416,453 cases.
According to Ms Daranee, the central bank is now working with relevant agencies to implement a range of measures to combat financial crime, seeking to safeguard Thailand's financial system from being exploited as a channel for illicit funds.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... ight-fraud