Online scammers steal B177m in one week

Fraudulent sales and services widespread, most costly cybercrime

Online scammers stole more than 177 million baht from victims across Thailand in a single week, with fake shopping and service offers still the most widespread and costly cybercrime, according to the police Anti Cyber-Scam Centre.

The centre said on Monday that 5,716 cybercrime complaints were filed between July 19 and July 25. Although the number of reported cases increased by 220 from the previous week, total financial losses fell about 22 million baht to 177.3 million baht.

Fraud involving the sale of goods and services continued to dominate the statistics. Authorities recorded 4,429 cases in this category, accounting for 77.5 per cent of all complaints received during the week. Victims lost more than 48 million baht, highlighting the growing risks facing consumers who increasingly rely on online platforms for everyday purchases.

Bangkok reported the highest financial losses, with 84 cases causing damage of more than 8.35 million baht. Nonthaburi ranked second with losses exceeding 4.12 million baht from 18 cases, while Khon Kaen placed third with 16 cases and losses of 335,035 baht. (continues below)

Women remained more likely than men to fall victim to cybercrime, according to the centre’s analysis. People aged 21 to 30 were identified as the most vulnerable group, recording the highest number of victims in both online shopping fraud and impersonation scams. In employment related fraud, however, those aged 31 to 40 were the most frequently targeted.

Joint operations involving police, financial institutions and the Anti Cyber-Scam Centre led to the arrest of five suspected scammers during the week – two Thais, one Chinese national and two South Koreans. Authorities also stopped 22 victims transferring money to suspected criminal accounts, preventing potential losses of more than 1.16 million baht.

One of the most striking cases involved a woman who disappeared from her residence after receiving threatening calls from scammers posing as police officers. Real police traced her movements to a hotel where she had checked in alone. After repeated attempts to contact her failed, police entered the room and discovered she was still under the influence of the fraudsters. (continues below)

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Investigators said the gang had convinced the woman that she was being investigated for allegedly holding a mule bank account. The scammers kept her connected through a video call and instructed her not to speak with anyone else while demanding money to prove her innocence. She transferred 49,900 baht before her father, fearing she could be arrested, sent a further 650,000 baht. Total losses approached 700,000 baht before police intervened and froze the relevant accounts.

In a separate incident, officers assisted a 68-year-old woman in Nonthaburi who had been persuaded to invest in an online scheme. Working through her husband, police explained how the fraud operated and encouraged her to stop making transfers. The case resulted in losses of more than 500,000 baht.

The centre also warned that students continue to be a prime target for criminals posing as police officers and government officials. Victims are often falsely accused of involvement in criminal activities and instructed to communicate through fake Line accounts. Scammers then isolate them in hotel rooms, maintain contact through video calls and pressure family members into sending money.

Officials warn that genuine law enforcement agencies and anti money-laundering authorities do not telephone people to accuse them of crimes, request transfers of money or conduct investigations through video calls. People who receive such calls are warned to end the conversation immediately and contact the national anti scam hotline on 1441.