On December 15, Pol. Maj. Gen. Siriwat Deephor, Deputy Spokesperson for the Royal Thai Police (RTP), relayed the concerns of Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphat, the National Police Chief, regarding public safety and the increasing prevalence of technology-related crimes, particularly call center scams. These scams often involve fraudsters impersonating government officials to coerce victims into transferring money under the pretense of legal scrutiny or to prove their innocence.
The RTP emphasized that law enforcement officials have the legal authority to seize or freeze assets related to criminal activities without requiring asset owners to transfer funds directly to them. They strongly warned the public against falling for any video calls or threats by individuals claiming to be officials and demanding money transfers. In extreme cases, scammers have even coerced victims into undressing or filming compromising videos.
The police urged the public to recognize such actions as clear signs of fraud. Individuals encountering such scams are advised to report incidents through the RTP hotline (1599), the national fraud reporting hotline (1441), or file complaints online at www.thaipoliceonline.go.th. These services are available 24/7.