2,000 scam-hit bank accounts frozen

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2,000 scam-hit bank accounts frozen
New anti-scam centre able to act within 15 minutes of receiving a complaint

A total of 2,004 bank accounts detected shortly after they were used in online scams have been frozen in the past week by the new Anti Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC), according to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES).

On average, the accounts were suspended within 15 minutes after the centre received complaints from the people who believed they were victims of an online scam, DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangthong said on Tuesday.

That was considerably faster than the initial 60-minute goal set for the centre, thanks to the active involvement of all banks and an increase in the number of lines added to its complaints hotline, said the minister.

Located at the National Telecom headquarters on Chaeng Watthana Road, the AOC is a one-stop service point to tackle rampant online scams. Its hotline number 1441 recently increased its capacity to 100 telephone lines from 20.

In the past week around 32,000 people who had fallen victim to online scams called the centre for help with suspending money transfers made from their accounts to accounts used by scammers to siphon off victims’ money, said the minister.

The efficiency of the campaign to curb online scams should improve further when the Nov 18 deadline for all operators of online businesses to register their businesses expires, said Mr Prasert.

Under the Digital Platform Royal Decree, all individuals who earn 1.8 million baht per year or more from operating an online platform, such as online shopping, are required to register.

Any legal entity operating an online business platform that earns more than 50 million baht a year is required to do the same.

The decree carries both civil and criminal penalties, said the minister.

Itthaboon Onwongsa, deputy secretary-general of the Thailand Consumers Council, said the AOC, Bank of Thailand and all financial institutions involved deserve credit for the improvement in the country’s ability to fight online scams.

Mr Itthaboon, however, said that if the centre could improve the speed of having a suspected online transaction suspended to within 3 minutes, it would be able to help even more victims. This is because it takes very little time for most scammers to siphon off stolen money to an overseas account through multiple local accounts, he said.
bangkokpost

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13 nabbed over 9 scam loan apps
Police have arrested 13 suspects related to nine scam loan apps and seized passbooks which were found to show a total of 500 million baht in circulation.

Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej said on Wednesday at a press briefing that crackdowns took place in 23 locations across Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Chon Buri, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachin Buri, Ayutthaya, Samut Prakan, Chumphon and Trang early this week.

Two major suspects -- identified as Yuwathida Puengpipat, 37, and Weerayut Pongpanuwat, 37 -- were wanted on warrants issued by the Criminal Court for colluding in fraud, inputting false information into a computer system, operating loan businesses without permission with an interest rate higher than the legal limit, using violence in debt collection, and participating in a transnational crime organisation.

The 11 others were associated with mule accounts.

Police also seized 52 items, including passbooks, notebooks, tablets and electronic devices as part of their raids.

More than 500 million baht was found to have circulated in the accounts.

Police found the loan apps were developed in China. They included Rich Loan, PleasantSheep, SummerCash, FortuneCat, GoldenTiger, FastCash, OrangeCash, GoldenFlower and MemoryLoan apps.

The victims must allow one of the loan apps to access their personal information on their mobile phone, such as their list of contacts, bank account number, photo album, camera, GPS or microphone.

Each victim was required to fill in their real name, source of income, address, bank account number, a photo of their ID card and the user's face and phone number to receive a one-time password (OTP), police investigators said.

After finishing the authentication process, the victim received just 55% of the overall requested loan but was told to repay the full amount within six days, with an interest rate of 7.5% per day, 225% per month or 2,737.5% per year.

bangkokpost.com

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Bank account freeze scam strikes fear: Fraudsters use shocking new tactics in Thailand
Fraudsters have mastered the art of freezing bank accounts and fabricating account screenshots, leaving victims vulnerable to a financial nightmare.

A TikTok user, @tawanviewsomboons, has exposed a cutting-edge scam that could leave anyone’s finances in tatters. @tawanviewsomboons posted today a cautionary video, shedding light on the elaborate tactics employed by these scammers.

In the video, @tawanviewsomboons recounts a distressing incident where a close acquaintance fell prey to the fraudsters. The scammers, posing as bank representatives, initiated a call and successfully froze the mobile banking applications of the unsuspecting victim.

Displaying a service unavailable message on two banking apps, the fraudsters then dropped a bombshell, claiming the victim was embroiled in a money-laundering case, and their account was being frozen as part of an ongoing police investigation

Adding a chilling layer of authenticity, the scammers sent a document featuring the victim’s name alongside a photograph of a supposed police officer. To escalate the drama, they even dispatched a screenshot of the allegedly frozen account, complete with the victim’s name plastered across it.

The deception was nearly foolproof, with the victim only sensing foul play after a marathon hour-long conversation, prompting a hasty end to the call. Undeterred, the scammers persistently dialled the victim’s number, refusing to relent, reported KhaoSod.

This revelation caused widespread concern among netizens, eager to decipher how these fraudsters could wield the power to freeze bank accounts. Responding to the mounting queries, @tawanviewsomboons elucidated that victims, once trapped in this financial web, must physically visit the bank’s branch to verify their identity and unfreeze their accounts
full article thethaiger.com