BANGKOK, THAILAND – A growing wave of scam calls and SMS messages swept across Thailand last year, making the country the most heavily targeted in its region.
Record numbers of calls and SMS
Authorities recorded around 173 million scam calls and messages in Thailand over the past year, including about 39 million phone calls and roughly 134 million SMS.
Compared with the previous year, the figures rose again from around 38 million scam calls and 130 million scam text messages, underlining the persistent momentum despite measures by authorities.
Raids slowed activity – but only briefly
Officials observed a short-term decline at the beginning of the year, when enforcement activities along the Thai-Cambodian border were stepped up.
According to the available figures, the relief lasted barely two months before the groups adjusted their operations, shifted locations and returned with even more fraudulent contacts.
From petty criminals to scam factories
What were once small-time fraud gangs had, in the assessment of authorities, turned into full-scale scam factories operating with the structure of organized entities.
These operations included fixed roles, set working hours and mass outreach campaigns, increasingly supported by automated calling systems and large-scale SMS blasts.
SMS grow more technically sophisticated
Text messages became harder to filter because scammers increasingly mixed content with emojis and unusual characters to bypass telecom protection systems.
As a result, messages slipped more easily through automated detection and reached smartphones, even as providers and authorities continuously tightened blocking mechanisms.
Data theft makes attacks more personal
The impact was amplified by widespread data leaks in which phone numbers were linked to real names, email addresses and even passwords.
This allowed perpetrators to shift their strategy away from random hits toward targeted, more credible approaches that appeared personal and more easily built trust.
Police issue warning and reveal losses
Police warned that perpetrators were working in parallel via calls, SMS and social media, using psychological tricks to exploit fear, time pressure or misplaced trust.
Authorities put the resulting losses at about 70 million baht per day, highlighting the scale of the damage for households and businesses.
Accounts frozen and blocking by code
According to police, thousands of so-called mule accounts linked to scam networks had already been frozen, including through reporting tools such as a national cybercrime database.
Mobile users could also block all incoming calls from foreign numbers by dialing *138#1, while network operators increasingly monitored call volumes and locations to block suspicious activity.
Human trafficking as a dark backdrop
Authorities pointed to connections between scam centers and human trafficking, saying some networks were believed to force people to work in fraud compounds.
As a basic rule, police stressed that people should not believe unsolicited contacts, should not allow themselves to be rushed and should never transfer money, even if callers or messages appeared to provide official details.
“Do not believe, do not let yourself be rushed and do not transfer any money, even if callers or messages seem to provide official details.”
said police as a central warning.