Phra nakhon si ayutthaya: A retired government official has fallen victim to a call center scam, losing 4.2 million baht and 5 baht weight of gold. The incident has prompted police to urgently review CCTV footage in an effort to track down the perpetrators.
According to Thai News Agency, the victim, identified as Aunt Daeng, a 65-year-old former public health official from Moo 1, Ban Phan Subdistrict, Sena District, shared her story to alert retirees about the scam. Aunt Daeng recounted how she received a call on August 26th from someone impersonating a police officer from Nan Police Station. The caller falsely accused her of involvement in money laundering and drug trafficking, coercing her into sending photos of her bank passbooks and keeping her under constant surveillance through video calls.
Aunt Daeng was instructed to add the scammers as friends on LINE, where they sent her fraudulent documents, including a fake court order. Fearing legal repercussions, she complied with their demands, withdrawing cash from multiple banks and even securing a loan from a cooperative, losing a total of over 4.2 million baht. Additionally, she handed over 5 baht weight of gold to the perpetrators.
The scammers orchestrated several visits to collect the stolen assets, using different vehicles and individuals. CCTV footage captured images of the culprits, including one wearing a long-sleeved white shirt, black trousers, and a face mask, collecting money on August 27th.
On subsequent occasions, the perpetrators used a black Toyota Innova and a white Honda CR-V to transport Aunt Daeng to locations where she attempted to secure loans. On September 1st, they took her to a public health office to obtain a death benefit certificate for a loan application, which was ultimately rejected. After this, the scammers ceased contact with her.
Aunt Daeng expressed deep emotional distress upon realizing the scam, as she lost her life savings in just a few days. She has filed a report with Sena Police Station, and authorities are actively gathering evidence, reviewing CCTV footage, and pursuing the individuals involved to ensure justice is served.