Bangkok: The Royal Thai Police have issued a public warning about the activities of call center gangs that are establishing covert bases of operation in urban areas.
According to Thai News Agency, these gangs are employing specific behaviors to avoid detection while conducting fraudulent activities.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Siriwat Deepo, deputy spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, highlighted concerns raised by Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanpetch, the national police chief, regarding the rise in technology-related crimes. These crimes are often perpetrated by call center gangs that trick victims into transferring money or giving away personal information by pretending to be officials or representatives from various agencies.
In recent investigations, it was found that call center gangs are setting up “bases of operations” in residential areas, including condominiums, housing developments, and rental properties. They use telephones and social media to scam victims both within Thailand and internationally.
The Royal Thai Police are committed to identifying and arresting these individuals to prevent the establishment of such bases in Thailand. They have identified four key behaviors associated with these gangs:
1. Groups of foreigners living together without a clear occupation, often in groups of three to six, rent properties for short periods and remain isolated from the local community. Their irregular entry and exit times suggest coordinated efforts in phone fraud.
2. Continuous foreign language conversations are overheard from these rooms, resembling scripted dialogues used in scam calls.
3. These groups keep curtains closed and lights off during the day, while lights remain on at night, aligning with the time zones of their victims’ countries. Curtains are closed to conceal their activities.
4. There is an unusual presence of electrical and communication devices. Rooms are equipped with multiple power strips, computers, telephones, and routers, with frequent visits by people for repairs or transporting equipment.
The Royal Thai Police urge the public to report any suspicious activities immediately to help curb the spread of such fraudulent operations.