As 2025 comes to an end, many have been saving money and planning to live fully. However, this joyful atmosphere may be dampened if scam gangs remain determined to steal money from our pockets. Therefore, to help prevent those around us from losing money to fraudsters, Thairath Money has updated the various scam tactics and how to handle them in this article.
Fraudsters are not just scam gangs; online scams come in many forms and cause widespread damage. The latest data from the Technology Crime Suppression Center (AOC) shows that in 2025 (as of 24 Dec), losses from technology crimes in Thailand surged to 24.926 billion baht, with 320,342 online cases reported—an average of 891 cases per day.
If asked which scams hurt Thais the most, the highest case number is "fraud in buying and selling goods and services," which is usually not organized and involves lower losses per case compared to "investment scams," "romance scams," or "legal threat scams," where victims lose hundreds of thousands to millions of baht.
1. Investment Scam
Many scrolling through social media feeds may see images of trustworthy people or investments promising unrealistically high returns, such as 400% in one month. Fraudsters claim investments in stocks, gold, or cryptocurrencies. Initially, victims transfer small amounts and may receive partial returns as bait. But when they transfer large sums, the scammers shut down the system and disappear, with some losing millions.
A new tactic involves fraudsters creating convincing profiles to comment or chat in groups and pages, then privately messaging victims, sometimes inviting them to invest with "Company A" promising good profits. If victims believe and transfer money, they lose large sums.
How to protect yourself: Check the name of the account or company you plan to transfer money to. Especially for financial companies, brokers, or securities firms, they must be licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
2. Call Center Scam
Call center gangs often impersonate government officials such as police, customs officers, or land department staff. They claim the victim is involved in money laundering cases, has illegal parcels, committed crimes, or has other problems.
Their key tactic is to "create panic," pressuring victims so they have no time to verify and must transfer money to "prove innocence." In reality, government agencies do not require citizens to transfer money through personal accounts for investigations. Many cases also trick victims into clicking links to download apps, which can lead to phone and bank account hacking.
How to protect yourself: Don't rush! Always stay calm and avoid giving additional personal information. First, check if the incoming phone number has been reported as fraudulent. Second, consult someone close or verify with the original agency whether the issue is real and how to proceed.
3. Romance Scam
This exploits love and trust psychology. Fraudsters create fake, appealing profiles with apparent wealth, chat until victims feel attached, then ask for money transfers to their accounts. Some even lure victims to invest in fake apps they control, causing victims to transfer large sums out of trust.
How to protect yourself: Verify if the person is real, check if the recipient's account has been reported as fraudulent or linked to scam gangs, or consult family before deciding to transfer money to strangers.
4. Prize Scam
Have you ever received an email saying you won $10,000? This is a common example where fraudsters announce that you’ve won big prizes like cash, cars, or smartphones but require payment of "taxes," "fees," or "processing charges" before receiving the prize. This exploits victims' greed and excitement to overlook caution.
How to protect yourself: Whether receiving such messages or calls, always verify with the originating agency if the prize is real or if it’s a scam designed to deceive you.
5. Job Scam / Fake Extra Income Offers
This scam is common in Thailand, often inviting people to easy home-based jobs like packing or order processing, promising good income but requiring an upfront "equipment deposit" or "membership fee." After payment, the scammers disappear.
How to protect yourself: Check the page or individual contacting you for any history of fraud or scamming others to help filter out potential scams.
6. Phishing Links
This involves sending fake SMS or emails containing links to counterfeit websites that mimic banks or government agencies, tricking victims into entering personal data, passwords, or OTP codes. These details let scammers transfer money directly from victims' bank apps.
Recently, cases emerged where companies’ communication channels with customers were hacked, and fraudsters sent fake links to customers. This highlights the need to always verify links before clicking online.
If you accidentally transfer money, stay calm and act quickly! First, call the AOC hotline 1441 or your bank to immediately "block the recipient account" (this can be done within 72 hours before filing a police report). Then gather evidence—chat logs, transfer slips, and related links—and report to the police and your bank to pursue account freezing beyond the initial 72 hours.
Although recovering money lost to scammers is difficult, filing a report may help police and banks track the fraudsters’ financial routes and bring them to justice.
Source information: Bank of Thailand, SEC, AOC
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