Earlier this month, many people may have seen warnings for social media users about a new form of scam used by criminal gangs. "Vertical series" or "short dramas" lasting 1–2 minutes per episode are used as tools to lure people in, enticing them to watch the next episode, but behind the scenes they can be traps far more dangerous than ordinary deceptive advertising.
The popularity of vertical series has surged greatly due to their concise, exciting content that is easy to watch on smartphones. However, this entertainment format is being exploited by criminals as "bait" for increasingly sophisticated cybercrime.
Recently,the pageCouncil of Thai Consumer Organizationsissued a warning about this new form of online scam, stating that "short clips and vertical series lure clicks to fake websites to steal data and money," and clearly pointed out that "getting paid for watching clips is not true," urging Thai people to immediately avoid such content.
The continuous rise in popularity of vertical video platforms and episodic short dramas has led criminals to use this content format to easily reach unsuspecting people. Additionally, the widespread distribution of short clips makes it harder for authorities to monitor and block compared to large websites.
Vertical series typically tell stories in episodes (Ep.1 / Ep.2 / Ep.3) using engaging plots like revenge, ordinary people struggling for money, disguised tycoons, or dramatic romance, which quickly evoke emotional hooks that make victims engrossed and less cautious.
This content style creates emotional bonds between viewers and characters, reducing skepticism because viewers don’t feel they are being sold to or deceived. Moreover, platform algorithms promote videos that viewers finish, rewatch, and continue watching.
Once viewers become engaged, scammers leave links in bios or comments, but these links are not the actual destinations. Behind the scenes, users’ device information is collected (device fingerprinting), and worse, in some cases, scammers show different websites to different users: ordinary viewers see normal sites, while targeted victims see gambling sites or payment pages—all happening within milliseconds.
1. The trick of getting paid to watch series.
Scammers advertise on Facebook, TikTok, or YouTube claiming "Hiring viewers for vertical series/short dramas with good income, 500–1,000 baht per day just by watching and liking," "100 baht per clip watched," or "Up to 1,000 baht for completing the series." Once victims believe and join LINE groups for tasks, they initially receive small payments to build trust but are eventually tricked into depositing money to upgrade to VIP status, after which they cannot withdraw funds.
2. Embedding gambling links and harvesting personal data.
Some vertical series shared in secret groups or illegal websites contain edited ads for online gambling or links to gambling LINE groups embedded in the content, or use emotionally charged short scenes to attract clicks to gambling websites. When users click or follow links appearing at episode ends, they are taken to websites or surveys that hide gambling content or request personal data such as emails, phone numbers, and account information, increasing the risk of misuse for illegal purposes.
3. Fake apps containing malware.
Furthermore, scammers create fake applications for free series viewing that are not available in the Play Store or App Store, tricking victims into downloading APK links. Once installed, these apps request system access rights (Accessibility Service) to steal data, passwords, bank app credentials, or remotely control phones to transfer all funds out.
4. Luring victims to transfer money.
After victims submit their data, scammers may send messages persuading them to transfer money to "verify identity" or "withdraw winnings," but ultimately victims cannot withdraw funds, similar to scams previously warned about by cyber police involving fake websites that entice users to gamble until their accounts are drained.
Signs of a safe app. Safe apps must be downloaded only from the App Store or Play Store. They usually charge through membership fees (VIP) or ads to unlock episodes. Permission requests are typically limited to notifications and storage. Some apps feature celebrity endorsers. However, even legitimate apps often use a coin system to unlock episodes, which may result in spending more than a regular monthly streaming subscription.
Currently, legal vertical series apps popular in Thailand in 2026 fall into two main categories:
1. Major platforms (expanding short series market) These established streaming apps offer the highest security, clear company verification, and trustworthy payment systems, such as
2. Specialized vertical short drama apps These apps focus exclusively on vertical series of 1–2 minutes per episode, mostly produced in China and expanding globally. They can be found directly on the App Store or Google Play Store, such as
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