In Chiang Mai, a 69-year-old woman ordered a mattress set priced at 799 baht. She was then targeted by a call center gang offering a promotion, tricking her into playing a mission game and transferring nearly 400,000 baht. The bank froze her account, but she did not believe it and went to request an unlock, intending to transfer an additional 350,000 baht. Police from Mueang Chiang Mai station had to intervene and persuade her until she realized the truth.
On 31 July 2026 in Chiang Mai, reporters reported that on 30 July 2026, police patrolling officers from Mueang Chiang Mai police station were notified by a bank official that a 69-year-old victim named Mrs. Kannika (surname withheld) from San Sai district, Chiang Mai, had been scammed by a call center gang into transferring money.
Subsequently, the bank froze the victim's funds, but she did not believe she had been scammed and went to the Tha Phae branch to request the bank to unfreeze her account.
When police officers arrived at the Tha Phae branch, they questioned Mrs. Kannika, who said that several days earlier she had ordered a mattress set from a sales page on the Facebook app for 799 baht and transferred the payment to that page.
Afterward, the sales page offered a promotion and a game to play. She ended up transferring money five times: the first was 799 baht, the second 3,000 baht, the third 3,000 baht, the fourth 120,000 baht, and the fifth 240,000 baht. She was about to transfer another 350,000 baht, but the bank froze her account first.
She then went to the bank to request unlocking her account, but the bank refused and called the police to come and talk with her.
Police Lieutenant Taweesak Wongjai from Mueang Chiang Mai police station, upon receiving the report, spoke with Mrs. Kannika and tried to question and persuade her not to transfer any more money. He explained the scam methods used by call center gangs that deceive elderly people or the general public into transferring money.
Eventually, Mrs. Kannika accepted the truth and agreed not to withdraw any more funds. She was also advised to file a complaint at Mueang Chiang Mai police station to take legal action against the call center gang.
Authorities have issued warnings about scams involving call center gangs. If online purchases lead to being asked to play games or to make increasing money transfers, it indicates the sales page is run by a call center gang. The public is strongly advised not to be deceived.