Warning issued after a 65-year-old former public health official became a victim of a call center gang. The perpetrators claimed to be police officers, alleging her involvement in money laundering and drug cases. They sent forged documents bearing the Garuda emblem to intimidate her and forced continuous video calls to watch her around the clock.
On 3 Sep 2026 GMT+7, a 65-year-old former public health official fell victim to a new style of call center scam. The perpetrators impersonated police from Nan Provincial Police Station, falsely accusing her of involvement in money laundering and drug cases. They sent fake Garuda-emblemed documents via LINE to intimidate her and forced her to keep a video call active day and night.
The criminals claimed they needed to investigate her financial transactions and assets. They ordered the victim to photograph her bank passbooks and send the images for verification. Seeing multiple accounts with funds, they tricked her into withdrawing cash from banks and taking cooperative loans, instructing her to keep the money at home under the pretense that officials would collect it for inspection.
Between 27–31 August, the criminals avoided direct money transfers and instead sent drivers to pick up cash at the victim's home. They switched both drivers and vehicles daily before escaping with the money.
In addition to over 4.2 million baht in cash, the victim was deceived into handing over five baht of gold to the gang, resulting in a significant total loss of assets.
Ms. Daeng, aged 65, revealed she had worked hard all her life to save money but lost all her savings—over 4.2 million baht—in just a few days. She also owes about 500,000 baht in cooperative loans taken out for the scammers. Even her savings bonds were sold to provide money to the criminals. She showed reporters five bank passbooks from three banks, revealing only a few thousand baht remaining.
Ms. Daeng recounted the incident began on the afternoon of 26 August when an unknown number called, claiming to be police from Nan Provincial Police Station. They accused her of involvement in money laundering and drug offenses. Threatened and shown a court summons bearing the Garuda emblem, she believed it was an official document.
The criminals added her as a friend on LINE and sent various documents, including fake court summons, warning her not to tell anyone—even family—claiming leaks would lead to prosecution and 2–3 years imprisonment. They forced her to keep a video call open at all times to monitor her movements, even while using the bathroom.
Out of fear, the victim complied with all demands, withdrawing cash from multiple banks, taking cooperative loans, and handing over five baht of gold to the gang. The criminals repeatedly sent people to collect these assets from her home.
Today, the victim wept, saying she felt like she was "dead while alive." The money and gold she had worked her whole life to save disappeared within days, leaving her with debt and psychological trauma.
Initially, the victim reported the case to Sena Police Station. Authorities are gathering evidence, reviewing CCTV footage, and tracking those who collected the money and assets to bring them to justice.
According to the timeline, CCTV near the victim’s home recorded a suspect wearing a white long-sleeve shirt, black trousers, and a mask collecting money on 27 August 2026.
On 31 August 2026, CCTV captured a black Toyota Innova picking up Ms. Daeng from her home to take her to a cooperative loan office in the city.
On 1 September 2026, a white Honda CR-V collected the victim to obtain a pension certificate at a provincial public health office, but the loan process failed. The scammers then returned her home and ceased contact.
The criminals not only collected money but also took the victim to a shopping mall, claiming they would arrange additional loans.
The victim stated the gang used about three different vehicles to collect money and assets. CCTV has captured two of these vehicles, which may be key evidence for authorities to trace the gang’s movements.