On Magha Puja Day, the government warns citizens to make merit mindfully and avoid falling prey to scammers. People are advised to steer clear of online circumambulation websites that request personal data and to refrain from opening or clicking links in suspicious SMS messages.
On 3 March 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Airin Panrit, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, stated that Magha Puja is an important day for Thai Buddhists. Typically, on this day, people make merit by offering alms, listening to sermons, presenting Sangha Dana, and circumambulating the ordination hall for blessings for themselves and their families. She emphasized caution against fraudsters exploiting this religious occasion to deceive people. Citizens should be wary of clicking on links in SMS messages or URLs sent via email or online channels that claim to be for online circumambulation, as these may be fake links that could result in unauthorized withdrawal of funds from their accounts and theft of personal information.
The precautions are as follows: 1. Avoid online circumambulation websites that require personal data such as national ID numbers, bank account numbers, or OTP codes, since online circumambulation does not require such information. 2. Avoid clicking links from unknown numbers sending SMS invitations for online circumambulation, as scammers often exploit festivals by sending SMS with links that, if clicked, can drain bank accounts. 3. Avoid installing suspicious applications claiming to offer online circumambulation or donation services, as these may be scams where fraudsters use remote control systems to withdraw money from users' accounts.
“Do not open or click links in suspicious SMS messages or install applications that scammers trick you into downloading. If you need to install any application, download it only from the Google Play Store or Apple Store. Do not trust fraudsters' advice to use other browsers, as they may use deceptive methods such as QR code scanning or adding contacts via Line ID. Do not scan QR codes or add Line friends from untrustworthy sources. Please make merit mindfully and avoid falling victim to scammers.”