The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) warns of close threats by revealing six AI-era scammer tricks to 80 students of the “Little Lightning Reporters 21st Generation,” encouraging vigilance and self-protection against criminal gangs.
On 8 Jun 2026 GMT+7, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) advanced efforts to build cyber resilience among youth by dispatching technology crime experts to deliver a special lecture to students enrolled in the “Little Lightning Reporters 21st Generation” program. They disclosed six prevalent online scam methods spreading rapidly in the AI era and advised on ways to protect oneself from criminals exploiting technology to deceive the public.
Police Colonel Neti Wongkulab, Deputy Commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) and Head of Communications for the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), gave a special lecture titled “Scammers: A Close Threat, the Truth You Must Know” to 80 students participating in the hands-on training program “Little Lightning Reporters 21st Generation” at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province, aiming to enhance awareness of cyber threats and nearby dangers in the digital media and AI era.
Police Colonel Neti stated that criminals continuously develop new deception methods, particularly using technology and social media to reach victims. He summarized six key scam types the public should watch out for: product and service fraud; impersonation of individuals or organizations; employment scams; offers of unrealistic benefits; financial and investment fraud; and phishing links designed to steal personal information.
For online shopping, it is recommended to use platforms with consumer protection systems such as Lazada, Shopee, or TikTok Shop, which have intermediary payment and merchant verification systems. In case of issues, customers can track or request refunds. Conversely, buying directly through social media like Facebook or Instagram carries a high risk of being scammed by paying money without receiving the goods.
Additionally, warnings were issued about criminals impersonating government officials, police officers, or financial institutions who call citizens to instill fear and trick them into transferring money or revealing personal information. If receiving such calls, individuals should hang up immediately and contact the official agency through its legitimate channels themselves.
Another increasingly common scam involves fake online job offers, using enticing messages about good income, easy tasks, or work-from-home opportunities, then tricking victims into paying application fees. Some are persuaded to travel abroad for work but are coerced into working in call center gang networks.
Simultaneously, warnings were given about investment scams on social media, which often claim unrealistically high returns or impersonate celebrities to build credibility. These schemes start by providing small returns before encouraging larger investments, eventually causing victims to lose significant sums.
The Central Investigation Bureau emphasized that maintaining awareness, verifying information before transferring money, avoiding clicking links from untrusted sources, and using platforms with user protection systems are crucial safeguards to prevent citizens from falling victim to increasingly complex online criminals in the AI era.
