The Deputy Minister of Interior (MoI 3) has ordered the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) to investigate a group of scammers posing as "Prapa Na Ja" employees who threatened to cut off water to extort money from a beauty salon in Udon Thani. He emphasized that the PWA does not have a policy of sending officials to collect water fees at customers' homes.
On 12 August 2026, Mr. Je Setth Thaisetth, Deputy Minister of Interior (MoI 3), stated that scammers continuously change their methods by exploiting the credibility of government agencies or impersonating officials to gain trust and deceive people into making payments in various ways. He expressed concern for the public and PWA water users, urging them to be more cautious and thoroughly verify information before conducting transactions, especially when someone comes to collect water fees at home or asks for money transfers to personal accounts, claiming these are water charges, fees, or service-related costs of the PWA.
The PWA has no policy allowing officials to collect water fees at customers' homes or to have customers transfer money into officials' personal accounts. If anyone impersonates PWA staff to demand payment, the public is advised not to believe or transfer money immediately and to verify the information with the PWA every time. For requests to install new water service or other services, customers should check details, procedures, and fees directly with the relevant PWA branch before making any payment, and avoid paying through individuals or unverifiable channels.
Mr. Chakrapong Kamchan, Governor of the PWA, said the authority prioritizes safety and public confidence in its services. He urged water users to follow the principle: "If unsure, do not transfer; always verify first," and to watch for irregularities before transactions. If anyone claims to be a PWA official demanding water fees, payment should be refused, and money should not be transferred to any personal account purportedly for water charges or fees. For installation fees or other service charges, customers should verify with the PWA branch they use before proceeding. To prevent scams, the PWA recommends using only official online channels: the PWA website, the PWA Plus Life application, and the LINE Official @PWAThailand. For questions, suspicious activities, or verification, customers can contact their local PWA branch or the PWA Contact Center at 1662, available 24 hours.
