Government Warns of Online Investment Scams Amid Rising Reports

The public is being warned about a surge in online investment scams as reports reveal a sharp rise in fraudulent activities.


From November 1st of last year to November 8th of this year, the Anti-Online Scam Operation Center (AOC) received nearly 1.2 million calls on its 1441 hotline. This averages over 3,200 calls daily. During this period, about 375,000 bank accounts linked to scams were suspended.


Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, Sasikan Watthanachun, highlighted the main categories of suspended accounts, which are fraudulent sales, deceptive job offers, investment scams, prize-winning scams, and loan scams.


Nearly 30% of the suspended accounts were related to fraudulent sales, while online investment scams led to the highest financial losses. Losses from investment scams totaled 5.48 million baht, followed by deceptive job offers and call center scams.


Sasikan emphasized the importance of verifying investment opportunities. She advised caution, particularly with offers from uncertified businesses. She encouraged the public to consult relevant agencies or contact the AOC hotline at 1441 to confirm the legitimacy of any offers.


To help the public avoid scams, the AOC recommends following the "Four Don'ts" principle. These are to avoid clicking suspicious links, be cautious of unsolicited offers, don’t rush decisions, and always verify before transferring money.


Victims of online scams are urged to report immediately to the AOC to aid in suspending fraudulent accounts.

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