Thai Police to Probe After AI Scammers Target PM Paetongtarn

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra shares her experience of nearly falling victim to an unusually sophisticated call center scam on Jan. 15, 2025.

BANGKOK — Thailand’s National Police Chief has ordered an investigation after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra revealed she was targeted by sophisticated scammers who used AI technology to impersonate a foreign leader.

Speaking at a budget meeting at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani on January 15, Prime Minister Paetongtarn shared her experience of nearly falling victim to an unusually sophisticated call center scam. The scammers used AI to clone the voice of a foreign leader in an attempt to solicit donations.

“They sent a voice message saying ‘Good Morning Prime Minister Thailand’ and expressed interest in collaboration,” Paetongtarn recounted. “After some conversation, they claimed Thailand was the only ASEAN country that hadn’t donated to their cause and sent a donation link. However, the account details were from a completely different country, which raised red flags.”

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Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra warns the public about the increasing sophistication of AI voice scams on Jan. 15, 2025.

The Prime Minister warned the public about the increasing sophistication of such scams. “I almost believed it myself because they used AI to perfectly replicate the voice of that country’s leader, whom I’ve heard speak before. These scams are becoming increasingly advanced and remarkably subtle.”

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Prime Minister has tasked Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Economy Minister Prasert Chanruangthong to investigate the matter, noting that the scammers contacted her through a foreign messaging app rather than Line. The scammers reportedly obtained her contact information through intermediaries after targeting multiple individuals.

In response, National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphetch has instructed National Police Inspector General Pol. Gen. Tatchai Pitaneelaboot to conduct a thorough investigation. The Royal Thai Police is also coordinating with telecom operators to employ advanced technology in tracking these scammers.

National Police Chief has also scheduled a meeting with heads of police units involved in tackling foreign scammer problems, including Chinese criminal activities in Thailand. The meeting will be held on January 20 at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters to establish strategies for addressing these issues.

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Cyber police arrest another Chinese suspect in connection with a mobile phone scam operation using false base stations to send fraudulent SMS messages in Bangkok on January 14, 2025.

In a related development, cybercrime police arrested another Chinese suspect in Bangkok on January 14. Mr. Shaodong, 49, was apprehended at an apartment in the Ratchada area, making him the third Chinese national arrested in connection with a mobile phone scam operation using false base stations to send fraudulent SMS messages. The previous arrests included Mr. Chuyuan, 49, and Mr. Xiangwu, 47, who were caught with equipment including a false base station, 11 mobile phones, and over 30 bank-related items.

Police officials emphasized that these incidents highlight the growing sophistication of scam operations targeting Thai citizens, including high-profile figures, and urged the public to remain vigilant against such fraudulent schemes.

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