Bangkok: The Royal Thai Police have disclosed four key behaviors associated with call center gangs that are increasingly setting up operations in Thailand. Authorities urge the public to report any suspicious activities immediately to help combat this growing issue.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Maj. Gen. Siriwat Deepo, deputy spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, highlighted the concerns of Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanpetch, the national police chief, regarding the rising technology-related crimes. These crimes often involve call center gangs deceiving individuals into transferring money or disclosing personal information by posing as government officials or other agencies. Some gangs have been found to establish bases of operation in residential areas such as condominiums, housing developments, or rental houses, making it difficult for authorities to detect their activities. The Royal Thai Police are committed to cracking down on these gangs and preventing them from establishing operations in Thailand.
The Royal Thai Police have identified four suspicious behaviors of foreign call center gangs that the public should be aware of. The first behavior involves groups of foreigners living together without any clear occupation. Typically, these groups consist of three to six people who rent accommodations for short periods and do not interact with the local community. They often enter and leave at irregular times, which may indicate their involvement in telephone fraud.
The second behavior is the constant use of foreign language phone calls. These conversations, often heard from the room throughout the day, resemble a repetitive script used in scam calls.
The third behavior involves keeping curtains closed at all times and not turning on lights during the day but keeping them on throughout the night. This pattern suggests that the gangs work at night, aligning with the time zones of their victims' countries, and close the curtains to prevent outsiders from observing their activities.
Lastly, the presence of numerous electrical wires or communication devices is a sign of potential gang activity. Some rooms have multiple power strips, computers, phones, or routers, and there are often people seen coming in and out to fix or carry equipment.
The Royal Thai Police urge citizens to be vigilant and report any of these behaviors to help tackle the issue of call center gangs operating in Thailand.