Bangkok: Paethongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minister, has firmly denied any connections with individuals posing as high society members, stating that she would never engage in such risky behavior. She urged the public not to fall victim to these scams, which she likened to call center operations.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Paethongtarn addressed the issue during an interview about a person who had impersonated a high-profile individual in a Line chat. The impersonator had falsely claimed familiarity with her, sending messages to various individuals. The Prime Minister clarified that she has never known this impersonator, despite hearing similar stories in the past. She recounted how a friend mentioned knowing the impersonator, who claimed to need a job due to alleged proximity to the Prime Minister.
Ms. Paethongtarn emphasized that her family's history has been scrutinized, and she would never take such unnecessary risks. She dismissed the notion that she would engage in such activities, labeling them as dangerous. The Prime Minister has also encountered instances where her image was used in direct messages to solicit financial support, a claim she categorically denied, urging the public not to believe such falsehoods.
Drawing parallels to past incidents, she referenced previous claims involving her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was falsely accused of distributing money. Ms. Paethongtarn reiterated the need for vigilance, highlighting that these scams often involve foreign call centers using the names of famous individuals to deceive the public.
After addressing the press, Ms. Paethongtarn expressed her bewilderment to coalition party leaders about the prevalence of these impersonators in high society circles. Her message was clear: the public should remain cautious and not be swayed by such deceitful tactics.