Bangkok: The Prime Minister revealed a close call with a sophisticated call center scam, which almost deceived her into believing she was speaking with a foreign leader. The scam involved an audio clip claiming she had not yet donated, a tactic used to exploit her trust. Since the time before Thaksin Shinawatra's return to Thailand, she has been targeted multiple times by such scams. As a result, she has prioritized addressing these scams as an urgent policy matter.
According to Thai News Agency, during the opening ceremony of a seminar on the annual budget for fiscal year 2026, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minister, discussed the government's policies on social issues and quality of life, specifically targeting the problems of drug abuse and online crimes with effective solutions. She shared her recent experience with a call center scam, where the perpetrators convincingly impersonated a foreign leader, urging her to donate. She emphasized the need for public awareness and vigilance, as these scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
The Prime Minister recounted how she nearly believed the scam, as the audio clip sounded authentic, using the voice of an actual foreign leader. The call center's tactics included sending a message with the phrase "Good Morning Prime Minister Thailand" and later requesting a donation through a foreign link. Recognizing the importance of this issue, she reported that the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society is investigating the incident. The scams, she noted, are evolving with more advanced and subtle techniques, often involving AI-generated voices.
In a further interview, the Prime Minister expressed her shock at the realism of the voice, which seemed to be generated using AI technology. Unlike typical call center scams that originate from unfamiliar numbers, this attempt involved a clear voice resembling a foreign leader's. The scam started with a casual inquiry about collaboration, followed by messages asking for donations, purportedly from an ASEAN country. A subsequent message included an account number from a different country, confirming the fraudulent intent. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of digital security and urged the Minister of Digital Economy and Society to delve deeper into the matter.
When questioned about her response to the impersonation, the Prime Minister clarified that she had not personally contacted the foreign leader. She explained that the scammer likely targeted multiple individuals, eventually reaching her. The experience reminded her of previous impersonation attempts involving Thaksin Shinawatra, which she recognized as false. Her message to the public is clear: remain vigilant and do not fall victim to such scams. She concluded by reaffirming her commitment to addressing these issues and ensuring public safety from such deceitful practices.