Bangkok: In a bid to tackle the growing menace of call center scams, Thailand and Cambodia have come together to form a joint working group aimed at suppressing these criminal networks. The initiative is part of a broader effort to prevent scammers from establishing bases in Thailand, as revealed by Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong Phiwpaen, Deputy Inspector-General of the Royal Thai Police and spokesman for the Technology Crime Suppression Center. The move comes as Thailand intensifies its measures against such activities, with no evidence yet of South Korean scammers setting up operations in the country.
According to Thai News Agency, the collaboration between the two nations was solidified during the recent Thailand-Cambodia Joint Border Commission (GBC) meeting. The meeting, led by Gen. Nattapol Nakphanit, Minister of Defense, and attended by top officials from the Royal Thai Police, focused on resolving border issues and addressing the threat posed by transnational call center gangs operating out of Cambodia. As a result, both countries agreed to form a "Thailand-Cambodia Joint Working Group" dedicated to sharing intelligence and conducting joint operations to dismantle these cybercriminal networks.
In addition to the joint initiative with Cambodia, Thai authorities are also responding to developments in Myanmar, where a crackdown on the "KK Park" scammer hideout has pushed some fugitives into Thailand. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior, the National Police Chief, Pol. Gen. Thana, along with Pol. Lt. Gen. Jiraphop, have instructed officials to screen these individuals for signs of human trafficking or complicity in scam operations. The effort is supported by a coalition of Immigration Police, the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD), and Cyber Police, who are conducting thorough background checks on escapees.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that while no Thai nationals have returned from KK Park recently, a significant number of Chinese, Indonesian, and Vietnamese nationals involved in labor scams have been identified. These individuals are suspected of defrauding victims across international lines, highlighting the transnational nature of these crimes.
Responding to South Korean media reports suggesting that South Korean scammers might be relocating to Thailand, Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong emphasized the challenges of establishing a permanent base in the country due to stringent police measures. He reassured the public of the Thai police's commitment to detecting and suppressing call center gangs, urging confidence in their ability to take decisive action against criminal elements.