Researcher with Doctorate Degree Suffers over 8 Million Dollar Loss to Fraudsters posing as DSI Representatives
A 32-year-old Engineer Gets Duped in a Call Center Scam, losing over 8 million baht
Meet Siwat, an engineer with a PhD, who found himself in a sticky situation when scammers posing as high-ranking officials from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) conned him out of a hefty sum. Siwat landed in the spotlight after reaching out to social media activist, Ekkapop Luangprasert, founder of the Sai Mai Tong Rod (Survive) Facebook page, for help.
The engineer's whirlwind ordeal began on April 5 when he received an alarming phone call from someone claiming to be from the DSI. The caller accused him of being linked to illicit activities related to opening mule accounts for a well-known former politician, who had been previously apprehended.
After the initial contact, Siwat was directed to add the caller on the Line chat app and soon found himself in a video conference with the "official." The con artist then presented Siwat with documents about the supposed confiscation of mule accounts and demanded money transfers for "examination purposes." The caller insisted that Siwat remain in a secluded area during the transactions to avoid any distractions.
Fear and Intimidation
The engineer admitted to feeling shocked and intimidated when the caller threatened to seize his and his family members' assets if he refused to comply with the scammer's demands. A young woman, who posed as another DSI officer, later contacted him and transferred the call to another person. The constant calls went on for seven straight days and nights. In total, Siwat made 11 money transfers amounting to 8.46 million baht from five bank accounts to the scam ring.
Unbeknownst to Siwat, he was required to travel to Hat Yai district in Songkhla province to convert savings certificates he had purchased from a Government Savings Bank branch into money transfers for the scam ring. The phone call remained disconnected only during his trip, except when boarding a flight.
It wasn't until Siwat confided in his father what had transpired that he realized he was the victim of a sophisticated scam.
Interestingly enough, Siwat, who had lived abroad for nine consecutive years, stated that he had never encountered this kind of felony before returning to work in Thailand. He usually received numerous calls from scammers but managed to identify their tricks. However, this time, the cunning scammers employed new tactics with fabricated documents that left him susceptible to their manipulation.
Additionally, Siwat almost lost a condominium worth approximately 7 million baht when the scammers requested him to mortgage the title deed and then transfer the proceeds. Fortunately, the mortgage process failed.
Despite reaching out to banks to retrieve the lost funds, Siwat reported no success.
Determined to bring the perpetrators to justice, Ekkkapop coordinated with the cybercrime police to track down the scam ring.
Ekkapop urged the government to take immediate action to combat scammers, stressing the urgency for harsh measures to eradicate this growing menace in Thailand.
The Rise of Call Center Scams and Their Prevalence Globally
Sadly, call center scams like the one Siwat experienced are becoming more prevalent in Thailand. These scams often see fraudsters posing as government officials, banks, or trusted entities to deceive victims into parting with their money or sensitive information.
According to recent data, over a two-year period (October 1, 2023, to March 31, 2025), Thailand saw 519,000 online complaints related to scams, resulting in staggering financial losses of over 50.7 billion baht (approximately US$1.5 billion) [1]. Although specific data for call center scams is not available, the statistics clearly indicate the escalating scale of scam-related issues in Thailand.
Global scamming has transformed into a sophisticated enterprise, with estimated losses approaching $1 trillion annually [5]. Scammers employ advanced technologies like AI to craft convincing scams that are increasingly difficult to detect.
Steps for Victims to Recover Lost Funds
Victims of call center scams face difficulties in recovering their stolen funds, but there are measures they can take:
- Immediate Reporting:
- Contact the local authorities and file complaints online as soon as possible.
- Bank and Financial Institution Involvement:
- Inform your bank or financial institution about the scam immediately, and ask them to track the transaction and collaborate with law enforcement to intercept the funds if possible.
- Seek Legal Advice:
- Consult with a legal professional to understand your rights and explore potential actions against the scammers.
- Support and Awareness:
- Participate in community initiatives that raise awareness about scams by using apps like Whoscall, which help detect and prevent scams through digital literacy education [5].
- Document Everything:
- Keep thorough records of all interactions with the scammers and any subsequent actions taken, as these documents can prove invaluable for investigations and potential legal proceedings.
Conclusion
If you've fallen victim to a call center scam, it's imperative to act quickly, work with authorities and financial institutions, seek legal advice, stay informed, and document every interaction with the scammers. With these essential steps, you can increase your chances of recovering your lost funds and become part of the solution in the fight against scammers.
The engineer, Siwat, was allegedly threatened by scammers who posed as DSI officials and demanded money after duping him in a call center scam, resulting in the loss of 8.46 million baht. Unbeknownst to Siwat, he was required to travel to Hat Yai district and convert savings certificates into money transfers for the scam ring. In an attempt to bring the perpetrators to justice, Ekkapop, a general-news activist, coordinated with the cybercrime police to track down the scam ring.
