Authorities are increasing efforts to combat a growing problem: romance scams. Between 2022 and 2024, the Royal Thai Police reported 5,164 cases of these scams, resulting in financial damages exceeding 1.6 billion baht.
Raising Awareness
To address this issue, COFACT (Collaborative Fact Checking) recently hosted a forum titled “Love Or Lie? Exposing Romance Scams on Valentine’s Day.” The event aimed to educate the public about the tactics used by scammers and how to protect themselves.
Forum Highlights
Lt Col Peabprom Mekhiyanont, deputy director of Foreign Affairs at the Technology Crime Investigation Bureau, was the main speaker at the forum. Suchai Charoenmukyanan hosted the event, and Supinya Klangnarong, founder of COFACT, emphasized that romance scams are more prevalent than many people realize.
Supinya Klangnarong shared an example of a friend’s mother who nearly fell victim to a scammer she met online. Fortunately, her friend intervened and removed financial applications from the mother’s phone, preventing any financial loss.
Authorities are currently pursuing suspects, with police hunting 43 suspected call centre scam artists and 62 romance scam suspects.
According to Lt Col Peabprom, individuals aged between 20 and 40 are frequently targeted by these scams. She also noted that a key difference between genuine relationships and romance scams is the absence of typical relationship conflicts like arguments or disagreements.
Looking Ahead
authorities will continue to prioritize investigations into romance scams and increase public awareness campaigns. A possible next step could involve collaborating with social media platforms to identify and remove fraudulent accounts. Analysts expect that continued vigilance and education will be crucial in mitigating the risks associated with these scams.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the financial impact of romance scams in Thailand?
Between 2022 and 2024, romance scams resulted in damages exceeding 1.6 billion baht, according to the Royal Thai Police.
Who organized the “Love Or Lie?” forum?
COFACT (Collaborative Fact Checking) organized the “Love Or Lie? Exposing Romance Scams on Valentine’s Day” forum.
What age group is most often targeted?
Individuals aged between 20 and 40 are frequently targets of romance scams, according to Lt Col Peabprom.
How can individuals protect themselves from becoming victims of romance scams?
