Cybercrime conference in Thailand discuss ‘call centre’ scams

Khmer Times Share:
Thai police officers debrief a group of Thais after being rescued from the phone scam centre and repatriated to Thailand in April. Royal Thai Police

Frequent scams involving fraudulent calls from fake call centres were among the topics discussed at the just-concluded international cybercrime conference held in Phuket province.

International cybercrime conference discusses ‘call centre’ scams
Pol General Damrongsak Kittiprapas, director of Thailand’s Police Cyber Taskforce, said on Friday that representatives from Asean countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, discussed the issues involving online crimes and the so-called call-centre scam.

“We are confident that after this meeting, Thailand will have a stronger partnership [with the neighbouring countries],” he said.

Damrongsak on Friday presided over the closing ceremony of the “Cybercrime Conference for Law Enforcement Agencies and Partners”, held at a hotel in the southern island resort province.

The conference was attended by representatives and law enforcers from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its seven dialogue partner countries.

International cybercrime conference discusses ‘call centre’ scams
Also participating in the conference were representatives from corporate partners of Interpol, including Microsoft, Trend Micro, Binance, and Meta.

Interpol is an international organisation that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control.

At the meeting, participants shared their experiences and knowledge about the investigation and law enforcement regarding cybercrime.

It was agreed that Interpol would serve as the centre for exchange of information between the member countries.

April alone saw close cooperation between Thai and Cambodian police has resulted in the rescue of more than 130 Thai nationals believed to have been in the clutches of online scanning and gambling syndicates located in Sihanoukville, Bavet, from provinces along the Thai-Cambodian border.

Despite the rescue and or deportation of more than 700 Thai nationals from various scam call centres in Cambodia since early 2022, the Royal Thai Police say the scam gangs could still be holding more than 1,500 Thais supposedly against their will in the Sihanoukville area alone.

The number alleged to be held against their will could climb to between 2300 to 2500, if others held by other syndicates operating along the Thai-Cambodian border provinces, said Thai and Cambodian police sources familiar with the scenario. The Nation/Khmer Times

Related Posts

Previous Article

Cambodia preparing to issue ID cards to Cambodians abroad

Next Article

Political parties start campaigns for commune elections in Cambodia