Number of online crimes ‘ nearly as high as pharmaceutical cases’, writes Wassayos Ngamkham
As criminals continue to develop new ways to defraud victims, crime has gotten frighteningly more sophisticated today.
The Central Investigation Bureau ( CIB ) is advising against quick-changing cyber threats, warning that clicking a false link could cause scammers to void your bank accounts. The Cyber Crimes Investigation Division (CCID ) has recently launched a campaign to protect users from online threats.
According to CIB inspector Pol Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej, scammers now use various online resources and malicious software to extort money from customers.
He claims that scamming connections can be found in five different ways. The first is used to trick a government agency into stealing money from the defendant’s accounts using false links.
Patients are tricked into using these references to transfer funds, for instance, to place an app for financial transactions or to pay utility bills.
The second type of scam involves tricking people into giving out their login credentials and personal information via fraudulent websites that appear almost identical to real ones.
Fourth types of investment scams are found on websites where patients are duped into participating in financial schemes that promise quick profits in exchange for their money. The scammers use photos of reputable companies and people to improve a program’s trust.
The third sort are links that point users to both real and fake online casinos. According to Pol Lt. Gen. Jirabhop, those who gamble on these websites may lose both their funds and their jobs as a result.
The sufferers are duped into paying fees for loans that turn out to be false due to product links, which are the next one.
CYBER ‘ VACCINE’ on sell
The commander of the Cyber Crimes Investigation Division 1 (CCID1 ), Pol Maj Gen Chatpunthakarn Klaiklueng, stated that the number of online crimes reported in Thailand is nearly double that of drug crimes.
From March 2022 to April this month, 504, 616 crime cases were reported in the country, causing 68 billion ringgit in damage. Of that number, just 5.9 billion ringgit has been retrieved.
He added that most victims of online scam are elderly and retired people. Some were alleged to have lost up to 100 million ringgit to swindlers, not just a few million baht.
As a result, the CCID1 chief said the public needs to be given a” digital immunization”.
Thus, the CCID1 has launched a campaign to stop cyber risks through individuals ‘ membership.
The campaign, which is a component of King Prajadhipok Institute’s Higher Diploma in Politics and Governance for Senior Executives ( Por Por Ror 27 ), aims to recruit volunteers to raise awareness of cyber security and stop people from falling for online scams.
Recently, Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin’s Bophit Phimuk Chakkrawat Campus and Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin collaborated on a pilot initiative for the promotion.
30 college students were chosen for their computer knowledge as ambassadors for the seven-month project, which wrapped up in April, and may begin with their families and friends.
We can no longer afford to have unprotected or vulnerable citizens uninoculated against crime. We need to address the issue with particular targets, particularly the elderly”, Pol Maj Gen Chatpunthakarn said.
Authorities are frequently using various media to promote net criminal activity, but the effort however needs more tact from the general public. Fresh volunteers who are exposed to more information online are the best way to avoid threats, he said.
The AOC was established in November of last year as a one-stop services to prevent transactions made through unlawful financial accounts, according to the CCID1 commander.
It is a cooperative effort between the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the CCID, the CIB, the Anti- Money Laundering Office, the Thai Bankers Association and wireless network services, he said.
He claimed that the digital vaccine campaign was successful and demonstrated that addressing cybercrime issues may start with spreading awareness and understanding within individuals or groups.
” We are planning to create the strategy to various colleges and broaden our focus to all demographics,” he said.