AI-Driven Scammers Target Thai Prime Minister with Impersonation Scheme
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has raised alarms over a sophisticated scam operation that used artificial intelligence to impersonate a foreign leader in an attempt to trick her into making a donation.
The fraudsters employed AI to clone the voice of a neighbouring country's head of state, pushing the Prime Minister into nearly falling victim to the scam.
Scam Call Poses as International Collaboration
During the budget meeting at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani on 15 January, Paetongtarn, the youngest daughter of telecom tycoon and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, shared the alarming experience.
She explained how the scammers reached out to her through a foreign messaging app, instead of the widely used Japanese app ‘Line’ in Thailand.
They sent an AI-generated voice message that greeted her with, "Good Morning Prime Minister Thailand."
The message stated that the foreign leader was interested in cooperating on international matters, sparking an exchange of texts.
"In the clip, he said he was looking forward to seeing me and working together."
At first, the conversation seemed innocuous, but the scammers soon turned the tone toward soliciting donations.
She had her doubts.
“When I heard that, I thought 'this is not right'.”
Realisation Comes After Missed Call
What appeared to be a legitimate request quickly raised red flags.
When the scammers attempted to follow up with a phone call, Paetongtarn did not pick up, as it was late at night.
The next morning, after noticing the missed call, she responded to the fraudster, who then sent another voice clip asking for the donation.
The fraudster claimed that Thailand was the only ASEAN country not yet contributing to their cause, attaching a donation link and directing her to a bank account that seemed suspiciously linked to a different country.
Paetongtarn, who confirmed her doubts by then, shared,
“This voice message made me realise that I was being deceived. The bank account number provided did not belong to the neighbouring country either,”
Police Action and Ongoing Investigation
The Prime Minister swiftly alerted Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Economy Minister, Prasert Chanruangthong, to launch an investigation into the matter.
The Prime Minister has assigned the investigation of the matter to Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Economy Minister Prasert Chanruangthong.
Authorities believe the scammers may have obtained her contact information from someone close to her, who had possibly already been duped.
National Police Chief, Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphetch, has directed the National Police Inspector General, Pol. Gen. Tatchai Pitaneelaboot, to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
The Royal Thai Police have also initiated cooperation with telecom providers to track the culprits using advanced technology.
Meanwhile, Thai authorities have arrested several individuals linked to foreign scam operations.
A Chinese national, Mr. Shaodong, was detained on 14 January in connection with a mobile phone scam using fake base stations to send fraudulent SMS messages.
His arrest follows those of two other Chinese suspects earlier this month, highlighting the growing scope of international scam operations targeting Thai citizens.
On January 14, 2025, cyber police in Bangkok arrested another Chinese suspect involved in a mobile phone scam using fake base stations to send fraudulent SMS messages.
Increasing Concern Over AI-Driven Fraud
Prime Minister Paetongtarn has urged the public to be on high alert against the rising tide of AI-powered scams.
“These scams are becoming increasingly advanced and remarkably subtle,” she said, warning that even high-profile figures like herself are vulnerable to such deception.
She advised people to approach any unsolicited voice messages or calls with caution, even when they appear to be from trusted sources.
The Prime Minister has refrained from alerting the leader of the country impersonated in the scam, focusing instead on raising awareness among Thai citizens about the dangers posed by these increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics.
In Thailand, scammers often impersonate authorities or bank employees in "call centre scams" and typically start with automated calls.
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