Law
Students in Maha Sarakham Evade 1.7 Million Baht Call Center Scam
Two university students in Maha Sarakham narrowly avoided losing 1.7 million baht to a sophisticated call center scam involving impersonation and threats.
On September 18, 2026, two first-year students from a prominent university in Maha Sarakham filed a report at the Khwao Yai Police Station after being targeted by a call center fraud syndicate. According to Khaosod Online, the perpetrators attempted to extort 1.7 million baht from the victims using high-pressure tactics.
The scam began with a phone call from individuals posing as telecommunications company staff, claiming there were issues with the students' phone numbers. The fraudsters then escalated the situation by impersonating police officers, falsely accusing the students of involvement in money laundering and drug trafficking. The victims were coerced into a multi-hour video call, during which they were shown forged official documents and ordered to keep the matter secret from their parents while demanding money from their families.
Fortunately, the students became suspicious before transferring any funds and consulted their families, which allowed them to halt the process in time. They have since provided police with evidence, including call recordings, chat logs, and the fraudulent documents used by the criminals. Police Colonel Wiroj Phumphetrucha, Superintendent of Khwao Yai Police Station, confirmed that the investigation is ongoing. For residents and visitors, this incident serves as a reminder to remain vigilant against unsolicited calls claiming to be authorities, as scammers frequently use intimidation to bypass critical thinking. It remains to be confirmed if the perpetrators can be traced through the digital evidence provided.
