MGR Online – The Anti-Online Scam Center has released statistics showing scammers filed 5,716 cases in a single week, causing 177 million baht in damages. The highest-risk group is aged 21–30. Authorities warn that call-center gangs are luring students into renting hotel rooms and then extorting ransom money from their parents.
Today (27 Jul.), the Anti-Online Scam Center (ACSC), operating under the direction of Police General Thana Chuwong, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police in his capacity as Director of the Online Crime Operations Center of the Royal Thai Police (OCOС.RTP), and Police Lieutenant General Jiraphop Phuridet, Assistant Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police in his capacity as Deputy Director of the OCOC.RTP, disclosed weekly online crime statistics covering the period 19–25 July 2026, as investigators continue pursuing and arresting offenders and accelerating assistance to victims.
Statistics show that 5,716 cases were reported through the Thaipoliceonline system, with total damages exceeding 177.27 million baht. Although the number of cases rose by 220 compared to the previous week, overall damages actually fell by more than 22 million baht.
Analysis found that fraud involving the purchase and sale of goods and services remains the most prevalent type of scam, accounting for 4,429 cases, or 77.5% of all cases, and causing damages exceeding 48 million baht. The provinces recording the highest number of complaints and the greatest financial losses were Bangkok with 84 cases and damages exceeding 8.35 million baht, followed by Nonthaburi Province with 18 cases and damages exceeding 4.12 million baht, and Khon Kaen Province with 16 cases and damages exceeding 335,000 baht.
Victim data shows that women continue to fall prey more than men, particularly in the 21–30 age group, which has remained the highest-risk group for several consecutive weeks and is most frequently found in cases involving fraud related to goods and services as well as impersonation. In employment-fraud cases, victims are predominantly in the 31–40 age group.
During the past week, the ACSC also coordinated with banks and relevant agencies, leading to the arrest of two scammer networks involving five suspects — two Thai nationals and three foreign nationals, comprising one Chinese national and two South Korean nationals. Authorities were also able to assist victims and block money transfers in time in 22 cases, amounting to more than 1.16 million baht.
Among notable cases, officers rescued a woman who had been threatened by a call-center gang impersonating police officers. The gang claimed she was linked to a money-mule account, then forced her to remain on a video call at all times and tricked her into checking into a hotel room to cut her off from outside contact. Police had to track her using CCTV footage before coordinating with the hotel to assist her. It was found that the victim had been deceived into transferring 49,900 baht to the criminals, and the gang had further tricked her father into making two additional transfers totalling 650,000 baht, bringing the total damage to 699,900 baht. Officers moved quickly to freeze the accounts through the 1441 system and proceed with legal action.
In another case, officers assisted a 68-year-old woman who had been deceived into investing through an online platform, suffering losses exceeding 500,000 baht. Police worked with her family to help them understand the situation, ultimately halting any further transfers of money, and advised the family to gather evidence and file a formal complaint to pursue legal proceedings.
The ACSC warns that students at both school and university level continue to be targeted by call-center gangs. Criminals typically impersonate police officers or government officials, send fake arrest warrants via the Line application, force victims to isolate themselves by renting hotel rooms, exercise control through video calls, and then deceive parents into sending money under the pretense of tuition fees or various administrative costs. In some cases, victims are even instructed to stage scenes in which they appear to have been physically harmed, so that video clips can be sent to extort ransom from their families, causing substantial damage both to the victims' finances and their mental well-being.
