Anatomy of a scam

Criminals are turning more and more to AI, deep fakes, hybrid cons, writes Wassayos Ngamkham

- Wassayos Ngamkham

Police say scammers will develop more sophisticated operations in 2026, allowing them to target victims more precisely, even though some scam centres along the borders of Myanmar and Cambodia have been dismantled in recent months.

Thailand is working closely with China, the United States, Japan and other allies to suppress transnational scam syndicates. It is also preparing to coordinate with Laos, as intelligence-based information indicates more scam groups may relocate there next year.

In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, assistant national police chief and deputy director of the Cyber Crime Suppression Centre (CCSC), said while the overall number of scam-related cases is expected to decline, criminal activity will become more complex, with scammers able to target victims more through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Public awareness and increasing international cooperation will remain central to efforts to suppress scam operations along the borders, he said.

ADVANCED SCAM TECHNIQUES

Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said scam groups are increasingly focusing on AI-driven fraud, particularly the use of deepfake technology — fabricated video and audio designed to impersonate known individuals or senior government officials.

Another growing threat is so-called hybrid scams, which combine investment fraud with romance scams.

Such schemes involve highly refined psychological manipulation carried out over an extended period of time.

Authorities are also monitoring the relocation of scam bases to third countries. With operations in Myanmar coming under pressure, criminal networks are seeking new bases in countries with weaker law enforcement.

Thailand has intelligence confirming the existence of scam centres in Laos. Plans are under way for joint suppression operations with Lao authorities, in coordination with China, which are expected to take shape in 2026.