The rampant spread of call center gangs has plagued both nations, wreaking havoc on countless innocent lives. Pol Gen Torsak, brimming with optimism, foresees a notable crackdown soon. To spearhead these efforts, a specialized task force is set to be established, and key figures will be gathering in Cambodia for their next critical meeting.
The video conference wasn’t a mere formality; it was a comprehensive directional meeting attended by senior police officers and representatives from several critical bodies – the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), the Bank of Thailand, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.
An enthusiastic Deputy Police Chief, Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet, shed light on the genesis of this partnership. Recent discussions between Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet paved the way for these collaborative efforts to obliterate call center scams and online fraud. These scams are not mere nuisances; they are sophisticated operations that siphon millions from unsuspecting victims. Prime Minister Srettha has tasked the national police chief with fortifying ties with Cambodian authorities to decisively address this issue.
The meeting fervently focused on intelligence sharing – exploring the depths of scam activities, pinpointing suspected operational bases in Cambodia, and planning future joint operations. Pol Gen Kitrat also brought up a crucial point: the existence of over a hundred Thai nationals, wanted for their roles in these gangs, who are currently hiding across the border. He urged Cambodian authorities to track and deport these fugitives to face justice in Thailand.
To streamline and bolster these joint efforts, working panels will be established for seamless exchange of information and the formulation of coordinated action plans.
In a bid to dismantle the scam network’s infrastructure, the NBTC has taken decisive action. They have mandated that individuals possessing six or more SIM cards re-register and verify their identities to curb the misuse of mule cards – a common tool in these fraudulent operations. In a striking move, the regulator recently suspended over three million SIM cards whose holders failed to comply with identity verification requirements by the deadline.
Moreover, the NBTC, alongside the police and three major mobile phone service providers, has intensified their crackdowns. They have been systematically targeting and removing illegal telecom signal towers and cable setups, particularly those along the border, which are often used by these call center gangs to elude detection and operate under the radar.
This united front between Thailand and Cambodia symbolizes a robust stance against the modern-day plague of call center scams. With both nations pulling their resources and expertise together, it sets a promising precedent for what international cooperation can achieve in the fight against cybercrime and fraud. As we look forward to the forthcoming meeting in Cambodia and the establishment of the task force, there’s a renewed hope that the era of these nefarious call center scams may soon be coming to an end.
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