Fake cops, false scholarships: Inside the scam wave hitting Thai universities

For years, elderly citizens were the primary targets of online fraudsters, but cyber scammers are now shifting their focus to young university students across Thailand.

A recent report by the Anti-Cyber Scam Centre (ACSC) reveals that increasing numbers of young people, mostly between the ages of 20 and 30, are falling victim to identity theft, impersonation and extortion schemes.

Large universities like Chulalongkorn, Rangsit and Kasetsart have issued urgent warnings, advising their students to remain on high alert for various forms of cyber fraud.

Common traps and tactics

Online fraudsters’ most frequent trick is to contact students with seemingly good news – such as declaring they have received a scholarship or an opportunity to join an overseas exchange programme.

Victims are then told they must transfer a sum of money upfront to secure their seat and cover visa fees.

These scams are often backed up with authentic-looking digital documents complete with forged signatures of university executives. Only after sending the money do the students realise that they have been scammed.

Another common tactic involves scammers impersonating government officials, particularly police officers.

In this type of scam, fraudsters claim to have obtained confidential information or compromising photographs about the student. They then blackmail the target by demanding immediate payment in exchange for a promise not to leak the information.

Authorities have also recorded blackmail cases in which victims are tricked into accepting video calls, which a cyber-criminal then secretly records. The scammer then threatens to release the recording unless they receive a ransom payment.

Mounting financial damage

On August 1, a Chulalongkorn University student was deceived into transferring 950,000 baht (around US$28,750) to scammers who were impersonating police officers.

This incident took place just days after a similar case of fraud in the northeastern province of Maha Sarakham, where 16 students complained they had fallen victim to scammers claiming to be police officials.

Their total financial losses came to about 2 million baht, prompting Maha Sarakham University to issue an urgent warning to its students.

Rangsit University, just north of Bangkok, also announced that seven of its students had recently lost large sums of money to online fraudsters. Financial damage from the seven cases totalled more than 5 million baht.

University students typically do not have the kind of large savings that make elderly individuals a favourite target of scammers. However, the youngsters often turn to their parents in times of financial need.

“When my son said he needed a large sum in his bank account to apply for a visa, I quickly transferred 350,000 baht,” one parent of a scam victim said.

How to stay safe

Kasetsart University has issued an urgent warning to protect students and staff from falling into scammers’ traps. They have been urged to avoid clicking on any links sent by unverified senders, accepting LINE friend requests from strangers, or transferring funds to unknown individuals without proper checks.

Meanwhile, a circular released by Chulalongkorn’s Faculty of Psychology advises students to cut off communication immediately if they suspect they are being manipulated online.

“If you are uncertain or have doubts, do not transfer money or sign any documents until you have independently verified all the information,” the circular says.

Rangsit University has also cautioned students that all exchange programmes, extracurricular activities and scholarships are announced exclusively through official university channels, urging them to ignore any offers received via unverified sources.

Police reminders

The Royal Thai Police, meanwhile, have announced that its officers never initiate contact with individual citizens via LINE, nor do they send summonses or arrest warrants via messaging platforms.

The force added that police never ask people to transfer money to prove their innocence, as authorities have the power to freeze suspicious bank accounts directly when necessary.

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk