A group of 29 people yesterday petitioned the Technology Crime Suppression Centre (TCSC) to investigate a gang who tricked them into falling for a phishing scam.
Phishing is "the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers".
According to a complaint filed by the group, all 29 received brief messages via email or SMS from someone claiming to represent Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) earlier this month. The messages asked the victims to click on a link to update their personal information.
The victims later had money withdrawn from their bank accounts after clicking on the link and following the message's instructions.
Wanraya Charoenpo, a former business newspaper editor, said she received a message on Dec 9 and admitted to clicking on the link and registering her information before she went to bed.
The process required her to enter sensitive information, including her one-time password twice. The following day, she received a text message from her bank saying 120,000 had been transferred to another account on Dec 9 at 10.30pm.
Ms Wanraya said she contacted her bank and then filed a complaint with local police.
She said people should be aware of phishing scams and never click on links attached to messages. She urged the bank to take more action in protecting consumers from scammers, noting she still received the same message on Sunday.
Wantana Chanphet, a business operator in Kanchanaburi's Sangkhla Buri district, said she lost 260,000 baht shortly after updating her information.
Another victim, who asked not to be named, said that a total of 246,000 baht was withdrawn from their account after clicking on the link attached to a fake message and followed its instructions.
The person found out later that other customers had also fallen victim. Together, they decided to file a complaint with the TCSC.
Group members said they received the same message at about the same time earlier this month.
Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nutchanart, head of the TCSC, said police investigators will gather evidence and ask the bank to provide the victims' information and transaction records.
The SCB said it was ready to provide assistance. It also warned them about phishing scams.