Police are warning that call-centre scammers have come up with a new ruse: tricking people into downloading a false anti-scam mobile app to obtain their private data.
Pol Col Siriwat Deepor, deputy police spokesman of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), yesterday said call-centre gangs are claiming to be Department of Special Investigation officials and telling victims to download a fake mobile app.
He said the fraudsters would tell victims that the app can prevent all types of scams when in fact it is designed to commit them.
The app is actually used to obtain a user's personal information, including passwords, bank details and profile data, he said.
Victims may also be lured into installing remote access software on their phones to allow scammers to withdraw money from bank accounts, he said.
The RTP is calling on the public not to be deceived by call-centre gangs by following their instructions to download the app.
The RTP said people should keep up with the latest update on the matter in the RTP's cybercrime reports.
Anyone being approached by a suspected scammer online can file a complaint with the RTP's 1599 hotline or any mobile network hotline: 1185 (AIS), 9777 (TRUE), and 1678 (DTAC).