The cabinet on Tuesday approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to be signed between the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of Cambodia on cooperation in the suppression of call centres and similar scam gangs, government deputy spokeswoman Traisulee Traisoranakul said.
Under the MoU, officials of the two countries will:-
- Exchange knowledge, technical expertise and effective methods for the suppression of "call centre" and "hybrid scam" gangs;
- Appoint coordinators to facilitate the investigation and compilation of evidence in Thailand and Cambodia so as to be able to catch the offenders. Such evidence may include data on users of voice communication services on the internet and records of telephone use of suspects in both countries;
- Coordinate and provide convenience for the transfer of criminals under the extradition treaty between Thailand and Cambodia as well as other laws and regulations of the two countries;
- Set up joint working committees of relevant officials from Thailand and Cambodia; and
- Establish other forms of cooperation as agreed on later by the two sides.
The signing of the MoU is set for July 11, when Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakomanusorn will visit Cambodia.
A "call centre" gang is a group of fraudsters who engage in phone scams, tricking their victims into believing they are in imminent danger and then promising them relief from the invented threat - for a price.
A "hybrid scam" gang comprises fraudsters who create fake social media accounts and dating applicaions. The accounts and apps are used to lure unsuspecting victims to invest in the money market via an online platform and transfer money to the bogus investment.