Scams and personal data leaks are on the rise, according to Whoscall, a leading company in AI-driven number screening. In 2024, Whoscall identified a sharp surge in scam calls and SMS messages in Thailand, recording 168 million instances—a staggering 112% increase compared to the previous year. The most prevalent scams involved fake product sales, impersonation of official organizations, and fraudulent loan schemes.
- Whoscall has detected a significant increase in scam calls and messages in Thailand, with a rise of 112% from 2023 to 2024, and the most common scams include fake product sales, impersonation of official entities, and fraudulent loan approvals.
- The company’s AI-powered Smart SMS Assistant detected 130 million scam-related SMS messages in the past year, with common scam messages containing phishing links, fraudulent loan offers, and impersonation of government and private sector entities.
- There has been an increase in personal data leaks, with 41% of users’ personal information leaked to various platforms, and Whoscall is committed to enhancing fraud protection through AI technology and building a cybersecurity defense network.
Over the past year, Whoscall’s Smart SMS Assistant identified 130 million scam-related SMS messages, with phishing links and impersonation of government and private sector entities being the most common tactics. Whoscall’s Web Checker feature also helped protect users from malicious and fake links, with phishing links accounting for 40% of the identified threats.
The annual report also revealed an increase in personal data leaks, with 41% of users’ personal information being leaked to various platforms. The leaked data primarily included email addresses (97%) and phone numbers (88%), along with other sensitive information.
In response to these threats, Whoscall is committed to enhancing fraud protection using AI technology and building a cybersecurity defence network. The public is advised to stay alert, download the Whoscall app for real-time identification of unknown numbers, and exercise caution when sharing personal information online.
Thailand is introducing a new law, similar to Singapore’s, to combat scams and assist victims by holding financial institutions and mobile phone operators responsible.
- The new law will focus on specific measures for returning scammed money and increasing penalties for offenders, with a new requirement for SMS messages to include embedded links for sender identification.
- While the proposed measures address symptoms of scam operations, further steps may be necessary to strengthen defense against evolving scam tactics, possibly involving access to personal data with strict limits to protect privacy.
- Cybercrime in Southeast Asia surged by 82% from 2021 to 2022, driven by the region’s rapid digital growth, leaving the underbanked particularly at risk.
- Several countries, such as Singapore and the Philippines, are adopting frameworks and security measures; however, cross-border collaboration remains essential to combat scam farms and cyber slavery effectively.
