Cybercriminals Falsely Claimed To Be an Officer of the DBD and Requested a Victim To Update Corporate Information.
A Working Group of Anti-Fake News Was Established. All Cases Will Be Reported Without Exception.
The Department of Business Development is warning the public and businesses, particularly foreign juristic persons, to be cautious of cyber criminals who are posing as officials to trick businesses into updating their information. A working group has been established to monitor these activities and any cases of prosecution will be pursued without exception. The DBD is also working with the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) to support victims. The department advises to be cautious by checking URLs carefully, not clicking on unknown link, not believing unsolicited invitations, and not disclosing personal information.
Thosapon Dansuputra, Director-General of the Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce revealed that “In the past, the Department of Business Development has received complaints from the public and victims that a group of criminals falsely claimed to be an officer of the Department. Cybercriminals request a victim to update corporate information by using a trick to download a fake online application to fill out personal information such as ID card, email address, date of birth, address, and credit card information. They then gain access to a victim’s personal account and steal money from their bank account. DBD has periodically announced warnings, including methods for self-protection, so that juristic persons and the public should be careful not to be misled, and the department does not have a policy to approach first or to update information through the online system.
Director-General continued, “Currently, those involved in the incident and the victims have reported their cases to the Department through various channels such as the hotline 1570, email, and social media. Furthermore, foreign companies registered in Thailand have also been affected by the similar deceitful tactics in English language, causing harm to the country’s reputation and potentially diminishing the confidence of foreign investors.”
“The Department of Business Development (DBD) is taking proactive measures to address the scam and has established the ‘Working Group of Anti-Fake News Center’ to assist those affected. It is important for individuals who have been affected to come forward with any information or evidence – such as the misuse of the DBD’s symbols, and report the incident to the police to prevent further occurrences. The DBD has also reported the case to the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) and will continue to take action in relevant areas.”
The Director-General concluded “The public and business sectors that sharing personal information must be done with extreme caution to avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime. Four keys of self-protection include (1) checking the URL spelling before entering a website, (2) not clicking on unknown links, SMSs, or downloading unknown applications, (3) not believing unsolicited invitations, (4) and not revealing personal information. If unsure, contact the hotline at 1570 or visit the website http://www.dbd.go.th
