Authorities bust multi-million message SMS fraud and 730 million call VoIP scam in Thailand

The scale and technological sophistication of the scam is staggering

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The big picture: Thai authorities have dismantled two sophisticated fraud operations in Bangkok in "Operation Bridge Blast," which targeted Chinese-led gangs employing advanced technologies to defraud unsuspecting victims. The case is yet another reminder that as technology continues to advance, so too do cybercriminals' methods. In just a matter of days, the fraudsters were able to send nearly 1 million messages.

One of the arrested gangs employed a technique known as SMS blasting, a method that exploits cellular network vulnerabilities to bombard nearby mobile devices with fraudulent text messages. The gang's mobile setup was highly sophisticated, consisting of an 8,000-watt mobile power station, a Wi-Fi router, four mobile phones, and a base station simulator, collectively known as a False Base Station.

This equipment allowed the criminals to drive through busy areas of Sukhumvit Road, broadcasting fake SMS messages to nearby devices.

The victims received texts like "Your 9,268 points are about to expire! Claim your gift now!" The scale of this operation was staggering; in just three days from November 11-13, 2024, the gang managed to send nearly 1 million fraudulent messages.

The primary suspect in this operation, a 35-year-old Chinese national identified only as Yang, was apprehended with the SMS blasting equipment in his vehicle. He now faces serious charges, including unauthorized possession and use of radio communication equipment, illegal establishment of a radio communication station, and unauthorized use of telecommunications frequencies.

The second operation uncovered a massive call center scam that used VoIP technology to make fraudulent calls. This sophisticated scheme employed SIP Trunk Solution in an operation with a scale that was just enormous.

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The call center scam involved three companies that collectively made over 730 million calls using 11,201 registered phone numbers, all beginning with "02". These firms - Huanyun Information Technology Co., Ltd., Yun Tian Ke Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd., and Prima Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. - were registered with a mix of Chinese and Thai directors, in a complex web of international fraud.

Authorities have issued warrants for 24 suspects, including nine foreigners and 15 Thai nationals. To date, ten arrests have been made, and Thai law enforcement is seeking Interpol's assistance to apprehend suspects who have fled abroad.

The investigations are ongoing, with authorities working to uncover the full extent of these operations and identify any remaining members of these criminal networks.

_{Image credit: Khaosod English}