Thai Authorities Discover Thai IP Addresses Used for Scams

Thai authorities continue their crusade against scam hubs in their region. This time, they have focused their attention on the illegal use of the Thai IP address for alleged money laundering perpetrated by scam hubs. Aside from revealing their modus operandi for illegally transferring money to their intended destination, the Thai authorities have also placed additional measures to combat these challenges related to cyber fraud.

Thai IP Address Used in Cambodia

Authorities discovered Scam Centers in Cambodia use thousands of Thai IP addresses for their scam operations, according to Nation Thailand. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission of Thailand (NBTC) alleges that more than 6,000 IP addresses are used across the border for nefarious activities.

Specifically, these IP addresses are used in Poipet, Cambodia. The town is known for its casinos and has been the home of suspected scam hubs targeting individuals worldwide, including its neighbor across the border. Khmer Times reported 271 foreigners arrested in Cambodia, and all were part of a scam center in Poipet.

Scammers were successful in using these IP addresses even outside Thailand. Scam Centers set up illegal lines to tap into one of the ISPs in Thailand, which effectively spoofs their location instead of revealing their location in Cambodia. Illegal Wi-Fi setups are used to set up a local network of devices connected to an ISP in Thailand.

Using Local IP Address for Illegal Money Transfers

The purpose of acquiring a local IP address in Thailand is actually very straightforward. Scam centers in Cambodia target locals across Thailand for illicit money transfers. Normally, international money transfers require additional verification. However, scam centers in Cambodia have successfully circumvented the requirement by using a Thai IP address. Banks facilitating these financial transactions are unable to flag these money transfers because scam centers were successfully spoofing their location.

Government Response to Illegal Money Transfers and Use of IP Address

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission of Thailand announced that Thai IP addresses are prohibited for international use, according to a report by Thai News. ISPs are also instructed to use "cell radius" tech to prevent Thai telecommunication coverage from leaking into Cambodia. Exemptions on the use of Thai IP addresses are limited to legal activities in international roaming.

Complementing their announcement on the limitation of IP addresses, the NBTC has also mandated all telecommunication companies to retain consumer transaction information for 180 days. The previous retention period mandated for service providers is only 90 days. By doubling the data retention period, victims will have more time to present their case and submit data within the allowable period. Extending consumer transaction data to 180 days will also help authorities track individuals behind the illegal transactions.

Also enforced are the active blocking of illegal SMS messages and the strict enforcement of the SIM Box Control Measure. Blocking illegal SMS messages is essential because millions of unauthorized SMS ads are sent to Thailand every month. The SIM Box Control Measure ensures that only those who have registered their SIM cards using valid identification can connect to a service provider in the country.