Thai PM says nearly fell for foreign leader phone scam

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra recently revealed she was nearly targeted by a sophisticated phone scam using AI to mimic the voice of a foreign leader. Speaking on Wednesday, the PM shared details of the incident, highlighting the growing dangers of AI-assisted scams.

Paetongtarn, the youngest daughter of telecoms tycoon and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, explained that she received a message featuring a voice remarkably similar to a well-known leader. She did not disclose the leader's identity but recounted that the voice expressed enthusiasm about meeting her and collaborating on future efforts.

Initially, she missed a call from the same number late at night. The next day, another voice message raised her suspicions when it claimed, "Thailand is the only ASEAN country which has not yet made a donation." The statement felt off to her, prompting her to question its authenticity.

Her doubts were confirmed when she received a follow-up text message requesting money to be sent to a foreign bank account. "I knew it for sure when I saw that," she said, emphasizing how the financial demand exposed the fraudulent nature of the call.

Paetongtarn did not specify when the incident occurred but used her platform to shed light on the prevalence of such scams. In Thailand, "call center scams" are a widespread issue, with fraudsters frequently impersonating police, government officials, or bank representatives. Many scams begin with automated robocalls before escalating to direct interaction.

At just 38 years old, Paetongtarn has already made significant waves in politics, recently declaring more than $400 million in assets to Thailand's anti-corruption commission. Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra—known for once owning Manchester City Football Club—has an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion, making him Thailand's 10th-richest individual, according to Forbes.

The attempted scam highlights the increasing sophistication of fraudsters, especially with the advent of AI technology, and serves as a cautionary tale for individuals and governments alike.