Four common scam tactics used by fraudsters during Songkran: How to protect yourself?

Songkran Festival is a joyous time that Thais look forward to, but at the same time, it's a period when scammers see opportunities to take advantage of our carelessness. This is because spending increases during this time, whether it's booking accommodations, buying travel tickets, or shopping online in preparation for the festival. What are some of the most common scams, and how can you protect yourself from becoming a victim?

Four popular scam tricks used by fraudsters during Songkran.

1. Scamming people by selling fake festival tickets or booking unusually cheap accommodations.

During the Songkran festival, accommodations and travel tickets are often fully booked or at inflated prices. Scammers often sell fake tickets or non-existent hotel rooms at unusually low prices, using attractive online images and enticing descriptions, but they disappear after receiving the money.

2. Fraud through banking applications.

Online scammers may send fake messages or emails impersonating banks, claiming there's a problem with your account during the holiday period and asking you to click a link to resolve the issue immediately. Once victims believe the scam and provide personal information or bank passwords, the fraudsters will use this information to access their accounts and transfer money.

3. Scamming people by selling cheap products online.

During the Songkran festival, a period of high consumer spending, online scammers often create fake Facebook pages or websites to sell goods at unusually low prices, especially floral clothing, swimwear, and other festive items. After buyers transfer money, they either don't receive the goods or receive items that don't match the advertisement. These fraudulent clothing pages typically have few followers, are recently created, and have unreliable reviews.

4. Deceiving people into donating money for charity.

During festivals, especially those involving religious ceremonies, online scammers often impersonate monks by creating fake pages or online platforms. They may use images of sick dogs or cats, or pictures of the poor, to trick people into donating money. Once the scammers receive the money, they shut down the page and disappear.

How to protect yourself from scammers.

1. Do not open unfamiliar links. Especially during holiday seasons, these messages often urge immediate action and contain links that may lead to fake websites designed to resemble familiar bank or online store websites to trick you into providing personal or credit card information. If you receive such a message, you should visit the company's website directly and not click on the link provided in the message.

2. Check the seller's credibility before buying online. Look at reviews, the store's history, and don't be fooled by unrealistically low prices. A large number of reviews and responses from the shop owner are a good sign of a trustworthy store. Fake online clothing or product pages often have few reviews, or only reviews that appear to be written by the same person. Additionally, check the store's contact information, such as a legitimate phone number, address, or email. If the store lacks clear contact details, consider carefully before making a purchase.

3. Do not disclose personal information on social media. For example, posting travel plans, addresses, or valuables, including where you're going on vacation and for how long, can give scammers an idea of ​​when your home will be available. Additionally, be cautious about posting photos of various identification cards, such as airline tickets, parking passes, or even event tickets, as the information on these cards could be misused. Being tricked into sending your national ID card or other important documents is a serious threat that could lead to identity theft or financial fraud.

4. Use complex passwords and enable two-factor authentication for all online accounts. Especially for bank accounts, a good password should be at least 12 characters long, contain uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols. You shouldn't use the same password for multiple accounts, and you should change your password regularly. Enabling Two-Factor Authentication adds another layer of security, because even if a fraudster knows your password, they still need to use your device to verify your identity.

5. Install antivirus software and keep it updated to protect against viruses, malware, and security vulnerabilities. Modern antivirus programs help detect and remove malicious programs that may be embedded in downloaded files or visited websites. In addition, regularly updating software, operating systems, and applications helps close security vulnerabilities that online criminals could exploit. Especially during holidays when internet usage is higher than usual, ensure all devices are up-to-date for maximum security.

If you realize you've been scammed, call 1441, the hotline for the Center for Combating Online Crime.

Compiled by Banking and Finance.

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