Leading technology and social media platform provider Meta is well
aware of these threats and is continuously working in partnership with global
governments, law enforcement bodies, tech peers, and banks to protect its users
from increasingly sophisticated online investment and payment scams. In
Thailand, Meta has joined forces with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) to help raise awareness about the most common online scams in the country
and enhance the safety of Thai users across its platforms.
Professor Dr. Pornanong Budsaratragoon, Secretary-General of the
SEC, stated: “This campaign aims to promote investment literacy and build
immunity for the public and investors, helping them become aware of fraudsters
and stay away from increasingly complex threats in the online world. It also
empowers them to verify and make investment decisions with greater caution and
safety in the modern financial landscape.”
The SEC has continuously taken a proactive approach under its
strategic plan, which focuses on elevating the agency to become a center for
the prevention of investment scams in the capital market (Anti-Investment Scam
Center). The SEC provides services to the public, investors, regulated business
operators, and agencies within the capital markets and digital asset markets,
aiming to raise awareness and preparedness against online threats. In addition,
it fosters integrated cooperation with all sectors—both public and private—to
develop preventive mechanisms and create a safer online environment.
Over the years, Meta has heavily invested in developing anti-scam
technologies and continues to work closely with research experts to identify
and disrupt criminal networks around the world. Through a combination of
automated monitoring tools and manual reviews, Meta rapidly detects and removes
hundreds of scammers from its platforms every day while proactively coordinating with its partners to identify transnational
scammers and permanently take down their operations.
Despite these proactive measures, scammers are routinely updating
their tactics and using the latest technologies to avoid detection. As such,
netizens must be aware and cautious when using the internet, especially when
contacted by unknown parties or seeing offers that seem too good to be true.
The Top 4 Online Scams to Watch Out For
Scammers constantly adapt their strategies by leveraging popular
trends and targeting the interests of internet users. In Thailand, the
following four scam types have been commonly observed and have caused
significant damages to the lives of many people:
1. Cryptocurrency Investment Scams
In this scam, bad actors will impersonate cryptocurrency
investment experts or representatives from reputable crypto exchanges. They
will use various online platforms or even phone calls to entice you to invest
in cryptocurrencies, promising high returns. They will often claim to have
"trading secrets" or "insider information" that will make
you rich overnight. Sometimes, they may create fake images of highly profitable
accounts or even offer to help recover funds lost from previous investments,
only to defraud you again.
2. Romance Scams
In this scam, bad actors will create fake profiles on dating
platforms or social media using photos of attractive people and will fabricate
sympathetic or impressive life stories. They spend time building an emotional
connection with the victim until trust and attachment develops. Once the victim
becomes attached, the scammer begins to ask for money for various reasons, such
as emergency medical expenses, travel costs to meet in person, business or
financial problems, or investments that they claim will help you be together in
the future.
3. Investment Scams
Similar to cryptocurrency scams, this scam tricks you into
investing in assets such as fake stocks, real estate, precious metals, or
non-existent projects. The scammers will offer "exclusive
opportunities" or “insider information” that promise high returns with
very low risk. They may set up fake investment groups or send emails or
messages inviting you to seemingly credible online seminars, but ultimately,
the money you invest will disappear without a trace.
4. Celeb-bait Scams
In this scam, the scammers use images or videos of famous individuals, such
as celebrities, athletes, financial experts, or successful entrepreneurs, to
create fake profiles, pages, or ads. They will falsely claim that these famous
celebrities are promoting or recommending investment opportunities. By doing
this, they leverage the credibility of these public figures to trick victims
into mistakenly believing the investment opportunities are legitimate.
General Tips for Staying Safe From Online Scams
While Meta continues to update its detection
systems, the best defense against scams lies in constant vigilance. Here
are some essential tips to help you stay safe from online scams:
·
Always verify the source: Before
making any investments or money transfers, thoroughly check the information of
the person or organization contacting you. You can verify whether that person
or organization is qualified or licensed with the SEC.
·
Beware of offers that are "too good to
be true": If someone is offering unusually high investment returns with
little to no risk, or claims it's a “limited-time” or “exclusive
opportunity", always be suspicious.
·
Do not disclose personal information: Never
give out your passwords, bank account numbers, or OTPs to anyone, even if they
claim to be working for the bank, the police, or a government agency.
·
Be cautious with advance payments: If you
are asked to pay for goods or services in advance by an untrustworthy seller or
a newly opened store page, exercise extreme caution.
·
Beware of overpayment and refund requests: If a
buyer claims to have overpaid and asks for a partial refund, carefully check
the amount that entered your account. Be wary of the buyer canceling the
original payment after you have issued the refund.
·
Stay updated and learn about new scams: Scammers
constantly evolve their tactics. Staying informed about new scam patterns will
help you recognize and protect yourself.
·
Consult experts: If you
are unsure about any investment, contact the SEC “Anti-Investment Scam
Center” at 1207, extension 22.
In addition to this, Meta’s platform safety tools are also doing
their part to keep users safe every day:
·
Messenger: Meta may display warnings
in Messenger when there are requests to pay in advance for an item, to use
instant payment methods, or if the other person’s account has been flagged for
suspicious activity.
·
Messenger and Instagram: Facial
recognition technology is now available on Instagram as a faster and easier way
to help detect and prevent celeb-bait scams as well as to verify your identity
when regaining access to accounts.
·
Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp: You can
complete a privacy check-up and update your settings to choose who can contact
you and who can see your personal information, such as online status or profile
photo, to avoid unwanted contact from unknown individuals.
Meta is committed to working with law enforcement agencies, civil
society organizations, and other partners worldwide, including the SEC
Thailand, to create a safer online environment for its users. The fight against
scams is a shared responsibility, and with the cooperation of all parties, we
can all protect our finances and build a trustworthy and safe online community.
For more information about Meta’s efforts in fighting investment
scams, please see: https://about.fb.com/news/2025/05/avoiding-investment-payment-scams-online/
Stay informed and protect yourself from investment scams by
checking out Meta and SEC’s joint educational content on Facebook: SEC
Thailand, Instagram: SEC Thailand, and the website: www.sec.or.th/scamalert. You can
also verify service providers and authorized individuals under the SEC's
supervision at www.sec.or.th/seccheckfirst or by
installing the “SEC Check First” mobile application. For further inquiries,
contact the SEC “Anti-Investment Scam Center” at 1207, extension 22.