LINE Organizes Digital Upskilling
Workshop to Strengthen Immunity for Generation
Dr. Trinn Phothiraksa, a criminology expert, revealed that even those who are "aware" can fall victim because the human brain has three parts that work at different speeds: the instinctive brain (fastest), the emotional brain, and the rational brain (slowest). When scammers use tactics of panic or intimidation, the instinctive and emotional brains take over first, shutting down the rational brain, leading to poor decision-making even if the victim has been warned before. Scammers also exploit psychological biases such as the Halo Effect (a professional and attractive appearance lowers the victim's defenses) or impersonating government officials, such as posing as police officers or DSI (Department of Special Investigation) officers to intimidate victims into transferring money, when in reality, government agencies do not conduct transactions via video calls or order online transfers.
Overall, scammers attack through three main emotions: greed (investment scams), fear (threatening legal action), and infatuation (romance scams). The simplest and most effective technique is the 45-second rule, or pausing to count from 1 to 45 before making any decision. To allow the rational mind to keep up and take control, and if you do become a victim, you should always report it to the police to create a database to prevent future victims in society.
Pol. Col. Neti Wongkulab, Deputy Commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, Central Investigation Bureau, revealed interesting statistics: Thailand is currently facing a severe technology-related crime crisis. Thailand ranks 9th in the world for the highest number of scams, causing massive damages exceeding 25 billion baht per year. It also severely damages social structures and family institutions, with youth and students being the primary targets. Furthermore, modern scammers operate systematically like business organizations, using a "deep dive, hunt" strategy. It starts with "draining" personal information from social media or trading illegal data. Then, they work "deep" using advanced psychology to attack feelings of fear or greed, before "hunting" individuals, both specifically targeting them and by broadcasting a large number of messages. Their key weapons are fake information and the use of AI to falsify voices or images to build credibility through telephone and social media.
The most effective prevention approach is to be mindful and not to be deceived by online appearances. Because names and profiles can be easily faked, proactive verification is crucial. For example, if someone is impersonating a government or private official, do not verify the name or link provided by the scammer. Instead, find the official phone number of the organization yourself and call to verify the facts directly. If the information is inconsistent, cut off contact immediately to prevent potential damage.
Mr. Setthawat Phutrakul, from the Capital Market Development and Knowledge Promotion Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), revealed that fraudsters in the investment world often use "impersonation" strategies, using the names of legitimate banks, companies, or authorized investment advisors to create fake identities. They then entice investors into cryptocurrency investments with unrealistic guarantees of returns. Initially, they may transfer real money as bait before drawing victims into a Ponzi scheme and absconding with the funds. The most effective way to prevent this is to verify through the SEC Check First app to confirm that the company or individual is legitimate and to double-check their identity by requesting to see their investment advisor identification card, even if their name is already in the system, to prevent impersonation of real people.
Remember, guaranteed high returns are not real. In the world of legitimate investment, and for beginners looking to start investing safely, it's advisable to begin with mutual funds managed by professionals and complete a risk assessment (Suitability Test) to select assets that suit your needs.
All of this is crucial lesson from the ‘LINE Connect Day Digital Literacy for Smart Young Gen’ workshop, reflecting LINE Thailand's mission to build online resilience for the younger generation. In an era where digital threats are constantly evolving, knowledge and awareness are the strongest shield everyone can build for themselves.
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