Bangkok (VNA) – A “Senior’s Community Cyber Police Club” has been launched by Thai police to educate older citizens about online scams and reduce victimisation.
Between March 2022 and December 2024, the Royal Thai Police’s Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) received over 800,000 online crime complaints, with daily losses averaging 77 million THB (2.2 million USD).
Seniors remain a key target, with nearly 14,000 cases reported in 2024, resulting in 4.4 billion THB (125 million USD) in losses.
Popular scams include deceptive product sales, fake online jobs promising extra income, and extortion calls impersonating government officials.
To tackle the issue, the CCIB hosts weekly Zoom sessions every Sunday, where seniors learn about common scams and how to protect themselves. The initiative has already led to a decline in senior victims and a steady rise in club membership.
Beyond the club, the CCIB also runs a weekly “Cyber Talk” programme on Facebook and issues daily scam alerts. Authorities plan to expand efforts to reach younger victims, who are increasingly targeted in sextortion schemes.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to curb cybercrime and protect Thai citizens from online fraud./.
