Showing 11 - 20 of 223
Cry for help from Moei River 'scam city'
News, Paskorn Jumlongrach, Published on 10/01/2025
» 'Do you think I can get out of here?" the question induced sudden dead air as no one could answer it. But for people familiar with the stories of a city of scammers located in a border town in Myanmar, it is not difficult to feel the gravity of terror inflicted on the woman who raised such a question.
Time for Asean to tackle scam gangs head-on
Oped, Anucha Charoenpo, Published on 22/10/2025
» The death of a South Korean student, reportedly lured to Cambodia by a scam gang, should be a wake-up call for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to push for more collaboration in tackling such vicious crimes.
Scams grow, as laws lag
Oped, Editorial, Published on 30/10/2025
» Last week, police in Chiang Rai province arrested a 35-year-old Chinese national as he went from one ATM to a multitude of others to withdraw cash. A subsequent search of his rented room showed he had in his possession 2,057 ATM cards, 537,900 baht in cash, 35 bank books, and 39 SIM cards. He was initially charged with illegally possessing ATM cards belonging to others in a manner that may cause damage, a charge carrying a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment.
Spring clean for scammers
News, Editorial, Published on 07/02/2025
» After months of kicking the can down the road, the Thai government finally cut off electricity, internet signal and oil supplies to five border towns in Myanmar where scam gangs are based.
Be wary of Border Guard Force pledges
Oped, Editorial, Published on 18/02/2025
» After Thailand moved to cut electricity supply and internet access to several areas along the Myanmar border to curb the activities of Chinese scam syndicates in Myawaddy township, the Border Guard Force (BGF) -- an ethnic Karen militia allied with the Myanmar junta, led by Colonel Saw Chit Thu -- finally agreed to take action.
Scams hurt govt's image
Oped, Editorial, Published on 24/10/2025
» Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's cabinet, which was initially warmly welcomed by the public, is now facing serious confidence issues after two ministers -- Deputy Finance Minister Vorapak Tanyawong and Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow -- were named in news reports about Cambodia's scam syndicates and money laundering in Southeast Asia.
Crackdown theatre masks border graft
News, Paskorn Jumlongrach, Published on 06/12/2025
» The thunderous explosion that sent a 12-storey building crashing to the ground in the border backwater of Shwe Kokko at midday on Wednesday sounded like a major accident, if not an earthquake.
PM must pull plug on scams
Oped, Editorial, Published on 04/02/2025
» The visit by Vice Minister for Public Security Liu Zhongyi last week speaks volumes about how seriously China takes the problem of scam operations or call centres in Myanmar's Myawaddy border township.
Cybercrime moves up the agenda
News, David Whitehouse, Published on 28/06/2025
» There has been no shortage of commentators ready to hail the decision of former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen to leak his recent conversation with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra as a diplomatic "masterstroke".
Crime still thriving
News, Editorial, Published on 16/10/2025
» The government's self-congratulation over Thailand retaining its Tier 2 ranking in the US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report is misplaced. Remaining at Tier 2 -- for the fourth consecutive year -- is not an achievement. It's an alarm bell signalling that the country is standing still while crime spreads beneath its feet.