What is a Call Center Gang? Warning of New Scam Tactics and How to Protect Yourself
Call center gangs are groups of scammers who use fraudulent phone calls or messages to trick victims into transferring money. There are now many types of scams, and it is important to know the prevention methods and to warn those close to you to be cautious.
The threat of call center gangs is no longer limited to the general public; they are now targeting entrepreneurs and online merchants who regularly use their phones for transactions and delivery apps, making them vulnerable to scams. Online scams have therefore become a critical issue for business owners. This is especially true for call center scammers, as business owners constantly receive calls from customers and partners, making it difficult to distinguish which calls are fraudulent. This article will help you recognize call center gangs and learn how to protect yourself from scammers who infiltrate through all channels.
Table of Contents
- What is a call center gang? What are its characteristics?
- 10 Scams to Recognize Call Center Gangs
- Understanding the Scams and Protecting Yourself from Call Center Gangs
- What to Do if You Are Scammed by a Call Center Gang
- Call Center Gangs: Be Aware and Protect Yourself Before Becoming a Victim
What is a call center gang? What are its characteristics?
What is a call center gang? A call center gang is a group of criminals who use telephones or online channels to deceive others. It is a form of cyber threat to be cautious of, as they impersonate officials from government agencies, bank employees, delivery companies, or acquaintances to create urgent situations that coerce victims into believing them and transferring money. The tactics of call center gangs emphasize urgency, such as claiming you have an illegal package or your account has been frozen in a money laundering case, then tricking you into transferring money into their system for verification and to prove your innocence.
10 Scams to Recognize Call Center Gangs
Currently, call center gangs have developed much more sophisticated scams, especially targeting entrepreneurs who regularly communicate with customers and delivery services. Here are 10 common call center gang scams to watch out for:
1. Impersonating a delivery company/police officer
Call center scammers will call to inform you of an illegal or returned package with charges, claiming to be a police officer handling the case to pressure you into transferring money via an online payment system to release the package or pay a fine.
2. Impersonating a bank employee
Call center gangs will pose as bank officials and report an emergency, such as someone trying to withdraw money from abroad or that your account will be suspended within 24 hours, then trick you into providing personal information to stop it. Online merchants who conduct financial transactions through their accounts should be especially cautious.
3. Claiming a mistaken transfer and asking for the money back
Call center scammers will start by sending you a fake transfer slip, claiming they sent money to the wrong account and asking for an immediate refund. Those who do not carefully check their account balance may be deceived and transfer the money back.
4. Luring with online job offers
They claim it's a part-time job from a large company, just liking, sharing, or reviewing products for money, but with a condition that you must invest first to open an account or upgrade the system. After you pay, they will close the chat group and become unreachable.
5. Impersonating a revenue officer
They call and threaten that your business has tax issues, such as outstanding payments, incorrect filings, or tax evasion. If you don't transfer money, your account will be frozen or a warrant will be issued.
6. Claiming you are a lucky winner from various activities
The call center gang informs you that you've won a prize from a social media event you participated in, but you must transfer a fee or tax first before the prize can be sent. In reality, there is no prize, and if you transfer the money, you will not be able to contact them again.
7. Luring with investment opportunities
Scammers will invite you to invest in fake businesses, such as digital stocks, daily profit sharing, and online profit-making schemes. Initially, they will pay real returns to gain the victim's trust. Then, when the victim invests more, they will shut down the system and disappear.
8. Impersonating a mobile network employee
Call center scammers call to inform you that your SIM card is about to be suspended because your information has not been updated. They require you to confirm with an OTP, which they then use to hack into your accounts or financial applications.
9. Claiming to have your leaked photos or videos
Another tactic used by scammers is to claim they have your private photos or videos and threaten to release them to the public if you do not transfer money within a specified time. They may attach a file that appears to be evidence or create fake edited images to increase pressure, causing the victim to panic and quickly transfer the money.
10. Threatening to cut off electricity or water supply
They claim to be from the electricity or water authority, calling to inform you of an outstanding balance and that your service will be cut off within an hour if you do not immediately pay via a provided QR code or account.
Understanding the Scams and Protecting Yourself from Call Center Gangs
In the digital age where cyber threats are an imminent danger, call center gangs have become a form of crime that causes massive damage. Therefore, it is essential to have methods to protect yourself from the tricks of these scammers.
- Thoroughly check company information: Before deciding to apply for a job, verify the company's name, address, phone number, and contact person from reliable sources.
- Beware of suspicious job advertisements: If you find posts or messages offering unusually high income or having vague conditions, consider them carefully, especially if they ask you to transfer money.
- Do not give personal information to strangers: This includes your bank account number, national ID number, a copy of your ID card, photos of your card, passwords, OTPs, or credit card information.
- Consult with someone you trust: If you are unsure, consult with parents, relatives, or trusted friends before deciding to transfer money to help verify and find a solution.
- Contact the relevant agencies directly: If you encounter suspicious behavior, you should immediately contact the official main number of the agency in question to verify the facts.
What to Do if You Are Scammed by a Call Center Gang
If you fall victim to a call center gang, the most important thing is to stay calm and take the following steps as quickly as possible. Here is a guide on what to do when you realize you've been scammed:
1. Contact the bank immediately: If money has been transferred, immediately contact the bank of the account you transferred to and request to "freeze the account," reporting it as a fraud case. Also, request a document confirming the action.
2. File a police report: Go to the nearest police station to file a report, or report it via the website www.thaipoliceonline.com or call 1441, the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau.
3. Report the perpetrator's mule account: Go to the website www.anti-scam.asia to report the account number involved in the scam. This will help officials investigate and take action more quickly.
4. Change your passwords: If you have ever given out an OTP or account password, immediately change the passwords for all related accounts, such as bank accounts and social media accounts, to prevent further damage.
5. Inform those close to you to raise awareness: Share your experience or post a warning to make your close friends, customers, and family aware and prevent them from becoming victims of the same scam.
Call Center Gangs: Be Aware and Protect Both Customers and Your Business
Call center gangs are constantly developing new scams, targeting not only the general public but also entrepreneurs and merchants who conduct regular online transactions. Being aware of these scams and having good preventive measures is essential for every business in this era.
One of the vulnerabilities that scammers often exploit is fraud via Cash on Delivery (COD), causing many customers to switch to making online payments through trusted platforms to avoid being tricked by call center gangs into transferring money for goods. KGP understands this concern and is ready to be a crucial tool to build credibility for your business with a variety of secure online payment acceptance services, whether it's Meta Pay, QR Payment, Mobile Banking, credit/debit cards, Payment Links+, E-Wallet (TrueMoney Wallet), or Online Direct Debit (ODD) services. These help customers pay conveniently and confidently, effectively reducing the risk of financial fraud.
Additionally, if KGP customers encounter problems or wish to report financial threats from scammers, they can make inquiries or report incidents 24/7 through these two main channels:
- Email: info.kgp@kasikornglobalpayment.com
- Phone: 02-008-8820 press 1
KGP, Payment. Make It Smooth.
LinkedIn : Kasikorn Global Payment
Reference
- Scams Luring People to Work for Call Center Gangs: Recognize the Tricks Before It's Too Late. (January 13, 2025). The Government Public Relations Department. https://www.prd.go.th/th/content/category/detail/id/31/iid/354795
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