Fake Signal Tower SMS Scams in Thailand

MGR Online•General•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Cyber criminals in Thailand are using mobile False Base Stations to send fraudulent SMS messages that bypass operator filters.

•Fake signal towers, known as False Base Stations or "Plakapaben" devices, mimic real mobile networks to send direct SMS messages to nearby phones.
•Criminals hide these devices in cars and drive through crowded areas in Bangkok and its vicinity to target victims.
•The scams often impersonate financial institutions, the Revenue Department, or the Provincial Electricity Authority to trick users into installing remote control apps.
•The Bank of Thailand has implemented a policy for commercial banks to stop sending SMS messages containing links.

•False Base Stations mimic legitimate mobile network towers to send SMS messages directly to phones without passing through mobile operator security filters.
•Cyber criminals have been caught hiding these devices in vehicles to broadcast fraudulent SMS links to people in crowded areas of Bangkok and surrounding provinces.
•Fraudsters impersonate entities such as Kasikornbank, the Revenue Department, and electricity authorities to deceive victims into installing remote control applications to steal money.
•Thai cyber police have arrested several suspects, most of whom claimed to be drivers hired by foreign investors from transnational crime networks.
•SMS from False Base Stations are dangerous because they appear in the same conversation thread as legitimate messages from the impersonated organization.
•Thai cyber police and AIS conducted an operation to arrest a foreign national using a base station simulator that broadcast signals within a one-kilometer radius.
•The Bank of Thailand mandated that almost all commercial banks stop sending SMS messages containing links to customers.
•The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) prohibits the import and possession of False Base Station equipment under Thai law.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Kasikornbank(กสิกรไทย)ℹ️

A bank that was impersonated by criminals using fake signal towers, causing damages of over one hundred million baht.

Revenue Department(กรมสรรพากร)

A government agency whose name is frequently used by scammers in fake SMS messages.

Provincial Electricity Authority(การไฟฟ้า)ℹ️

A utility agency used as a fake sender in SMS scams and one of the agencies that still uses SMS links to contact citizens.

National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission(คณะกรรมการกิจการกระจายเสียง กิจการโทรทัศน์ และกิจการโทรคมนาคมแห่งชาติ)ℹ️

The agency that regulates telecommunications and prohibits the import and possession of False Base Station devices.

NBTC(กสทช.)

The abbreviated name for the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.

AIS

A mobile network provider that cooperated with cyber police to track and arrest a user of a base station simulator.

Bank of Thailand(ธนาคารแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️

The central bank that issued a policy for commercial banks to stop sending SMS messages with links.

Provincial Waterworks Authority(การประปา)ℹ️

A utility agency that still uses SMS and email links to communicate with citizens.

Department of Lands(กรมที่ดิน)

A government agency that still uses SMS and email links to communicate with citizens.

Bangkok and vicinity(กรุงเทพฯ และปริมณฑล)

The area where criminals drive vehicles equipped with fake signal towers to target people.