High-Tech Phishing: Van-Based SMS Scam Hits Bangkok

The Thai police apprehended a van used to disseminate mass phishing SMS messages and arrested its driver. The messaging device, located in Bangkok, was capable of sending over 100,000 messages per hour within a range of three kilometers.

Over the course of three days, the fraudsters dispatched nearly one million SMS messages with the text: “Your 9,268 points are about to expire! Claim your gift now!” The messages contained a link to a phishing website designed to mimic the official portal of Thailand’s largest mobile operator, Advanced Info Service (AIS).

Users who clicked the link were redirected to a webpage that solicited their banking card information. The stolen data was subsequently exploited to carry out unauthorized transactions abroad.

Investigations revealed that the perpetrators coordinated their activities through private Telegram channels, where they also discussed the text content of the messages. The van’s driver, a 35-year-old Chinese national, has been detained, while the police are pursuing at least two other members of the criminal group.

AIS collaborated with law enforcement to identify the messaging device, though details of this process remain undisclosed to prevent the criminals from adapting their tactics.

Despite growing public awareness about phishing, such large-scale campaigns continue to be highly lucrative, particularly in densely populated areas.