Thai Father Loses Over 800,000 Baht to Son Impersonation Scam

In Korat, northeastern Thailand, a father lost over 800,000 baht (approximately 3 million yen) due to a sophisticated scam by a group impersonating his son. The incident was reported by local Thai media MGR Online (Regional) on September 24, 2026. According to the report, the scam group posed as the victim's son and falsely claimed he was involved in a money laundering case, coercing the father into transferring funds. The father, attempting to help his son, made multiple transfers as instructed, resulting in a substantial financial loss. Following the incident, Korat police launched a swift investigation. They arrived at the scene and rescued the student (believed to be the son himself) who had fallen victim to the scam. Investigations are currently underway to uncover the full extent of the scam group's operations and prevent further victimizations. In Thailand, financial scams using phone calls and social media have been rampant in recent years. In particular, the method of impersonating relatives or acquaintances to claim an emergency and demand money has led to severe damages, necessitating renewed public awareness campaigns.