Thai Police Alert: Romance Scams Targeting Children and Youth, 19 Missing Cases in 2024

Thai police have warned that scammer gangs are increasingly targeting children and young people through online fraud schemes, including high-paying job offers and romance scams, resulting in 19 missing children in 2024. Victims are being trafficked to neighboring countries.

How the Scam Works

Scammer networks operating in Thailand are targeting children and young people through online platforms using sophisticated deception tactics:

High-paying job offers: Promises of employment paying hundreds of baht to draw victims in
Romance scams: Building fake romantic relationships to gain trust before requesting money or personal information
Gradual manipulation: Establishing intimate online relationships over time before orchestrating trafficking

Why Children and Youth Are Targeted

Financial desperation: Need for quick money
Lack of awareness: Unfamiliarity with legal consequences and serious risks
Developing judgment: Difficulty recognizing sophisticated online deception
Emotional vulnerability: Seeking love and social validation

Warning Signs and Red Flags

Unrealistically high salary or compensation offers
Requests for identification documents or personal credentials
Money-lending proposals from newly met contacts
Encouragement to travel abroad
Instructions to keep the relationship secret from family
Exclusively online communication with no phone or video verification
Requests to download unfamiliar apps or software

Prevention Strategies

Question unusually high compensation: Salaries significantly above market rates indicate fraud
Protect personal information: Never share ID numbers, bank details, or addresses
Consult trusted adults: Discuss suspicious offers with parents, teachers, or counselors
Verify online contacts: Remember profiles can be fabricated; never trust solely online
Be cautious about traveling abroad: Reject suspicious travel invitations
Use official job platforms: Apply only through legitimate, verified employment websites

Reporting Missing Persons and Suspicious Activity

Do not wait 24 hours—report immediately if you suspect trafficking or danger:

191: Emergency hotline (crimes and emergencies)
1599: National Police Bureau Missing Persons Center
1300: Citizen Complaint Center
0-2790-2637: Mirror Foundation website
ThaiPBSMissingPerson: Thai PBS Missing Person Center (Facebook)

Statistics

2023: 11 scam-related missing children (youngest age 14)
2024: 19 scam-related missing children (ages 15-18 at highest risk)

Many missing persons are being trafficked into criminal networks in neighboring countries.