2 Taiwanese arrested stealing money using Web SMS and OTP
Immigration officials have arrested 2 Taiwanese stealing OTP’s to access victim’s funds. Police Lieutenant General Sompong Chingduang reported the arrest of Gao and Liang from Taiwan. 2 victims have filed a report with the Bang Bua Thong Police in Nonthaburi Province and the Phu Phing Ratcha Niwet Police in Chiang Mai Province. The victims received an SMS with a link, the SMS stated the bank application needed to be updated using the link. The link will take you to a website that required private information such as the account number and the application password. The scammers will then use the information to access the account. The bank will send an OTP to the victim’s phone. Believing that they are updating the application, the victims will type in the received OTP on the website.
The scammers then transferred money from the victim’s account into a Thai account named Ladawan. Both victims confirm they have never met such a person. The first victim lost 73,000 THB and the second victim lost 35,000 THB. An investigation was started and officials discovered the stolen money was withdrawn using an ATM card tied to the account. The suspects withdrew the money at an ATM in Season Square, Srinakarin Road, Bangkok. Police tracked them down and arrested both suspects. Officials also found evidence including the ATM card tied to Ladawan’s account, the bankbook, a skimmer machine, a laptop, and a phone.
The suspects complete the scam using SMS with a link inside. Victims will press into the link and fill in their private information believing the bank is requiring them to. The victim will then type in the OTP which is the final step in gaining access to their personal bank account. The suspect used a web SMS service registered in China. The same SMS is sent out to hundreds of numbers and whoever clicks into the link falls victim. The phone numbers are all randomized changing only the last 3 digits. Officials are investigating to find whether the true owner of the account Miss Ladawan has anything to do with the scam. Both suspects have also overstayed their tourist Visa.
FB Caption: The SMS is sent to random phone numbers in Thailand, whoever clicks the link will fall victim.
Source: INN News
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