AI Voice Cloning Scam Targets Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
PUBLISHED: 15 Jan 2025 at 16:44
In a startling revelation, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra disclosed that she narrowly escaped a sophisticated scam involving AI voice cloning. Addressing reporters after a meeting at IMPACT Forum Muang Thong Thani, she highlighted the increasing prevalence of online scams and their sophisticated methods.
The Prime Minister detailed that a caller, impersonating a foreign leader using advanced AI technology, attempted to solicit a donation from her. After receiving an audio clip that purportedly featured the leader’s voice, she was initially led to believe she needed to make a contribution. However, the link provided for the donation led to an account in another country.
“I want to alert everyone that I almost became a victim myself. This issue is significant, and the Digital Economy and Society Ministry is actively addressing it. We must acknowledge that scams are becoming more advanced and deceptive,” she stated.
During her conversation with the impersonator, she responded with “Okay” before receiving a follow-up call late at night, which she missed due to sleep. Upon waking, she sent an apology and scheduled a discussion, only to receive a request for the donation, claiming Thailand had not contributed yet.
Upon further investigation, she discovered the bank account provided by the scam group belonged to a different nation, confirming her suspicions of being targeted.
Prime Minister Shinawatra has mobilized Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Economy Minister Prasert Jantararuangthong to address this scam, which utilized an unfamiliar messaging app instead of the usual communication channels.
Believing that many others could also fall victim to such tactics, she stressed the importance of vigilance against scams. She recounted a similar experience involving her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, where a fraudulent message suggested he was distributing cash, a claim she recognized as false.
Ms. Shinawatra emphasized that she has neither donated nor received any money in this context, urging the public to be cautious of deceptive solicitations.
