Thai Police Neutralized Blaster That Spammed 100,000 SMS/Hour

In a swift and collaborative operation, Thai mobile operator AIS and local police dismantled a phishing gang using SMS blaster technology to scam Bangkok residents. The gang, believed to be of Chinese origin, had deployed a high-capacity SMS blaster capable of targeting thousands of victims per minute in the Sukhumvit district, sending almost 1 million fraudulent messages over a short period.

The scammers operated a vehicle-mounted SMS blaster with a 3 km range, enabling them to send approximately 100,000 messages per hour. Their messages, crafted to appear legitimate, claimed recipients were about to lose 9,268 loyalty points and urged them to redeem their gift via a phishing link. The URL deceptively included the term “aisthailand,” falsely implying an association with AIS, Thailand’s leading telecom provider.

Once victims clicked on the link and entered their credit card details, the gang siphoned off the information, facilitating unauthorized international payments. The gang reportedly coordinated the operation through the Telegram messaging app, where they instructed members on the scam’s execution, including the exact wording of the fraudulent SMS.

AIS, known for its advanced anti-fraud capabilities, worked closely with police to trace and locate the SMS blaster quickly. While specific detection methods were not disclosed for security reasons, the operator’s reputation for sophisticated countermeasures against SMS fraud proved pivotal. Within two days of uncovering the scam, police intercepted the vehicle in Sukhumvit, arresting a 35-year-old Chinese driver. A video from the arrest and the SMS blaster device follows below:

The police investigation revealed that additional gang members, also Chinese nationals, were operating from abroad. Authorities are seeking warrants for their arrest.

With nearly 45 million subscribers, AIS is Thailand’s largest mobile operator, providing essential services that make it a frequent target for fraudsters. However, the firm has demonstrated its advanced capabilities in detecting and neutralizing threats like SMS blasters, a crime that challenges operators worldwide.