Highlights

  • Thai PM targeted by AI voice scam mimicking a world leader.
  • Call requested a donation, claiming Thailand hadn't contributed.
  • AI-driven scams are increasingly exploiting advanced tech.

Latest news

India's cricket dilemma: KL Rahul vs. Rishabh Pant in ODIs

India's cricket dilemma: KL Rahul vs. Rishabh Pant in ODIs

Saudi Arabia Restricts Children from 2025 Hajj Pilgrimage

Saudi Arabia Restricts Children from 2025 Hajj Pilgrimage

BJP urges Delhi LG to restore 'Sheesh Mahal' to Its original state; expedite probe into violations

BJP urges Delhi LG to restore 'Sheesh Mahal' to Its original state; expedite probe into violations

Jasprit Bumrah's fitness woes concern Indian team ahead of 2025 Champions Trophy

Jasprit Bumrah's fitness woes concern Indian team ahead of 2025 Champions Trophy

Gold surges Rs 2,430 to hit lifetime high of Rs 88,500 per 10g amid Trump's tariff threats

Gold surges Rs 2,430 to hit lifetime high of Rs 88,500 per 10g amid Trump's tariff threats

Budget politically driven with Delhi polls in mind: P Chidambaram

Budget politically driven with Delhi polls in mind: P Chidambaram

Rohit Sharma shines with 119, sets ODI milestones against England

Rohit Sharma shines with 119, sets ODI milestones against England

Trump Renames Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America'

Trump Renames Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America'

Thai PM targeted by AI-driven scam mimicking world leader's voice

Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra revealed receiving a scam call using AI to mimic a world leader’s voice, demanding a donation. The incident highlights the growing threat of AI-driven scams in Southeast Asia's cybercrime landscape.

Thai PM targeted by AI-driven scam mimicking world leader's voice

In a stark reminder of the growing threat of phone scams, even world leaders aren't immune. Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, recently disclosed receiving a fraudulent call from an AI system impersonating a well-known global figure.

While Paetongtarn didn’t name the leader being mimicked, she recounted how the voice was eerily familiar. “The voice was crystal clear, and I recognized it immediately,” she said. The initial message was friendly, with a casual, “How are you? I want to work together.” However, things took a darker turn when a follow-up message demanded a donation, claiming Thailand was the only ASEAN country yet to contribute.

Realizing the deception, Paetongtarn suspected AI was used to replicate the leader’s voice. This incident underscores a broader issue plaguing Southeast Asia, where sophisticated scams have become increasingly common.

Transnational crime syndicates have leveraged advancements in technology and the instability in Myanmar to create a billion-dollar scamming industry. Scammers lure unsuspecting victims, including ordinary people seeking legitimate jobs, only to trap them in fraudulent operations across the region.

Earlier this year, a Chinese actor flew to Bangkok for what he believed was a movie audition, only to be trafficked to a scam center in Myanmar's Myawaddy, a notorious cyber-fraud hub. Many victims are forced into labor, scamming others and generating millions in cryptocurrency fraud.

While traditional scam tactics like phone calls and messaging persist, the advent of AI-powered voice cloning poses a new challenge. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, had previously cautioned against releasing its Voice Engine tool publicly, citing potential misuse in synthetic voice scams.

Paetongtarn, who took office as Prime Minister in August 2024, is the latest in her family’s political lineage to lead Thailand, following in the footsteps of her father and aunt. Her experience highlights the growing risks of AI-driven scams, as technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace.

ADVERTISEMENT

Up Next

Thai PM targeted by AI-driven scam mimicking world leader's voice

Thai PM targeted by AI-driven scam mimicking world leader's voice

Trump Renames Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America'

Trump Renames Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America'

Over 600 arrested for working illegally in UK: govt

Over 600 arrested for working illegally in UK: govt

Bangladesh court acquits newspaper editor in plot to abduct and kill Hasina’s son

Bangladesh court acquits newspaper editor in plot to abduct and kill Hasina’s son

Akash Bobba and Nikhil Rajpal: The Indian techies driving Elon Musk’s DOGE project

Akash Bobba and Nikhil Rajpal: The Indian techies driving Elon Musk’s DOGE project

Debate over bilingual signs at Whitechapel station in London

Debate over bilingual signs at Whitechapel station in London

ADVERTISEMENT

editorji-whatsApp

More videos

Donald Trump recognises February 9 as ‘Gulf of America Day’

Donald Trump recognises February 9 as ‘Gulf of America Day’

Iranian woman's bold protest against dress code in Mashhad

Iranian woman's bold protest against dress code in Mashhad

Federal judge halts Elon Musk's U.S. government buyout plan

Federal judge halts Elon Musk's U.S. government buyout plan

Global concerns over DeepSeek: nations restrict use citing security risks

Global concerns over DeepSeek: nations restrict use citing security risks

Donald Trump sanctions ICC for 'illegitimate' Israel, US probes

Donald Trump sanctions ICC for 'illegitimate' Israel, US probes

Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina’s ancestral home reduced to rubble by angry mob

Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina’s ancestral home reduced to rubble by angry mob

Top headlines today: Kejriwal's poaching allegation on BJP, chaos in Bangladesh and more

Top headlines today: Kejriwal's poaching allegation on BJP, chaos in Bangladesh and more

Israel orders army to plan to let Palestinians leave Gaza

Israel orders army to plan to let Palestinians leave Gaza

Donald Trump's bid to take over Gaza, relocate Palestinians faces backlash

Donald Trump's bid to take over Gaza, relocate Palestinians faces backlash

Trump proposes US takeover of Gaza, sparks global outrage

Trump proposes US takeover of Gaza, sparks global outrage

Editorji Technologies Pvt. Ltd. © 2022 All Rights Reserved.