Crime
Sick Scammers in Thailand Target Workers in Israel With Fake Money Transfer App
Thailand’s Department of Employment in Chiang Rai has warned the public about a new scam that targets international workers and takes advantage of the ongoing strife between Israel and the Palestinian territories by convincing them to download a fraudulent money transfer app.
On Thursday, Sompong Kaewwandee, head of the Chiang Rai Provincial Employment Office, urged residents not to visit any websites that might contain malware.
Villagers, he said, alerted the office to the danger. He claimed that con artists have been distributing suspicious links to the friends and relatives of Thai people working in Israel via Line and SMS messaging.
They claim to be Israeli bank account service providers and instruct their victims to use the Monox app and the provided link to access the bank accounts of Thai employees working in Israel.
According to him, the official Monox app is exclusive to Google Play. In order to inspect the data, the scammers insist that you click on the link they provided.
He recommended that anyone who has downloaded the malicious app should delete it or remove their SIM card from their phone. They need to perform a factory reset to remove all financial information.
He also encouraged people to report the incident to the police in their area or online at the “thaipoliceonline.com” website. To report any additional information to the Royal Thai Police, call the “1441” hotline.
Boonyavee Kwaipan, acting director-general of the Employment Department, has announced that the agency will compensate Aid Fund for Overseas Workers members who are Thai nationals who have returned from Israel with Bt15,000 compensation.
Within three days of receiving the directive, provincial employment agencies are to reimburse Thai returnees.
The office has formally requested that the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority reinstate Thai workers once the security situation has improved.
It has also compiled a list of other countries where Thai nationals can find job after returning home. These countries include Taiwan, Portugal, Greece, and South Korea.
Thailand Repatriates Thai Killed in Israel
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday the bodies of eight Thai workers, reported to have died in Israel, will be flown home on Friday morning.
According to the ministry’s release, the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv received information from an Israeli funeral services company that a forensic institute in Israel had allowed it to transport the bodies, whose identities have been verified.
The embassy will transport the eight bodies to Thailand on El Al Flight LY083, which will depart from the Middle Eastern country on Thursday at 8pm and arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport on Friday at 8.50am.
The bodies, all males, have been identified as:
- Pongsathorn Khunsri
- Pichit Nachan
- Chairat Sanusan
- Anan Phetkaew
- Pongpat Suchart
- Anucha Sophakul
- Pongthep Kusaram
- Thanakrij Prakotwong
The Foreign Ministry extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. The families will be further informed in detail.
Thirty Thais were reported to have died in Israel since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on Oct 7.
