Thai govt warns of fuel coupon scams draining bank funds

2026-03-16 - 02:54

BANGKOK — 16 March 2026, The government has warned the public to be wary of online scammers luring victims with fake “free fuel coupons” and links designed to siphon money from bank accounts. Deputy government spokeswoman Lallida Pherdvivatana said the Anti-Online Crime Centre (AOC 1441) had issued an alert over a new scam exploiting global tensions and volatile oil prices. Fraudsters are circulating messages and advertisements claiming to offer free fuel coupons or discounts during an energy crisis to trick people into clicking links. The messages are being spread via SMS, social media and fake advertisements impersonating petrol stations or well-known brands. They often use attention-grabbing phrases such as “Claim your 500-baht free fuel” or “Today only special coupon” to pressure victims into clicking without verification. Lallida said that once victims click the link, they are redirected to fake websites resembling legitimate ones and prompted to enter sensitive information such as national ID numbers, bank card details or one-time passwords (OTP). The stolen data is then used to access bank accounts or conduct transactions immediately, with funds often transferred out within minutes. In one case, a 34-year-old company employee received an SMS claiming to be a promotional campaign marking the anniversary of a well-known petrol station, offering a 500-baht fuel coupon. After clicking the link and submitting details to verify eligibility, more than 80,000 baht was transferred from the victim’s account in under 10 minutes. In another case, an online vendor lost more than 50,000 baht after responding to a fake social media advertisement offering a 300-baht fuel coupon. The AOC advised the public to exercise caution when clicking links from SMS or unverified advertisements and to avoid entering card details, passwords or OTPs on suspicious websites. People should check promotions only through official company websites or pages. Scammers often create a sense of urgency or exclusive benefits to deceive victims, Lallida said, urging the public to verify information carefully before providing sensitive data online. If you are a victim of online fraud AOC hotline: 1441 — request account suspension and assistance Government hotline: 1111 — report scams or fake news Both hotlines are available 24 hours a day.