Thai PM dodges AI scammer impersonating foreign leader

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra revealed on Wednesday that she was almost targeted by a sophisticated phone scam, where artificial intelligence (AI) was used to impersonate the voice of a foreign leader.

Paetongtarn, the youngest daughter of telecoms billionaire and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, explained that she received a phone message featuring a voice that sounded identical to that of a well-known leader.

She did not disclose the identity of the person allegedly impersonated in the scam.

“In the clip, he said he was looking forward to seeing me and working together,” she said, describing the fraudulent communication. The scam is part of a growing trend of so-called “call center scams” in Thailand, where fraudsters impersonate police, government officials, or bank representatives, often using automated “robocalls” for initial contact.

This particular case is believed to be a more advanced version of the common scam, utilizing AI technology to mimic voices convincingly.

Paetongtarn, 38, who is also an heir to her father’s wealth, recently declared more than US$400 million in assets to Thailand’s anti-corruption commission.

Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, is the 10th-richest person in Thailand, with a net worth of $2.1 billion according to Forbes.

Thaksin is also known for his former ownership of the Manchester City football club.

The incident highlights the increasing sophistication of scams in the country and the potential dangers of AI in fraudulent activities.