Thai-British beauty queen loses £112,000 to AI-assisted scam impersonating Thai law enforcement

Summary

A Thai-British beauty queen named Charlotte Austin lost 4 million baht (P6.8 million) after falling for an AI-assisted scam in which she was contacted by individuals impersonating Thai law enforcement. The scam was operated by a gang based in Poipet, a city in northern Cambodia near the Thai border. Two men, Ramil Pantawong (31) and Thanawut Kanyaphanthe (28), were arrested for their involvement in the scam, which targeted victims by falsely accusing them of money laundering and demanding money for "verification." The scammers used AI technology to alter their appearances during video calls and followed scripts provided by Chinese gang leaders. At least 163 people were reportedly victimized by the scam, with the suspects forced to work under threat of violence. In the Philippines, over 100 suspects were recently arrested for using AI in love scams, with victims tricked into cryptocurrency investment schemes.