The Whoscall Thailand Annual Report 2022 highlights a 165% increase in scam calls and the exposure of over 13 million Thai mobile numbers. Fraud efforts increased to 17 million last year, with 7 out of 10 Thai texts being either scam or spam, and up to 45% of Thai phone numbers being exposed.
In its annual report, Whoscall, the anti-fraud caller ID mobile application, highlighted the growing problem of scam calls and communications, claiming that it recognized 405.4 million scam calls and messages worldwide in 2022.

Despite a drop in scam calls compared to the previous year, it remains a serious issue in Thailand, where scam calls climbed by 165%, resulting in 17 million fraud calls in 2022. According to the research, 45% of all Thai mobile phone numbers (13.5 million digits) were leaked over the year. The problem demonstrates the global proliferation of scams and security concerns.
“The growing threat of fraudulent operations, and their influence on the anti-fraud business,” stated Manwoo Joo, Chief Operating Officer of Gogolook. According to Fortune Business Insight, the market will be worth US$129.2 billion by 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate of 22.8%.
The growth of generative AI and vulnerabilities in organizational digital transformation are predicted to exacerbate fraudulent technologies and their implications in the future. Gogolook is collaborating with various strategic partners in Thailand and around the world to develop creative solutions to combat the growing threat of fraudulent activities and protect our clients from unwanted assaults.
Our coordinated efforts aim to provide comprehensive anti-fraud protection while also ensuring Whoscall users’ safety and security.” Gogolook’s SEA Regional Marketing Director, Titinun Suttinaraphan, has raised the alarm about the ubiquitous problem of fraudulent activities and the necessity for comprehensive anti-fraud measures.

Titinun emphasized the startling number that 73% (324 million) of all SMS texts received by Thai citizens are spam or false. From 6.4 million in 2021 to 17 million in 2022, the number of scam phone calls climbed by 165%.
Scammers prioritize text messages owing to their low cost and high penetration rates, and SMS messages are used as a tactic to ‘First Contact’ potential victims and fool them into clicking phishing URLs to steal information.
The most prevalent topics in scam mails are loans (often claiming to be from the government or a bank) and access to gambling sites (both are forbidden in Thailand). Thieves utilize messages like ‘you’ve won an award,’ ‘your bank loan is ready,’ and ‘your government support is approved’ to persuade phone users into opening phishing links or adding a LINE account to help them carry out their scam.”
Frauds are localized for each country, with distinct formats and hotspots based on local conditions. Thailand tops the ranking in terms of fraud search and identification (calls and messages included) per capita among Whoscall users, with an average of 33.2 calls and messages checks per year. This compares to 17.5 checks in Taiwan (a 20% decrease) and 16.5 checks in Malaysia (a 15% increase). This graphic demonstrates the pervasiveness of scams in several countries.
Emerging scams in Thailand closely follow current issues and trends in the country, and now phishing text messages and phone calls related to loans, Cost-On-Delivery e-commerce scam, impersonation of government officials, and fake part-time job announcements from TikTok and other well-known platforms are on the rise.
Governments have adopted anti-fraud regulations, established specific bodies to deal with scams, and recruited private enterprises and celebrities to raise public awareness of scams and fraud.
In Thailand, the governmental sector (The Royal Thai Police, NBTC) and the business sector (Whoscall, mobile network operators, etc.) work together to promote awareness about fraud prevention.
Private data leaks are sometimes the initial step for scammers to obtain contact information prior to their attacks. Leaks can occur when company or government databases are hacked, or when consumers complete surveys, psychological tests, or forms on phishing sites.
Gogolook, the developer behind Whoscall, works with Constella Intelligence, an international digital risk prevention service provider, to investigate phone number breaches in various major markets to reduce dangers from the start. According to the findings, 45% of phone numbers in Thailand are leaked. The most commonly leaked private information is login passwords, phone numbers, and names, followed by nationality, email, address, and birthday.

Each piece of leaked information can result in a unique danger situation. If login passwords are disclosed, for example, online banking or social network accounts can be taken. Scammers can quickly launch phone and message attacks once they have access to identities, phone numbers, and even payment and shopping histories. Users can be protected by using two-step authentication for online services, changing strong passwords on a regular basis, and identifying phone calls and texts with Whoscall.
After the COVID-19 pandemic further popularized online services, frauds have expanded across countries with no indications of stopping down. Whoscall recommends that users follow the following tips to assist prevent fraud:
– Do not click: Do not click a link in an SMS, especially if it looks to be from a bank or an unknown number. In Thailand, financial organizations are not permitted to send links via SMS.
– Do not fill: If you receive an SMS requesting personal information or requesting that you update your username/password or financial information with a link to a suspicious website, do not provide any personal information.
– Don’t ignore: Consumers may join the battle against phone scams and fraud by reporting strange or fraudulent phone numbers using the Whoscall app to protect themselves and help spread the word to the community.