Thailand prime minister targeted in AI voice scam impersonating ASEAN leader
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was targeted in January 2025 by a scam using AI voice cloning to impersonate an ASEAN leader and solicit a donation. Although she recognized the fraud when the bank account details did not match, she was shocked by the technology's sophistication and ordered an investigation, warning the public about AI-enabled scams.
What happened
In January 2025, Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra received a voice message via a chat application from a scammer using AI-cloned voice technology impersonating a fellow ASEAN leader. The scammer initially sent a friendly introduction claiming interest in cooperating on international matters, then called her at 11pm but she did not answer. The following morning, the scammer sent another voice message demanding a donation, falsely claiming Thailand was the only ASEAN nation yet to contribute.
Paetongtarn recognized the deception when the scammer's bank account number did not belong to the neighbouring country being impersonated. She said she was shocked by the sophistication of the voice cloning technology.
Reported impact
Paetongtarn said the incident demonstrates vulnerability of high-ranking officials and public figures to sophisticated AI-powered scams. The prime minister instructed the Deputy PM and Digital Economy and Society Minister to conduct an investigation.
Paetongtarn warned the public to be cautious when receiving voice messages or calls, even if they seem authentic, and said she suspects the scammers obtained her contact from someone close to her who had fallen victim to the gang.
Index analysis
The AI voice cloning technology used in the scam requires as little as 30 seconds of audio input and is now accessible to anyone at very little or no cost with few restrictions. Transnational crime syndicates in Southeast Asia and elsewhere are exploiting AI and other technologies to build massive scam operations.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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