By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock
BANGKOK, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Thailand's Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has not been spared from scams. She admitted on Wednesday that she was targeted by a scam caller who posed as a foreign leader, using advanced AI voice-cloning technology.
She revealed that she almost fell victim to the scam, which involved an impersonation of a foreign leader claiming she had not made certain donations.
"The scammer even used the voice of the leader, addressing me directly in a recording that said, 'Good morning, Prime Minister of Thailand’.
"They began with casual conversation before transitioning to ask for donations, even providing a link to a foreign account. It was so convincing that I almost believed it," Paetongtarn said in her speech during a policy meeting on the 2026 fiscal year budget here, on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters later, Paetongtarn expressed her shock at the scam's realism.
"This was not like the usual scams we know - calls from strange numbers or random claims. This one involved AI to accurately mimic the voice of a foreign leader.
“They sent a voice clip first, asking to collaborate, followed by a request for donations, even providing a foreign bank account. It was so advanced that it could easily deceive anyone," she said.
She noted that she was fortunate to have missed the late-night call but the scammers followed up with another recording and a request for donations the next morning.
"That’s when I realised it was a scam. I’ve asked the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to investigate further since the app they used wasn’t one commonly used in Thailand, like Line, but a foreign app," she explained.
Paetongtarn warned the public about these increasingly sophisticated tactics, highlighting the use of AI to convincingly replicate voices.
“Let me clarify that I have not accepted any donations or financial contributions from anyone. I urge the public to be vigilant and not fall victim to these scams,” she said.
The Prime Minister also emphasised her government’s commitment to combat cybercrime and safeguarding citizens from such advanced fraud schemes.
-- BERNAMA
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