Bangkok: The government warns Thai football fans to beware of scammers exploiting the 2026 World Cup hype, offering online gambling scams, selling fake tickets, and providing links to illegal live football streams. They emphasize four "don'ts" to help you identify and avoid losing money.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Ploytalay Laksmisangchan, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that during the period when the world is paying attention to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the government is warning the public to be more vigilant after discovering that criminal groups are using the hype to deceive people online. This includes soliciting online gambling, selling fake tickets and travel packages, and sending links to watch live football matches or participate in prize-winning activities that contain malware to steal personal and financial information.
Meanwhile, the government has intensified its monitoring and suppression of illegal online channels. The Online Crime Operations Center (AOC), the 1441 hotline, and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) are aggressively cracking down on online gambling networks and fraudulent schemes. Most recently, in May 2016 alone, they blocked 78,796 illegal gambling website URLs, aiming to disrupt online crime and reduce the risk of people falling victim.
The government urges the public to adhere to the "4 Don'ts" principle: Don't click on links, don't believe, don't rush, and don't transfer money. Always verify information from reliable sources before conducting any transactions. If you encounter anything suspicious or suspect you've been scammed, report it immediately to the relevant authorities so that the damage can be mitigated quickly.
'The World Cup should be a time of joy and sporting appreciation. The government urges the public to carefully verify information while simultaneously continuing its proactive crackdown on cybercrime, blocking fraudulent channels, and continuously disseminating warning information to build public awareness, enable citizens to recognize scams, and allow them to safely watch and cheer on the 2026 World Cup,' Ms. Ploytalee said.