VML Thailand teams up with Whoscall to launch #ScammerPages phone directory to raise awareness on Thailand’s scam situation

Gogolook Thailand, the provider of Whoscall application, has teamed up with VML Thailand to launch “Scammer Pages”, Thailand’s first data-visualized directory containing more than 1.5 million scam numbers in one volume. Inspired by the iconic “Yellow Pages” telephone directory, the new campaign aimed at empowering Thais to stay vigilant against suspicious calls and encourage a call-to-action “If you can’t avoid them all, Download Whoscall.” for personal protection.

Online scams continue to be a national issue in Thailand, impacting both individuals and society at large. According to the latest statistics from the Royal Thai Police between March 2022 – July 2024, 612,603 online scam cases and resulted in accumulated financial loss worth more than 69.18 billion baht. The most common reported cases involve: fake product selling, wire transfer scams in exchange for a job offering, loan scams, investment scams, and call center extortion. Women make up 64% of the victims, with those aged 30 – 44 accounting for 41.45%, followed by those aged 22 – 29 at 25.27%. Moreover, elderly groups with sizable retirement pensions and technology-savvy teenagers are also the primary target for scammers.

Monprapa Rattanakanokporn, Country Marketing Lead of Gogolook (Thailand), said: “At Gogolook, we recognize the rising dangers that online scams pose to Thai society. To safeguard users against evolving scam threats, we are committed to continuously enhancing our Whoscall application by leveraging AI technology to develop new and innovative features. Failing to address these challenges, we will see not only an increase in numbers of victims and scam types but also significant financial and emotional harms that could ultimately impact the country’s economic situation at large.”

Under this collaboration, Whoscall and VML Thailand are introducing a fresh approach to scam prevention with the launch of #ScammerPages: “If you can’t avoid them all, Download Whoscall.” to raise awareness about the online threats lurking in digital channels, phone calls, and SMS messages. Scammer Pages marks the first visual presentation of 1.5 million scam numbers detected by Whoscall in a yellow pages style format. This powerful representation serves as a reminder for people to pause, reflect, and take precautions against scams together with a call to action. If they cannot remember all the numbers, download Whoscall for immediate protection.

Park Wannasiri, Chief Creative Officer at VML Thailand, said: “Working with Whoscall on this campaign allows us to bring attention to the serious threats phone scams that many Thais still underestimate. Based on the key statistics by Whoscall that ‘Thai people have been scammed more than 19 million times over the phone’, we translated this key information into a creative idea that easily grasps public attention. Our insights further revealed that while many Thais believe they can handle scammers by learning from prevention tips shared widely on social media platforms, there is no available visualization to address the seriousness of the issue.

“Therefore, we suggested visualizing the numbers to give people the reason why they should install the Whoscall application on their phones. The challenge was to present data clearly which led to the idea of the iconic Yellow Pages directory. As a result, we used data visualization techniques for the first time to compile over 1.5 million scam numbers into Thailand’s first ‘Scammer Pages’ book by Whoscall to ignite national awareness on the country’s scams situation.

“The twist of the traditional Yellow Pages directory into the ‘Scammer Pages’ will alert the public on the scale of phone scams and emphasize that anyone can be a target, regardless of how well-prepared they believe they are. Even if you do not fall victim yourself, those around you, including your loved ones, could be at risk. Scammers do not care who you are, and everyone can be a victim at any moment. By transforming invisible data into something tangible, impactful and relevant for Thais, this campaign fostering lasting awareness and long-term vigilance for all Thais.”

Click here to download the Whoscall app for free on both iOS and Android platforms.

To learn more about Whoscall and available features visit https://whoscall.com/ or Whoscall’s Facebook page.