A hotline centre will be set up to receive complaints and tip-offs from the public to combat widespread fraud schemes luring victims to transfer money through cash machines - and catch people behind the schemes.
The new service at toll-free numbers 1200, 1155 and 1135 will be linked to existing hotline numbers of the National Telecommunication Commis-sion, Tourist Police and Consumer Protection Police.
Officials from the agencies said yesterday the centre was planned to specifically combat such crimes, but did not say when it would start. It would also be tasked with detailing techniques used by con artists.
Senior investigator Pol Maj-General Panya Mamen said the centre would work on tracking suspects' locations as potential victims spoke to con artists. They would also temporarily freeze bank accounts to prevent withdrawals.
Panya said it would deter con artists as "they would know they'd be located through electronic tracking and arrested."
Phone companies would be asked to trace the location of callers, said acting NTC secretary-general Thakorn Tanthasit.
Panya called on phone users not to give out personal information to people they did not know. He said employees of Internet servers used by con artists would face drastic action.