Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing privacy as it pertains to this brave New World we are starting to live in with regard to digital tracking and tracing and taxation and blah, blah, blah. I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Pattaya Retirees targeted in latest in scam calls scandals. I urge those who are watching this video, especially expats and retirees, go check out that article in detail. One big thing to bear in mind, hey retirees please, calm down. About taxes, it's okay, it's not that big a deal. The vast majority of you, you don't even have to worry about it. I've talked about this in detail. Unfortunately, there are foreign interlopers and scammers who are trying to take advantage of you, don't let them. 

That said, quoting directly: "The Cybercrime Investigation Bureau said that scammed cash is almost impossible to recover as it is quickly converted into cryptocurrency or used to buy gold which is transported abroad by "mules" to call center headquarters. The Bureau added that its campaign was centred on banning fraudulent SIM cards and suppressing telecommunications equipment which can disguise the origin of calls. However, scammers these days are turning to online media such as Facebook or Line to engage with potential victims." Well I think it should be noted, look we do need to fight against online fraud, there's no doubt about that. And as discussed in other videos and in that article directly. Quote: "Police anti online Scam Operation Centre at hotline 1441." If you think you are the subject of a scam, you can contact that hotline here in Thailand - just dial in 1441 and make a report.

As I've also discussed in other videos, unfortunately I think these scams are all a byproduct of the underlying scam of foreigners coming into Thailand, claiming to be able to provide tax consultation, tax advisory services regarding Thai taxes which as we have discussed many times at length in other videos, is not permitted by the restricted occupations noted here in Thailand which is promulgated by the Department of Employment. I've gotten into that in other videos; I've done the deep drill down and cited specifically "tax consultation, tax advisory" is not allowed to be undertaken by foreigners here in Thailand. Only Thais can provide that service. And it's probably for the reason that it decreases scams. That's the public policy reason behind not letting unqualified people or in this case foreigners also here in Thailand, providing advisory services regarding Thai Taxes because it leads to all kinds of legal and ethical problems especially as it pertains to not only the legalities of actual tax liability, but also scams that may arise from on), pushing people into what I can only describe as a "tax stamp-pimp" scenario where you basically pimp somebody into the tax system. I've discussed that at length in other videos, but also the concomitant scams that may be a byproduct thereof. What are we talking about? Other scammers see these scammers and then they kind of run in and want to get a piece of the action if you will, and it makes it worse for everyone. 

So again, the thing to take away from this video is one) if you think you are subject to a scam either by somebody who is an illegal foreign "Tax Advisor" here in Thailand or somebody who is actively calling you up and scamming you, it may not be a terrible idea to call 1441. Now that said, while there are law enforcement and public policy good reasons behind going after scammers, I don't think we should "throw the baby out with the bathwater" and give up all of our privacy rights in terms of, again privacy in banking, privacy in making transactions. I don't think we should throw all that out just because unfortunately they are in nefarious actors operating within the economy here in the Kingdom of Thailand.