Pattaya: Police officers at the Pattaya City Police Station in Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province, are facing an unusual predicament after a debtor set up call forwarding to their number, resulting in nearly 200 calls from loan sharks demanding repayment.
According to Thai News Agency, the police were left to handle an influx of calls from debt collectors, who were misled into thinking they were reaching the debtor.
The incident began when officers received a call from a supposed debt collector. Despite being informed that they had reached a police station, the caller continued to verbally abuse the officers. A video of this exchange was shared on social media, attracting widespread attention and criticism.
Reporters visiting the station spoke with Pol. Col. Anek Sarathongyoo, the superintendent, who expressed his support for the affected radio dispatch center staff. He revealed that the station received over 10 harassing calls in one morning alone. These calls, originating from numbers xxx-xxxx111 and xxx-xxxx999, were traced back to individuals demanding loan repayments. The callers, comprising both Thais and people with accents similar to Cambodian nationals, continued to threaten officers even after being informed of the station's identity.
In response, the police have recorded and blocked the offending numbers, forwarding them to the investigative team to identify the callers. The superintendent highlighted the misuse of the station's mobile phone number, which was established for citizens' convenience in reporting incidents alongside the 191 hotline.
Over the past few days, the station has been bombarded with over 200 calls from creditors misled by debtors forwarding calls to the station's number. This situation led to a confrontation between a police radio operator and the debt collectors, the video of which went viral. Authorities have urged the public to avoid making nuisance calls to ensure that genuine emergencies are not obstructed. The investigation is ongoing, and legal action will follow once the caller's identity is confirmed.