Managing Fake News and Scam Calls from Citizens in Bangkok

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) study the management of fake news and scam calls by citizens in Bangkok; 2) study the problems and obstacles in managing fake news and scam calls by citizens in Bangkok; and 3) propose guidelines for managing fake news and scam calls by citizens in Bangkok. The research used a combination of quantitative and documentary research. The sample consisted of 400 citizens from 50 districts in Bangkok. The instrument used was a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The results showed that 1) most citizens have a high level of ability to manage fake news and scam calls, especially in emotional control and learning from real experiences, demonstrating an effective self-management mechanism. However, weaknesses remain in terms of knowledge regarding fraudulent money transfer scams, threats with leaked clips, and VoIP techniques, of which citizens are only moderately aware. 2) The major problems and obstacles in managing fake news and scam calls are legal loopholes, lack of transparency among agencies, and delays in suspending transactions by financial institutions. 3) The most popular management approach is integrated cooperation between the public, the private sector, and the public sector. Enacting specific laws to control suspicious numbers, promoting community-level media literacy skills, developing fraud detection applications, and simplifying government communications, with the "3 Nos" principle (Don't Trust, Don't Transfer, and Don't Provide Information) as key guidelines, and policy proposals aim to make media literacy a national agenda, amending laws to keep up with digital threats, and developing proactive warning systems. Behavioral proposals emphasize training in self-management skills to consciously and carefully deal with the threat of fake news and modern scams.