Thailand Pass: Thai Pass Website Hacked

It seems that government websites in Thailand are often the target of successful hacker attacks and now it appears the Thailand Pass site is no exception. Reports are surfacing of people receiving a spoof email regarding the Thailand Pass pointing them to malicious content.

It is believed that the email database collected by the Thailand Pass website has been accessed by hackers who are using the list of applicants to spread malware. Users have reported receiving fake emails warning that there is something wrong with their Thailand Pass application and urging them to download an attachment from a link in the email. The test has some telltale warning signs such as poor English and punctuation.

There is a problem related to the request, please download the attachment and update the information. Important note. [sic] You must open the document from a PC and not from the [sic] phone”

The sentence fragment and the lack of closing punctuation should be a red flag not to click the link, which is highlighted by a button and a QR code that has been crudely crossed out. The link leads to a site at gamecardsy.com – a site that has been flagged by Google Safe Browsing as a harmful or malicious site. Google’s warning states that the site may try to trick you into downloading or installing malicious files that could spam you or harm you.

The QR code included in the spoof email is for a Thailand Pass for a Mr Hongkam and it appears everyone is getting the same generic email with the same Thailand Pass registration account.

Anyone who receives an email like this is advised not to click any links and to warn others who may receive the phishing email. It is always good practice to not click links in any unsolicited email you receive. When in doubt about the validity of an email that seems official, like this one from Thailand Pass, it is advised to open your browser and manually type in the link to the business or service to make sure you are not redirected to a scam or malware.

Confusion and dismay are hitting long-staying foreign travellers in Thailand, as many were relieved to see the Covid-19 visa exemption extended, but missed the strict revisions in the fine print. While the decree was extended from the January 25 deadline at the last minute to March 25, the people who are allowed to take advantage of the easy-to-extend visa exemption were limited.

The glory days of sidestepping pesky border bounces during the pandemic have come to a close for foreigners staying long-term in Thailand. The newly revised Covid-19 extension stamp is now available only for those who previously had a tourist visa or a free tourist exemption stamp before getting the Covid-19 extension. Those who are on any form of non-immigrant visa or those who’ve received a visa on arrival are no longer eligible to extend their stay in Thailand indefinitely using the Covid-19 pandemic as an excuse.

Frustrated people have reported going to immigration expecting another 30-day extension and being given instead a stamp rejecting their request and giving them 7 days to leave Thailand. Frantic commenters online and on social media have shared horror stories of scrambling to get their affairs in order and find a place to go within a week. Many are looking for the easiest place to bounce for a few days before returning back to Thailand.

The extension of stay visa or exemption due to Covid-19 that tourists can obtain at immigration offices around the country, though the amount of paperwork and hoops to jump through varies among different locations, was originally intended for people trapped during the pandemic and unable to get to their home country. But as the pandemic wore on, the stamp was made available to almost anyone in the Kingdom during Covid-19 who wanted to extend their stay.

Whether or not you receive an extension stamp has always been at the discretion of the immigration agents in the office you submit your documents. Many places have been rubber-stamping the extension for anyone who applies for it indefinitely, but an official announcement by the Immigration Bureau stated that’s changing.

Incoming tourists will be allowed a 30-day extension in most cases and then be able to apply for a Covid-19 visa stamp. People who have been here for months or years may be rejected the next time they attempt to extend. Nothing will guarantee you get an extension stamp 100%, but many are advising people to be polite and on their best behaviour, dress appropriately (no more beachwear at the immigration office), mask up and follow the Covid-19 safety laws.

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