If a phone number beginning with +697 rings, do not answer. According to Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES), it is most likely a scam call center attempting to defraud you.
Thailand’s National Broadcasting Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has purposely inserted the prefix +697 to IP calls to help users identify potential scammers in an effort to prevent call center scams.
IP calls are not registered with authorities and are therefore untraceable. Scammers have used IP technology to ensure that their calls cannot be traced back to them or to make calls appear to come from various countries
implementing the +697 measure. It not only warns the public to be wary of scammers, but it also allows those who receive text messages or phone calls from suspect numbers to ask their cell operator to block the number.
