Verified: Thai PBS Clip Reporting “Boy Tha Phrachan” Arrest over Gambling Website Was Actually Created Using AI Deepfake Technology

Thai PBS Verify found the source of the video from: TikTok

A TikTok account shared a video clip of “Thai PBS news now (Tan Khao,)” showing an arrest of “Boy Tha Phrachan.”

Old Clip Edited to Promote Gambling Sites

Thai PBS Verify has identified a TikTok account named thaipbs368 that shared a video showing police arresting a man with the caption: “Morning of September 29, 2025 – Police arrest Boy Tha Phrachan while taking his child to school!?” The video reported that on September 29, 2025, Boy Tha Phrachan, a well-known amulet trader, was arrested and taken to Samut Prakan police station, with plans to transfer him to Samran Rat station. A post on his wife’s Facebook page described the moment of arrest, questioning why it had to happen in front of their child. After the clip was published, it received over 14,900 reactions and was shared more than 1,102 times, with many viewers believing it was a genuine news report.

However, Thai PBS Verify used InVID-WeVerify to analyze the footage frame by frame and then searched them with Google Lens. It was found that the person shown in the news was actually Dechathorn Bamrungmuang or Hockey, a rapper known for the protest song “My Country Has…”, who was arrested during a demonstration at Democracy Monument on July 18, 2020—not Boy Tha Phrachan as claimed.

Side-by-side comparison: Rapper from “My Country Has…” arrested during Democracy Monument protest (left) vs. image from fake clip (right)

Moreover, when comparing the logo from the official Thai PBS News channel to verify the facts, the following similarities can be observed:

1. The Thai PBS logo in the fake clip differs in color, size, and placement from the official Thai PBS News logo.
2. The fake clip’s graphic mock-up includes an orange mask overlay, whereas the real version has no mask—only a headline banner.

Side-by-side comparison: Official Thai PBS News channel (left) vs. fake clip (right)

Signs of a Suspicious Account

Thai PBS Verify conducted a preliminary check on the account’s transparency. The account had 3,733 followers and received 1,065,000 reactions, indicating a high engagement rate. However, unlike the official Thai PBS News channel, which has a verified badge from TikTok and includes a link to the official Thai PBS website.

Side-by-side comparison: Fake TikTok channel (right) vs. official channel (left)

However, it was also found that this account follows “368 Florida,” which is a gambling-related channel. Moreover, most of the comments mention this gambling site as well.

Verification Confirms AI-Generated Clip

Thai PBS Verify used video analysis tools to confirm that the clip was AI-generated. By applying deepware.ai, the results showed an 80% likelihood that the video was created using AI deepfake technology.

Tool-based verification: Clip confirmed as AI-generated deepfake

Boy Tha Phrachan Denies Involvement

Mr. Atthawat Sirisittithongchai, or Boy Tha Phrachan, confirmed to Thai PBS Verify that the video clip claiming he was arrested does not feature him and is not related to him.

Mr. Atthawat Sirisittithongchai or Boy Tha Phrachan

Expert Flags Signs of Fake News: Comments and Links Tied to Gambling Site

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nitta Roonkaseam, from the Department of Communication Arts, Faculty of Management Science, Phranakhon Rajabhat University, stated that many comments on the clip do not discuss the “news” content itself, but instead attempt to steer viewers toward “368 Florida,” a gambling site or promotional page. For example, “No wonder he got rich so fast—it’s because of 368 Florida!” and “Boy’s really in trouble this time—only 368 Florida can save him.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nitta Roonkaseam, Department of Communication Arts, Faculty of Management Science, Phranakhon Rajabhat University,

This type of comment is considered “spam commenting”, deliberately linking real or trending news to gambling site promotion. It’s a clear indicator that the content is not part of standard news reporting.

At the same time, the use of the Thai PBS logo alongside the username @thaipbs368—which is not an official account—raises suspicion. The unusual URL and account behavior suggest a connection through its Follow list.

This account follows only two other accounts, one of which is “368 Florida” (@frd368_), a gambling site. If this were truly an official Thai PBS account, there would be no reason to follow a gambling page. Therefore, it can be concluded that this is a fake account impersonating Thai PBS to boost credibility and promote gambling-related content.

Additionally, the clip uses Thai PBS-style graphics, but the layout and logo quality do not match the official standards. Before assuming it’s a real Thai PBS clip, viewers should click into other verified Thai PBS accounts for comparison.

Moreover, compared to Thai PBS’s usual reporting style, the headline used here is exaggerated and designed to shock the audience. The visual presentation is suspicious, and this is not how Thai PBS normally delivers news. Another red flag is the follower count, which remains at 3,741—inconsistent with the real Thai PBS account.

How to Spot Fake News, Deepfake Clips, and Misleading Content

1. Comments are off-topic and redirect viewers to gambling sites unrelated to the news.
2. Suspicious URLs or shortened links may be used to lure users away from trusted platforms.
3. The account follows gambling pages, which legitimate news outlets would never do.
4. Graphics and content quality don’t match the professional standards of the real news source.
5. Cross-checking with other sources reveals that Boy Tha Phrachan confirmed his image was misused to promote gambling.

“Fake news always leaves clues. We can all spot them by checking comments, inspecting links, reviewing account behavior, comparing content, and looking for verified sources,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nitta Roonkaseam.

What’s the Truth?

The clip from the account @thaipbs368 is misleading. It reuses old news footage while impersonating the trusted presentation style of Thai PBS to deceive viewers. The Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) is a public media organization committed to accurate and truthful reporting. It does not support or promote any form of gambling-related content.

Impact of False Information

1. Impacts on the Public (Viewers/Victims)

• Financial and property loss: Scammers may use deepfakes of trusted news programs and public figures (like Boy Tha Phrachan) to promote gambling sites. They may mislead victims into thinking the site is legal or endorsed—leading to financial loss through gambling or other scams.
• Legal risk: Those who are deceived and engage in online gambling may unknowingly violate gambling laws, which could result in prosecution, fines, or imprisonment.
• Personal data theft: Illegal gambling websites often serve as gateways for criminals to steal personal information, financial data, or credit/debit card details for malicious use.

2. Impacts on Media and Impersonated Individuals

• Damage to media credibility: Scammers who skillfully fake the logo and format of “Thai PBS News Now (Than Khao)” program can mislead the public into believing the outlet is involved in gambling or fraud, which rapidly undermines the trust and credibility the media organization has built over time.

• Violation of personal rights and reputational harm: Using AI deepfake technology to impersonate a news anchor’s voice without permission constitutes a violation of personal rights and can severely damage the individual’s reputation, forcing them to publicly clarify and deal with widespread misunderstanding.

3. Impacts on Society

• Erosion of trust in information sources: As deepfake technology becomes increasingly capable of fabricating news from trusted media outlets, the public may become confused and unable to distinguish between truth and falsehood. This poses a serious threat to truth in the digital age and leads to widespread distrust in media and information sources overall.