Ministry sets up ‘war room’ to tackle frozen bank account issues
Joint task force launched as victims flood hotlines over mule account crackdowns
Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry has launched a dedicated “war room” to handle complaints from people whose bank accounts were suddenly frozen over suspected links to mule account scams.
The move follows a surge in cases involving online sellers and everyday users finding their accounts suspended temporarily, while authorities investigate possible fraud links.
The measure was agreed on after urgent talks yesterday, September 14, between the Bank of Thailand, commercial banks, and law enforcement agencies, amid growing public outcry.
DES Permanent Secretary Wisit Wisitsora-at explained the situation, sharing that the move is not a legal freeze, but a temporary hold on specific amounts flagged as suspicious. He stated that users can still access other parts of their account.
The ministry urged calm, clarifying that most suspensions are short-term and can be lifted within days if no wrongdoing is found. Banks can temporarily freeze funds for up to three days, while police can extend it to seven. If no evidence surfaces, the money is returned.
In some cases, users reported negative balances when frozen amounts exceeded available funds. Wisit said this was only temporary, caused by the system earmarking suspect funds not currently available.
Permanent account freezes, however, require a police order backed by evidence and court approval. As stated by Wisit, only banks or the Anti-Money Laundering Office can temporarily suspend transactions while investigations take place.
The new joint war room includes officials from the Bank of Thailand, Thai Bankers’ Association, Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), and the Anti-Money Laundering Office. The goal is to separate innocent victims from those knowingly involved in fraud.
Investigators are now analysing money trails, transaction patterns, and account behaviour to determine whether usage aligns with typical owner activity. Wisit said the review process is “swift once the facts are clear,” noting over 600 calls were received from affected users in a single morning.
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau commissioner Trairong Phiwpan said scammers are evolving their methods, stating that some now purchase real goods from sellers and then resell them for cash, dragging innocent vendors into money laundering schemes.
To ease the backlog, the CCIB has deployed extra officers to speed up investigations and lift suspensions for innocent victims. Once cleared, account holders will be informed directly by their bank.
Wisit stressed that neither the DES nor the Anti-Online Scam Operation Centre will ever reach out to customers directly, reported Bangkok Post.
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