Thailand’s war on cyber fraud gets a major upgrade
Thailand is beefing up its fight against online scams in a big way — and it’s coming for the fraudsters faster than ever.
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) is set to transform its Anti-Online Scam Operation Centre into a fully-fledged department, following the implementation of a powerful new emergency decree that came into effect on April 13. The move marks a serious escalation in the government’s war on cybercrime, aimed at tightening controls and increasing accountability across financial and digital platforms.
DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong says the centre needs to evolve to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated online scams targeting Thai citizens daily.
“We must expand our operational capabilities and respond faster than ever. This upgrade will help us better protect the public and hold offenders accountable.”
Currently, the centre runs the 1441 hotline and operates a dedicated war room to freeze suspicious bank accounts within an hour of a scam report. Between November 1, 2023, and April 18, 2024, the centre suspended a staggering 607,838 bank accounts, an average of 1,233 accounts per day.
But that’s just the beginning. The proposed departmental upgrade will give the centre wider authority to compensate victims quickly, improve investigations and prosecutions, and coordinate more efficiently with law enforcement and tech providers.
Prasert is working closely with the Bank of Thailand, commercial banks, telecom companies, and digital platforms to introduce tougher standards for opening bank accounts.
“The goal is to stop scammers before they even get started.”
A major shake-up under the new decree also gives the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) power to return stolen funds directly to victims, bypassing long court procedures. It’s a major win for scam victims, who have often waited months or even years for restitution.
Perhaps most significantly, the law now holds financial institutions and telecom operators more accountable for fraud-related losses, forcing them to adopt stronger security measures or risk financial consequences.
In addition, the ministry will establish a Technology Crime Prevention and Suppression Operation Centre, which will sit under the office of the DES permanent secretary, reported Bangkok Post.
With scams on the rise and criminals growing bolder, Thailand’s digital watchdogs are stepping up and scam artists had better start sweating.
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