DE warns of fake Paotang benefit emails

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4 July 2026, 19:02

DE warns the public about fake emails claiming to be from Paotang by Krungthai offering additional benefits under the Thais Help Thais Plus (60/40) scheme, urging people to beware of scammers seeking money and personal information.

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE), through the Anti-Fake News Center Thailand (AFNC), has released the latest results of its fake news monitoring and reporting efforts. The initiative is in line with the policy of Mr.Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, to strengthen public awareness of technology-related crimes, fake news, and misinformation.

AFNC monitored a total of 130,070 messages and identified 5,776 messages requiring verification. The largest number of reports came from Social Listening channels, accounting for 5,774 messages, followed by 2 reports received through the AFNC Line Official account. A total of 21 issues were investigated, with verification results received from relevant agencies for 6 cases.

Among the 7 stories that attracted the greatest public attention, 2 were confirmed as true, 3 were identified as fake news, and 2 were classified as misleading information. These included:

Fake News: Paotang by Krungthai sends emails offering additional benefits under the Thais Help Thais Plus (60/40) scheme.
True News: The long-awaited flat-fare policy of 17–45 baht for all electric rail lines will begin on 1 January 2027.
Misleading Information: The Cabinet has banned civil servants from using government electricity to charge their personal EVs.
True News: The Thai-Cambodian border remains secure around the clock, with the military closely monitoring the situation and preparedness measures in place.
Fake News: China is using media campaigns to discourage Chinese tourists from traveling to Thailand.
Misleading Information: Thai F-16 fighter jets conducted late-night patrols amid tensions along the border.
Fake News: Thai soldiers discovered a Cambodian bunker just 20 meters from Ta Muen Thom Temple.

One of the most notable fake stories claimed that **Paotang by Krungthai** had sent emails informing recipients that they were eligible for additional benefits under the **Thais Help Thais Plus (60/40)** scheme. The DE Ministry coordinated with Krungthai Bank under the Ministry of Finance and confirmed that the claim is false.

Krungthai Bank explained that the email is fraudulent and was created by scammers impersonating the **Paotang** application to trick people into claiming additional benefits under the **Thais Help Thais Plus (60/40)** scheme.

The bank confirmed that it has **no policy** of sending emails asking users to claim additional benefits under the scheme. The public is urged not to click suspicious links or provide personal information through untrusted emails.

The DE Ministry remains concerned about the spread of fake news and misinformation across online and social media platforms. Sharing unverified information may lead to misunderstanding, financial losses, misuse of personal information, and broader impacts on society.

The public is encouraged to trust and share information only from official sources and to carefully verify facts and website links before believing or forwarding any information.

People who encounter suspicious information or possible fake news can report it or verify information through the Anti-Fake News Center Thailand via Hotline 1111 ext. 87, available 24 hours a day.

DE, MonoMax strengthen crackdown on piracy and online gambling

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MC Marketing

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4 July 2026, 18:58

DE and MonoMax discussed stronger takedown measures against illegal websites, enhancing public-private cooperation to combat copyright infringement and online gambling during FIFA World Cup 2026.

Ms.Nan Boontida Somchai, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy and Society, and Mr.Nawamin Prasopnet, Chief Executive Officer of Mono Next Public Company Limited, held discussions on measures to prevent and suppress illegal websites and platforms involved in online gambling and copyright infringement related to FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcasts.

Ms.Nan Somchai said the Government, through the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE), places great importance on combating online crime, intellectual property infringement, and online gambling, particularly during FIFA World Cup 2026.

Between 10 and 24 June 2026, the Illegal Website Monitoring Center of the DE Ministry blocked 12,671 URLs linked to copyright infringement and online gambling. Of these, 4,496 URLs were blocked under court orders, while another 8,175 URLs were removed in cooperation with social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

During the meeting, Mono Next Public Company Limited, the official broadcasting rights holder for FIFA World Cup 2026 and the English Premier League in Thailand, expressed its readiness to integrate data and work closely with the DE Ministry’s Illegal Website Monitoring Center. The cooperation will help accelerate the process of blocking illegal platforms immediately after violations are detected, further strengthening enforcement against unlawful online activities.

“The Government, through the DE Ministry, conducts 24-hour monitoring and enforcement against illegal online activities. We are ready to work closely with the private sector to combat illegal websites and platforms. This cooperation will speed up the coordination and takedown process while helping prevent offences that affect the public, society, and the digital economy. The Government remains fully committed to reducing public harm and supporting Thailand’s economic growth,” said Ms.Nan.

The public can report websites related to online gambling during FIFA World Cup 2026 through the GCC Hotline 1111 ext. 87, available 24 hours a day, or by contacting the DE Ministry’s Illegal Website Monitoring Center via email at [email protected]

Inside Cinematique, a Lost Thai Film Studio Reborn Above a Phra Khanong Barcade

By

Seth Buren

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4 July 2026, 18:56

Down a small street within walking distance of BTS Phra Khanong, a blue-lit dragon guards the entrance to one of Bangkok’s more improbable hospitality projects.

But before we come back to the future, lets dial back to the past. Arcadia began as a cyberpunk barcade: part craft beer bar, part retro gaming den, and part gathering place for the sort of Bangkok residents who are rarely impressed by another polished rooftop lounge. Now it has evolved into something larger and stranger.

Above the newly expanded Arcadia Live café, bar and event space is Cinematique, a boutique hotel designed as a collection of forgotten film sets from Thailand’s cinematic past.

Each room belongs to its own fictional lost production. Guests can spend the night inside a Thai ghost story, a jungle adventure, a vintage romance or the Bangkok hideout of a 1960s secret agent. One room even draws inspiration from the sweat, bravado and gloriously excessive action films of the 1980s, complete with its own Muay Thai training area.

The project is the latest creation of Todd Ruiz, a writer and journalist who previously worked as an editor at Khaosod English. Seeing a former colleague bring such an ambitious and deeply personal project to life is a source of pride for our newsroom — although anyone familiar with Todd’s enthusiasm may be a bit less surprised.

Arcadia began across the street as a smaller barcade. When a nearby property came up for sale, Todd jumped at the chance to build something bigger. The result was Arcadia Live and Cinematique: a larger home for the community that had already formed around the original bar, with a boutique hotel layered above it.

The project has been driven by an unusually determined do-it-yourself spirit, which Todd says he inherited from his father, a former NASA engineer. When he wanted arcade cabinets, he built them himself despite having no prior carpentry experience. When he needed custom-programmed LED strips, he taught himself how.

Todd seems to operate on the belief that almost any skill can be learned if the project is interesting enough. Cinematique gives him the perfect outlet: a nerdy, neon-noir, alternative-history love letter to old cinema.

As Cinematique began taking shape, he personally worked on the rooms, filling them with props, vintage furniture and carefully arranged details. Cinematique is packed with original movie-poster prints displayed throughout the hotel, locally sourced through a nearby seller to add another layer of character to the space

The Lore

The hotel’s backstory is nearly as elaborate as the rooms themselves. According to Cinematique lore, the building once housed a Thai-American film studio founded in 1967, producing bilingual melodramas, ghost films, jungle adventures and spy thrillers before mysteriously closing its doors in the 1980s.

1 cinematique lore — Retrieved from Cinematique’s official site

Costumes, scripts and unfinished reels were supposedly left behind. Clues to the studio’s fate are scattered through the rooms for guests to uncover.

Whatever truths lie behind the backstory, the affection for old Thai cinema is unmistakable. Cinematique feels less like a conventional themed hotel than a lost Thai film set where the cameras stopped rolling, but the atmosphere never cleared.

Todd invited us to stay in the “Return to the House of Phaya Nak”, the hotel’s spooky room, where antique furniture, low lighting and unsettling details create the impression that the previous occupants may not have entirely checked out.

It is excellently decorated, and meticulously clean. Sensitive sleepers should note, however, that some noise from the bar and events space below can carry upstairs, particularly on busy weekend nights. This is a hotel above a lively venue, not a silent retreat.

That minor drawback is also part of the broader story. Cinematique and Arcadia Live occupy the same building because the project is not simply about accommodation. It is about creating a place where people stay, eat, drink, play games and return for whatever strange event may be happening that week.

Arcadia Live Café opens at 09:00 with coffee, snacks and lunch items from a kitchen led by chef Arturo Villegas Rosas. The venue also offers cocktails and an interesting craft beer selection, alongside drinks that may interest visitors curious about Thai drinking culture.

1 salad — The beetroot salad, like most items on the menu, is vegan, but it was not lacking in flavour or texture. The orange sauce in particular stood out.

These include kratom beverages and yadong, a traditional herbal liquor. Both deserve to be approached responsibly, particularly by newcomers unfamiliar with their effects. For foreign visitors who are curious but hesitant to experiment with the famous Thai drinks, Arcadia offers an approachable introduction.

beer fridge web — OG Kratom was available both canned and on draft.

As for Arcadia, its most impressive achievement may not be its custom-built arcade cabinets, cinematic rooms or glowing retro-futurist aesthetic. It is the loyalty it has inspired.

The venue attracts regulars and repeat visitors, including expatriates who have lived in Thailand for years and already have no shortage of Bangkok bars to choose from. Arcadia has managed to build something more difficult to manufacture than an eye-catching interior: a genuine community.

That community now has more room to grow. Arcadia Live hosts regular events, including DJ nights, gaming sessions, live performances and comedy shows, with upcoming activities announced on its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Always a work in progress

Cinematique is the kind of project that will likely never be complete in Todd’s eyes. He is still designing additional rooms and has plans to make greater use of the rooftop for future events.

That unfinished quality feels appropriate. Arcadia has never seemed interested in reaching a final form. It exists more like a real-life RPG: get started, level up, and keep going, one quest after another.

Cinematique and Arcadia Live are located at 1112/91–93 Soi Sukhumvit Plus, within walking distance of Phra Khanong BTS station.

DE warns of fake “anti-money laundering” LINE account

By

MC Marketing

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4 July 2026, 18:55

DE warns the public about fake claims that AMLO has opened a new LINE account called “Anti-Money Laundering”, urging people to beware of scammers who may steal money and personal information.

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE), through the Anti-Fake News Center Thailand (AFNC), has released the latest results of its fake news monitoring and reporting efforts. The initiative is in line with the policy of Mr.Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, to strengthen public awareness of technology-related crimes, fake news, and misinformation.

AFNC monitored a total of 130,627 messages and identified 4,757 messages requiring verification. The largest number of reports came from Social Listening channels, accounting for 4,756 messages, followed by one report received through the AFNC Line Official account. A total of 22 issues were investigated, with verification results received from relevant agencies for 8 cases.

Among the seven stories that attracted the greatest public attention, one was confirmed as true, four were identified as fake news, and two were classified as misleading information. These included:

Fake News: AMLO has opened a new LINE account called “Anti-Money Laundering”.
True News: An announcement prohibits the purchase, sale, or transfer of occupancy rights in Thap Lan National Park.
Fake News: The movie Ong-Bak is a Cambodian film that was dubbed into Thai.
Fake News: Caregivers of persons with disabilities will receive a monthly allowance of 800 baht.
Misleading Information: Applying large amounts of sunscreen causes hair thinning.
Fake News: PEA allows customers to contact the head of its meter department via LINE to claim electricity bill refunds.
Misleading Information: Foreign media reported that Thailand is a major producer of methamphetamine.

The most notable fake story claimed that the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) had opened a new LINE account called “Anti-Money Laundering”. The DE Ministry coordinated with AMLO and confirmed that the information is false.

The LINE account being circulated is not an official account of AMLO. The office confirmed that it has only one official LINE account: **@insideamlo**.

The public is therefore advised to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of any contact account before sharing personal information or conducting any transaction, in order to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.

The DE Ministry remains concerned about the spread of fake news and misinformation across online and social media platforms. Sharing unverified information may lead to misunderstanding, financial losses, misuse of personal information, and broader impacts on society.

The public is encouraged to trust and share information only from official sources and to carefully verify facts and website links before believing or forwarding any information.

People who encounter suspicious information or possible fake news can report it or verify information through the Anti-Fake News Center Thailand via Hotline 1111 ext. 87, available 24 hours a day.

Thailand promotes shared responsibility at MWC Shanghai 2026

By

MC Marketing

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4 July 2026, 18:53

Minister of DE highlights the “Shared Responsibility” model at MWC, calling for stronger cooperation across all sectors to enhance online safety and build public trust in the digital society.

Mr.Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, said during the GSMA Roundtable held as part of Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai 2026 in Shanghai, China, that one of the key challenges in tackling online threats today is not only the rapid advancement of technologies used by scammers, but also gaps in coordination among relevant agencies.

For Thailand, the country has accelerated efforts to build cooperation mechanisms among the government, financial institutions, telecommunications providers, digital platform providers, the Royal Thai Police, public agencies, and relevant private sector partners to ensure faster and more effective responses to incidents.

For the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE), a key mechanism is the Anti-Online Scam Operation Center, or AOC 1441, which serves as a 24-hour coordination center. The center has helped reduce the time needed to freeze mule accounts from about one hour to an average of just 15 minutes, increasing the chances of preventing losses and tracing money flows in a timely manner.

In addition to improving operational mechanisms, Thailand has also updated its laws to support the lawful exchange of information related to financial crime prevention. The country is also advancing the principle of “Shared Responsibility”, requiring financial institutions, telecommunications providers, and digital platforms to play a joint role in prevention and take responsibility if they fail to implement necessary measures.

This principle is not intended to increase burdens or penalties on businesses. Rather, it aims to create incentives for all sectors to work together toward the same goal: protecting the public from online threats and reducing the shifting of responsibility among agencies.

Another key issue is balancing online crime prevention with personal data protection. Thailand follows the principle of using data under a clear legal framework, limiting data use to what is necessary, and ensuring oversight by independent agencies in order to build public trust in digital systems.

At the same time, Thailand continues to promote digital literacy, which is considered an important form of infrastructure, no less important than internet networks and telecommunications systems. The country aims to integrate digital knowledge into the education system, workplaces, and elderly care, as older adults are among the groups most at risk of falling victim to online scammers.

Online crime is a global challenge that no single country can solve alone. Thailand is ready to share its experience and exchange best practices with other countries to strengthen regional cooperation in building a secure, safe, and trusted digital ecosystem.

“When scammers can share their tactics across borders, countries must also work together to share ways to protect the public. Trust in the digital world is the foundation for safe and sustainable economic and social development in the future,” said the Minister of Digital Economy and Society.

Black wastewater flows into sea at Jomtien Beach after heavy rain

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Khaosod English

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4 July 2026, 16:32

CHONBURI — 4 July 2026, Heavy rain in Chonburi triggered environmental concerns on Saturday after black wastewater was seen flowing from a drainage pipe into the sea at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya.

The incident drew public attention after Chonburi MP Thanatharn Pramoonpong posted a video showing dark water being discharged into the sea, raising concerns over pollution and the impact on Pattaya’s tourism image.

Reporters later inspected the area near tourist boat ramp A, opposite Siam Commercial Bank on Jomtien Beach, and found black water was still flowing from the drainage pipe into the sea, although the volume had begun to decrease after the rain stopped.

Local boat operators said the problem occurs repeatedly during heavy rain and has affected their work, as runoff from the pipe has eroded part of the boat ramp, making it difficult to move boats in and out of the water.

They called on Pattaya City and relevant agencies to find a permanent solution, saying the recurring discharge not only affects operators but also damages the image of one of the city’s main tourist beaches.

The blackwater incident came as heavy rain also caused damage elsewhere in Chonburi. In Si Racha district, part of a wall at a factory under construction reportedly collapsed, allowing large amounts of foam packaging waste to spill into nearby communities.

Residents said the foam fragments were scattered through streets and drainage areas, prompting concerns over environmental damage and calls for a thorough clean-up and investigation into the construction site.

Authorities have been urged to inspect both incidents and ensure measures are taken to prevent similar problems during future heavy rain.

Village wall collapses in Chonburi after foam waste washed into homes

By

Khaosod English

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4 July 2026, 15:10

CHONBURI — 4 July 2026, A village wall in Sriracha district collapsed on Saturday morning after heavy overnight rain washed large amounts of foam waste from a nearby waste-sorting site into a residential area.

The incident occurred at Boonraksa View 2 village in Moo 7, Bo Win subdistrict. Local officials said floodwater carried foam debris, believed to come from old refrigerators and freezers, from a waste-sorting area next to the village into the housing estate, scattering the material across the area and affecting several households.

Officials from the Bo Win Subdistrict Administrative Organisation and related agencies inspected the scene, cleared foam debris and opened drainage channels to ease the flooding. Authorities are also preparing to survey the damage.

Arthit Inprasit, chairman of Boonraksa View 2 village, said the land behind the village is privately owned and has been divided into rental plots. He said a foreign operator had rented part of the area long-term to run a waste-sorting business involving old refrigerators and freezers.

According to Arthit, after valuable parts were removed from the appliances, large amounts of foam waste were left piled up on the site. When heavy rain hit the area overnight, floodwater swept the foam into a large mass, which pressed against the rear wall of the village until it collapsed along a long section.

Water then poured into residents’ homes. At least one house was damaged, while several households were affected by floodwater and foam debris entering their living areas.

Arthit said the village has faced regular flooding during heavy rain in the past, but nothing as severe as this incident. He believes the large accumulation of foam waste was a major factor, as the material absorbed water and was pushed by the flood current with enough force to damage the wall.

Residents are calling on authorities to investigate the waste-sorting operation, including whether its waste storage and disposal practices comply with the law. They also urged officials to assess the damage and introduce measures to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

Mother remembers monk son killed during pilgrimage in Mukdahan crash

By

Khaosod English

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4 July 2026, 11:25

KHON KAEN — 4 July 2026, The mother of a Khon Kaen monk who died after being struck by a pickup truck allegedly driven by an 11-year-old boy in Mukdahan says her son had found purpose in the monkhood after surviving a serious accident years earlier.

Phra Khamsing Chailert, 41, died while walking with a group of monks on a tudong, a Buddhist pilgrimage. His mother, Panja Chailert, 69, said the death of her youngest son has left the family struggling to cope.

Speaking at her home in Ban Pong Daeng, in Khon Kaen’s Phu Wiang district, Panja said Phra Khamsing had been ordained during Buddhist Lent (Khao Phansa) in 2025. Before entering the monkhood, he had survived a serious accident that required medical treatment, but she said his body and some of his abilities had never fully returned to normal.

She said her son later became close to Phra Yongyuth, a monk who had come to stay at the village temple. Phra Yongyuth asked for her permission for Khamsing to be ordained and promised to take care of him.

Panja said she was worried about her son’s condition, but Khamsing also wanted to enter the monkhood, so she agreed.

After his ordination, she said, Phra Khamsing often travelled with Phra Yongyuth on tudong trips to different places, and they had always returned safely.

Before the latest trip, Phra Khamsing visited his mother at home and told her he would join another pilgrimage before returning to the village temple for Buddhist Lent.

“I was worried, so I asked him, ‘Can’t you stay, my son?’” she said. “He answered, ‘I won’t die.’ After that, he didn’t say anything more and left with the group for Mukdahan.”

Panja said she was shocked when she learned her son had been involved in a crash. She felt weak and overwhelmed, and asked her husband to call Phra Yongyuth, but there was no answer. She later learned that Phra Yongyuth had also been injured in the crash.

A nephew who had travelled with the pilgrimage group later told the family he had tried to hold Phra Khamsing after the crash. He said the monk was covered in blood and gasped three times before falling silent at the scene.

Panja said she believes her son may have died at the site of the crash.

She also said that on the night after the accident, dogs at the temple howled throughout the night. Panja said she believes her son may have returned to the temple rather than to his parents’ home, after she had already wished for him to go peacefully to a better place.

Lisa returns to Bangkok for major Shiseido event

By

Khaosod English

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4 July 2026, 10:01

Lisa Manobal returned to Thailand for SHISEIDO ULTIMUNE Studio: LISA’S BACKSTAGE, a major Asia-Pacific event hosted by the beauty brand at CentralWorld.

Lisa, who serves as SHISEIDO’s Global Ambassador, drew large crowds of fans to the venue, with many arriving early to secure spots inside the event area and along Ratchadamri Road for a glimpse of the Thai superstar. Her mother also attended the event to show support.

The event was joined by Win Metawin, Friend of SHISEIDO Thailand, along with Ann Thongprasom, Amy Thasorn, Bonnie Pattraphat, and two members of BUS, PHUTATCHAI and PEEMWASU. KOLs from nine other countries also attended.

Speaking to fans at the event, Lisa thanked them for waiting and supporting her.

“Did you wait long? Sorry. Thank you for coming to see me,” she said.

Lisa also spoke about several of her major moments in 2026, including the FIFA World Cup and the Met Gala, and asked fans to stay tuned for her next major event.

She also shared her beauty routine, naming ULTIMUNE as one of her favourite items. Lisa said she uses it morning and evening, as well as before applying makeup, and has gone through several bottles, making it a regular item in her bag.

Before leaving, Lisa invited fans to visit SHISEIDO ULTIMUNE Studio: LISA’S BACKSTAGE, saying the Bangkok event was even bigger than the one held in Japan.

Former Thai SEA Games sprint gold medallist dies in motorcycle crash

By

Khaosod English

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3 July 2026, 17:15

Former Thai SEA Games sprint gold medallist dies in motorcycle crash

BANGKOK — 3 July 2026, Former Thai sprinter and two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medallist Apisit Promkaew has died after a motorcycle crash in Pathum Thani.

Thailand’s athletics community is mourning the loss of Apisit, a former national sprinter and SEA Games champion, who was killed late Thursday near his residence in Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani province.

According to Pol. Maj. Gen. Surapong Ariyamongkol, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Athletics Association of Thailand, Apisit’s motorcycle crashed into an electricity pole. He suffered a fatal neck injury and was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

His family is arranging to transport his body to his hometown in Phatthalung province for funeral rites. The Athletics Association of Thailand said it will host one night of funeral prayers.

News of his death prompted an outpouring of grief from Thailand’s athletics community, with former teammates, fellow athletes, relatives and friends sharing tributes and condolences on social media.

Apisit represented Thailand in the men’s 4×100-metre relay and won gold medals at two consecutive Southeast Asian Games: the 27th edition in Myanmar in 2013 and the 28th edition in Singapore in 2015.

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