Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DE) Mr.Chaichanok Chidchob has stepped up Thailand’s crackdown on online scammers by introducing stricter measures against mule accounts, integrating fraud databases, accelerating compensation for victims, and expanding nationwide online fraud prevention initiatives.
Mr.Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DE), chaired the 3/2026 Meeting of the Committee on the Prevention and Suppression of Technology Crime and the 1/2026 Meeting of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Technology Crime and Transnational Crime. The meeting was attended by Ms.Nan Boontida Somchai, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Pol.Gen.Permpoon Chidchob, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Mr.Patchara Anuntasilpa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, and representatives from relevant agencies.
Mr.Chaichanok said the meeting reviewed draft regulations for classifying and publicly listing all categories of mule accounts, developed through cooperation between the DE Ministry, the Bank of Thailand (BOT), the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), and the Thai Bankers’ Association. The initiative will establish a real-time cross-bank database, enabling all banks to immediately freeze a person’s accounts nationwide once that individual is identified as being involved in fraudulent financial transactions.
The system will integrate three major databases: the Central Fraud Registry (CFR) for sharing financial transaction trails and lists of high-risk individuals among banks; suspicious banking behavior detection systems linked with AMLO’s database; and the AOC 1441 database containing records of individuals involved in online crime cases.
The proposed measures will significantly strengthen action against mule accounts. Once a mule account holder is identified, all transaction channels—including mobile banking, ATM services, and online banking—will be suspended across every bank. The individual will also be blacklisted from opening new bank accounts. Authorities will also be empowered to proactively suspend high-risk accounts even before victims file complaints, helping prevent funds from being transferred out.
Mr.Chaichanok noted that scammers are increasingly persuading children and young people to open bank accounts for criminal activities. In response, the Bank of Thailand is introducing daily transfer and payment limits for bank accounts and e-money accounts held by individuals aged 12–18, ranging from THB 3,000 to THB 10,000 per day, depending on age. The measures are expected to be finalized by October 2026.
Recognizing that enhanced enforcement may inadvertently affect legitimate customers, the Ministry stated that anyone whose account is mistakenly suspended can contact the AOC 1441 Hotline (press 2) to verify their identity. Banks will then expedite the review process and restore access as quickly as possible.
The meeting also accelerated work on compensation regulations under the new Ministerial Regulation, allowing victims of technology crime to submit refund requests directly through AMLO’s system without waiting for a court order. The framework is expected to be ready before the regulation takes effect on 12 August 2026. AMLO will lead implementation in cooperation with the DE Ministry, the Royal Thai Police, the Bank of Thailand, the Thai Bankers’ Association, TEPA/e-Money, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Thai Digital Asset Operators Trade Association, with urgent implementation targeted for completion by September 2026.
“In addition to enforcement measures, the meeting also reviewed progress on major online safety initiatives, including the DE-fence anti-scam call protection platform, which provides alerts on suspicious phone numbers; the DE Digital Shield public awareness campaign, conducted through media outreach and activities in Bangkok and across the provinces; and the Anti-Fake News Center Thailand (AFNC), which continues expanding its public warning network to improve awareness and resilience against fake news,” Mr.Chaichanok said.