The Anti-Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC), under Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES), has intensified its efforts to combat online fraud by suspending a significant number of mule bank accounts. In January and February of this year, the AOC suspended over 92,000 such accounts, bringing the total to 547,558 suspensions since its establishment in November 2023.
Mule accounts are bank accounts opened by individuals but used by others to collect or transfer illegally obtained funds, often to evade detection by authorities. The proliferation of these accounts has been linked to substantial financial damages in Thailand, with estimates reaching approximately 100 billion baht since 2022.
In addition to account suspensions, the AOC has collaborated with law enforcement agencies to apprehend individuals involved in these fraudulent activities. Between December 2024 and January 2025, authorities arrested 523 owners of mule accounts. Those found guilty of allowing their bank accounts to be used for fraudulent purposes face legal consequences, including a maximum jail term of three years and a fine of up to 300,000 baht. Moreover, victims may pursue compensation lawsuits against these account holders.
The DES Ministry has also been proactive in addressing other facets of cybercrime. From October 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025, the ministry shut down or blocked access to 50,819 illegal URLs, including 27,134 related to online gambling. Additionally, measures have been implemented to regulate mobile phone SIM card registrations, aiming to prevent their misuse in fraudulent activities. As of February 10, 2025, approximately 2.4 million unregistered mobile numbers have been suspended to curb potential scams.
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) are also actively engaged in combating cybercrimes. They are collaborating with relevant agencies to address over 200,000 bank accounts implicated in online scams and other cybercrimes. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to dismantle criminal networks and protect citizens from financial exploitation.
The Thai government continues to enhance its monitoring systems and strengthen partnerships with financial institutions to further curtail fraudulent activities. Public participation remains crucial, and individuals are encouraged to report suspicious accounts, enabling authorities to take swift and decisive action against online scams.
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