Thailand plans to rev up efforts to crack down on rampant online scams, which are a menace not only to Thailand but also the global economy. Efforts include improving existing regulations and cooperating with other countries to suppress scams.
Recently Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called for tougher defences against scammers, improved real-time intelligence sharing and tighter cross-border cooperation to prevent Thailand from being used as a base or transit point for cybercrime.
Border areas between Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia have become hubs for online fraud since the pandemic, and the UN said the trafficking of hundreds of thousands of people forced to work in scam compounds generates billions of dollars.
Later this month, Thailand is scheduled to sign the UN Convention Against Cybercrime in Hanoi, Vietnam, according to the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry.
Thai delegates at the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva also urged stronger global cooperation against cybercrime.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Ministry recently issued a statement confirming Thailand’s readiness to cooperate with the US on efforts to dismantle transnational online scam networks operating across Southeast Asia.
NEW MEASURES
The Department of Special Investigation will set up a special committee to investigate all major scam-related cases nationwide, said Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat.
DES Minister Chaichanok Chidchob said the ministry will amend the second version of the emergency decree on the prevention and suppression of technology crime to allow Thai authorities to act against suspected sources of cross-border online scams by using white hat hackers and proactive measures to address scam activities targeting Thailand.
The second version of the law took effect in April this year, while the first version was enacted in 2023.
Mr Chaichanok said he expects the third version of the decree to come into force within four months.
“The revision should allow us to conduct cyberwarfare against criminals in other countries,” he said.
Mr Chaichanok said the ministry plans to conduct a feasibility study to establish a specialised agency, such as the Cyber Fraud Agency, to coordinate technology crime suppression efforts between the public and private sectors.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is due to start registering SIM boxes in November, as only registered SIM boxes are eligible to connect with telecom networks. In theory, this means the SIM boxes of call centre gangs will be unable to connect with telecom operator networks.
Last week the NBTC asked its telecom licence holders to deploy a technique to limit call signal radius near the borders to prevent the signals from being leaked to neighbouring countries, where they can be used by scammers.
SCAM EPIDEMICS
According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance’s “State of Scams in Thailand 2025 Report”, which was supported by Whoscall, Thailand is dealing with one of the most severe scam epidemics in Asia.
The report found 72% of Thai adults claim to have encountered scam attempts, averaging 172 scam encounters per person per year.
The findings indicate 60% of Thai adults claim to have been scammed within the last 12 months.
Some 14% of Thai adults reported losing money to fraudulent activities during the period, with the average financial loss 12,955 baht per person.
Among individuals who reported being targeted, investment scams are overwhelmingly the most common type of fraud, affecting 66% of this group.
Scammers predominantly rely on communication channels that offer a direct contact feature. The primary methods of initial contact are phone calls (68%) and text messages (56%).
Social media is also used as a major platform for initiation, accounting for 40% of scam encounters. The top online platforms leveraged by criminals are Facebook (66%) and Gmail (37%), followed by TikTok (32%), Instagram (17%) and X (formerly Twitter) at 16%.
Meta announced a partnership with the Royal Thai Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and other Thai organisations to combat the growing problem of online fraud and scams.
Since early 2024, Meta has successfully detected and shut down more than 7 million fraudulent accounts linked to scam centres in several Southeast Asian countries and the United Arab Emirates.
The CIB noted that online scams in Thailand caused 7.6 billion baht in damages between January and April 2025, with online shopping fraud the most common type.
TOURISM PAIN
Scam operations in neighbouring countries have weighed on Thai tourism all year, as fears of scammers using Thailand as a transit hub arose following the kidnapping of Chinese actor Wang Xing in January, when he was taken to a scam centre in Myanmar.
Recently the South Korean government set up a task force to help nationals lured into working in scam compounds, securing the release of those held against their will as well as banning its citizens from travelling to some parts of Cambodia to prevent possible fraudulent employment.
Those incidents were linked to the decline of the Thai tourism sector this year, which is largely dependent on Northeast Asian markets.
As of Oct 19, the number of foreign tourists dipped 7.45% year-on-year to 25.6 million. For the first nine months this year, the Chinese market plunged 34.9% to 3.4 million, while the South Korean market dropped by 17.7% to 1.1 million.
Paisarn Sukjarean, president of the upper northern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association, said most South Korean tourist groups in Chiang Mai who already booked their trips, particularly golf packages, have not cancelled their bookings for the fourth quarter, as many are repeat visitors who understand Thailand.
However, bookings from independent tourists for the upcoming months have been slower due to safety concerns, he said.
This is a concern for Chiang Mai tourism as Chinese tourists have traditionally made up a strong component of visitors to the province, but they have stagnated this year, said Mr Paisarn.
He said he hoped Thailand would use the opportunity to regain confidence through the promotion of K-pop star Lisa, who was recently appointed a new tourism ambassador, banking on her strong fanbases both in South Korea and worldwide, together with the enforcement of stricter safety measures.
UNCLEAR ACTIONS
The ongoing territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia could have a positive impact on cross-border crime, though the Thai government has yet to launch concrete measures to address scammers in neighbouring countries, said Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
The state’s unclear actions have resulted in fresh concerns over new threats to the Thai economy, he said.
“It may be good luck for Thailand to be at odds with Cambodia, as the conflict caused Thailand to close all border checkpoints,” said Mr Kriengkrai.
Cambodia is accused of housing criminal syndicates luring foreigners to commit sophisticated call centre scams. Thailand is believed be a transit country for people travelling to do illegal jobs in Cambodia.
“With border crossings still blocked, Thailand’s standing in the eyes of the global community remains largely unaffected,” he said.
This image is crucial for the economy because if other countries lose trust in Thailand’s attempts to crack down on scammers, foreign investment and trade would be negatively affected, said Mr Kriengkrai.
He urged the new government to step up efforts to address such scams.
Thailand cannot keep tight-lipped and shrug off an issue that has garnered international attention, said Mr Kriengkrai.
The problem became more complex after former deputy finance minister Vorapak Tanyawong was alleged to have connections with scam networks. He announced his resignation on Oct 22, saying he plans to comply with the investigation and spend time working on legal issues, acting against those spreading false information.
One allegation links him to a group of seven politicians reportedly involved with scam operations in Cambodia.
In addition to the high profile of the Thais, the case raises concerns over Thailand being used as a place to launder money from criminal activities, including call centre scams, said Mr Kriengkrai.
“The government must clarify all concerns. It should not conceal the truth. People, especially the younger generation, will not let this problem go unaddressed,” he said.
DETECTION AND PREVENTION
Dhanakorn Kasetrsuwan, chairman of the Thai National Shippers’ Council, said transnational scams are not only a risk to national security, but also threaten the nation’s economic confidence.
He urged the government to accelerate the implementation of structural measures in technology, finance and international collaboration to ensure Thailand’s trade and investment are safe, transparent and competitive globally.
The government should expedite the development of a system that can detect and prevent unusual transactions among financial institutions, banks and payment service providers, said Mr Dhanakorn.
He said there is also a need for a coordinating centre involving the Bank of Thailand, the Technology Crime Suppression Division and online platform operators to prevent illegal real-time money transfers, including a digital identification system to prevent identity theft of bank accounts and electronic wallets.
To foster confidence in trade and investment, the government should proactively collaborate with trade partners to combat transnational cybercrimes, said Mr Dhanakorn.
“The government must take decisive action to ensure Thailand is not seen as a base for criminal operations or money laundering activities,” he said.
“There should be communication with the public and investors to affirm the Thai government has serious measures for digital economic security.”
Mr Dhanakorn recommended the government establish a cyber-risk alert and reporting system for exporters and importers to protect entrepreneurs in the trade and logistics sectors. This move would encourage businesses to adopt a cybersecurity system and transaction verification with foreign partners, he said.
The government should also promote digital literacy among exporters, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises that may be targets for online fraud, said Mr Dhanakorn.
Moreover, the authorities should develop public-private partnership mechanisms by setting up a joint task force involving government agencies, cybersecurity authorities and export businesses to share information and preventive measures, he said.
The private sector should also have a secure and rapid channel to report risks or suspicious transactions to the relevant authorities, said Mr Dhanakorn.
Meanwhile, Thailand should collaborate with neighbouring countries to prevent and block money laundering routes, ensuring border trade operates transparently and sustainably, he said.
In addition, the government should foster shared responsibility in the digital society and promote public awareness campaigns to educate individuals and businesses about scams and safe online commerce, using communication networks from the private sector, including trade associations, the FTI and the Thai Federations on Logistics, to disseminate warning information, said Mr Dhanakorn.