Thai Prime Minister declares intensified crackdown on telecom fraud

(ECNS) — Thai Prime Minister and Inside Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday chaired the primary 2025 assembly of the Committee on the Prevention and Suppression of Cybercrime, outlining intensified efforts to curb telecommunications fraud.

At a following press convention, Anutin mentioned that telecom scams have significantly broken Thailand’s nationwide credibility, stressing that combating such crimes should be formally included within the nationwide agenda. He introduced plans to submit the proposal to the Cupboard on Oct. 21, calling for complete coordination amongst all ministries and businesses.

Anutin famous that whereas numerous departments have made progress in tackling the problem, fixing quite a few instances and freezing belongings value over 10 billion baht, present efforts stay inadequate. He urged authorities to strengthen regulation enforcement and intensify crackdown measures.

The prime minister mentioned the federal government plans to ascertain a particular investigative job power collectively led by the Anti-Cash Laundering Workplace, Royal Thai Police, and the ministries of Justice, Digital Financial system and Society, and Inside. The Workplace of the Lawyer Common, Ministry of Commerce, and Division of Particular Investigation can even participate, creating an built-in cross-agency mechanism.

The Nationwide Safety Council has licensed related businesses to right away droop telecommunications, electrical energy, or vitality provides linked to suspected rip-off operations with out the necessity for higher-level approval, in keeping with Anutin.

Combating fraud shouldn’t be solely about sustaining public safety, however considerations Thailand’s worldwide repute, Anutin emphasised. “If we fail to behave decisively, the nation may face disadvantages and restrictions in diplomacy, funding, and politics. That is not only a prison situation, it is a matter of nationwide picture.”

In the meantime, Thai media reported that Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekarniti Nitithanprapas introduced on the identical day that the Ministry of Finance has launched a systemic marketing campaign towards monetary crimes, aiming to hint suspicious monetary flows via cross-agency cooperation and to fight telecom fraud, cash laundering, and underground capital networks.

(By Evelyn)