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Thailand takes strong action against complicity in cybercrime

Airin Phanrit, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, said the damage caused by call centre scams is evident, with some Thais involved in fraudulent activities against their compatriots, including receiving money to open mule accounts. She urged the public, especially young people, not to be tempted by small sums of money to register SIM cards or give personal information to fraudsters for use in online criminal activities.

Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai government is working in an integrated manner to press ahead with a crackdown on cybercrime, a serious threat that has caused extensive damage to the country and the public, Airin Phanrit, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, has said.

She said that the damage caused by call centre scams is evident, with some Thais involved in fraudulent activities against their compatriots, including receiving money to open mule accounts. She urged the public, especially young people, not to be tempted by small sums of money to register SIM cards or give personal information to fraudsters for use in online criminal activities.

Airin further stated that being paid to register a SIM card or allowing another person to use a SIM card registered under one’s own name carries a high risk of falling under the provisions of the Emergency Decree on Measures for the Prevention and Suppression of Technological Crime, 2023, as amended by No. 2/2025, if it can be proven that the telephone number was used in the commission of an offence.

The owner of a mule SIM may face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to 300,000 THB (9,441 USD), or both. Meanwhile, those who procure, advertise, or induce the buying, selling, renting, or lending of SIM cards, deposit accounts, electronic cards, or electronic money accounts face heavier penalties of two to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of 200,000 to 500,000 THB, or both, she stated.

Airin said that the government, together with relevant agencies, will continue cracking down on mule SIMs and is urging the public not to allow others to use their personal information or facial scans to register SIM cards on behalf of anyone else under any circumstances.

If members of the public discover that their names have been used to register a SIM card without authorisation, or if they have information about online fraudsters, they can report the matter online through Thai Police Online or call the 1441 hotline of the Anti-Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC) 24 hours a day./.

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