Thai Prime Minister announces intensified crackdown on telecom fraud

(ECNS) -- Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday chaired the first 2025 meeting of the Committee on the Prevention and Suppression of Cybercrime, outlining intensified efforts to curb telecommunications fraud.

At a following press conference, Anutin said that telecom scams have seriously damaged Thailand's national credibility, stressing that combating such crimes must be formally included in the national agenda. He announced plans to submit the proposal to the Cabinet on Oct. 21, calling for comprehensive coordination among all ministries and agencies.

Anutin noted that while various departments have made progress in tackling the issue, solving numerous cases and freezing assets worth over 10 billion baht, current efforts remain insufficient. He urged authorities to strengthen law enforcement and intensify crackdown measures.

The prime minister said the government plans to establish a special investigative task force jointly led by the Anti-Money Laundering Office, Royal Thai Police, and the ministries of Justice, Digital Economy and Society, and Interior. The Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Commerce, and Department of Special Investigation will also take part, creating an integrated cross-agency mechanism.

The National Security Council has authorized relevant agencies to immediately suspend telecommunications, electricity, or energy supplies linked to suspected scam operations without the need for higher-level approval, according to Anutin.

Combating fraud is not only about maintaining public security, but concerns Thailand's international reputation, Anutin emphasized. "If we fail to act decisively, the country could face disadvantages and restrictions in diplomacy, investment, and politics. This is no longer just a criminal issue, it's a matter of national image."

Meanwhile, Thai media reported that Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekarniti Nitithanprapas announced on the same day that the Ministry of Finance has launched a systemic campaign against financial crimes, aiming to trace suspicious financial flows through cross-agency cooperation and to combat telecom fraud, money laundering, and underground capital networks.

(By Evelyn)