The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry is set to elevate the Anti-Online Scam Operation Center into a full-fledged department within the ministry.
This transition increases the center’s responsibilities, aligning with the new emergency decree on measures to prevent and combat technology-related crimes, which became effective on April 13 of this year.
According to DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, “The center needs to be upgraded to a department to enhance its role and accountability in addressing the growing sophistication of online scams.”
The center operates a one-stop hotline service at 1441, a crucial part of the ministry’s initiatives to fight online fraud. It also features an emergency war room designed to quickly address public cases, aiming to freeze suspicious bank accounts within an hour of a victim’s report.
Currently, the center’s functions include expediting the compensation process for victims, improving the efficiency of arresting and prosecuting offenders, and supporting ongoing investigations into scam cases.
From November 1, 2023, to April 18 of this year, the center has suspended a total of 607,838 bank accounts, averaging 1,233 accounts each day.
Minister Prasert is collaborating with various stakeholders, including the Bank of Thailand, financial institutions, mobile service providers, and digital platforms, to establish related standards for new bank account openings.
The new emergency decree places stringent regulations on the opening of bank accounts for individuals and legal entities. It also empowers the Anti-Money Laundering Office to decide on the return of stolen funds to victims, a process that previously required court intervention.
A key aspect of the amended decree is the increased accountability placed on financial institutions and telecom operators for losses suffered by scam victims. Additionally, the law mandates the establishment of an operation center dedicated to the prevention and suppression of technology-related crimes, which will operate under the ministry’s permanent secretary’s office.
