The Ministry of Digital Economy has elevated the crackdown on scammers to a national priority. It has ordered the suspension of over 3.56 million 'horse' accounts. With a value exceeding 8 billion baht, it is working closely with the NBTC to block border signals and plans to tighten controls over youth accounts.
Mr. Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DE), chaired the meeting of the Committee on Prevention and Suppression of Technology Crime under Section 13 of the Emergency Decree on 7 May 2026. Attendees included Ms. Nan Buntida Somchai, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy and Society; Police General Permpoon Chidchob, Prime Minister’s Advisor; Mr. Patchara Anantsilp, Permanent Secretary of DE; Police Lieutenant General Jirapop Puridet, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police; and other relevant agency executives at the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society building.
Mr. Chaichanok revealed that the government prioritizes cyber threats, maintaining the issue as a national agenda and intensifying prevention and suppression efforts. The committee continuously monitors progress and implements additional measures to enhance the effectiveness of scammer prevention, closing loopholes that cause harm and damage to the public.
The committee set measures to publicly list high-risk individuals (HR-03). The Bank of Thailand suspended 246,000 'horse' accounts as of the end of March 2026, totaling 3.56 million accounts with frozen funds around 8 billion baht. The list of 'horse' accounts has been shared with related agencies for enforcement and expanded to financial institutions, non-bank groups, currency exchange operators, and gold traders, among others.
At the same time, the integrated crackdown has broadened through a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Business Development (DBD), Ministry of Commerce, targeting 'nominees' to prevent and suppress the use of corporate accounts as channels for online crimes.
. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is preparing to integrate border signal management to reduce public impact by designating Sa Kaeo Province as a trial 'sandbox' area, allowing signals only for properly registered numbers.
Additionally, the committee discussed adjusting guidelines for managing youth bank accounts, possibly limiting transfers and withdrawals to prevent criminals from using these accounts to receive proceeds from online crimes, after discovering more than 6,500 youth bank accounts linked to 'horse' accounts.
Regarding refund policies for victims, the committee reviewed bank accounts verified to have clear financial trails and no connection to scammers, aiming to expedite reimbursement to innocent victims who were affected.
"The government continues to prioritize the crackdown on scammers to address issues that harm and cause losses to the public, especially during the current energy crisis that impacts Thai people's daily lives. Therefore, this issue is now a more important national agenda. We are committed to doing our utmost," Mr. Chaichanok said.
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