The Ministry of Commerce is investigating seven foreign nominee companies that used Nakhon Phanom residents' home addresses to register businesses without the homeowners' knowledge, with plans to revoke registrations and pursue criminal cases. The ministry urges the public to promptly check and protect themselves from becoming victims.
Mr. Poonphong Nainapakorn, Director-General of the Department of Business Development, revealed that recently the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Commerce Office, together with district chiefs and local administrative officials from Na Kae and Wang Yang districts, conducted on-site inspections of seven companies in Nakhon Phanom with foreign directors or shareholders. This followed reports that residential addresses of local citizens were used without permission as company registration addresses.
The investigation found these locations were private homes with no signs of business operations. Homeowners stated they were unaware their addresses had been used to register companies owned by foreigners, did not know the foreign directors or shareholders, nor the applicants who registered the companies, and had not consented to their addresses being used. The homeowners have filed police reports.
Currently, the registrar has included a warning on the certificates of all seven companies stating, “This legal entity does not have a head office at the registered location,” to caution the public and stakeholders when dealing with these companies. Coordination with the Nakhon Phanom Immigration Office confirmed that none of the 14 foreign directors or shareholders entered or exited Thailand during the companies' registration periods.
Additionally, the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Commerce Office has sent letters to the foreign directors, shareholders, Thai signatories (registrants/accountants), and witnesses involved in the registrations, requesting explanations within 15 days. Failure to respond will lead to legal action. Once all facts are verified and false information is confirmed, the registrar will revoke the registrations of the seven companies and file complaints with police to prosecute those involved for providing false statements to officials, as no actual company meetings or signatures occurred in Thailand, and for forging official documents. Penalties are under Penal Code sections 137, 267, and 268.
Simultaneously, the Commerce Office has publicized ways for citizens to self-check if their home addresses were misused as company offices to prevent fraud. Provincial governors will instruct district chiefs and village heads to continuously inform local residents widely.
Citizens wishing to verify if their addresses were used for company registration can do so on the department's website,www.dbd.go.thby selecting the Hot Service section and then “Check Legal Entity’s Registered Head Office.” If misuse is found, report it immediately by filing a police report and submitting a complaint to the department or emailingcheckaddr@dbd.go.thwith supporting documents such as a copy of the house registration (homeowner), land title deed (owner), ID card copies, lease agreements and cancellations (if any), maps, contact person information/phone number/address, and other relevant details. The department will conduct thorough investigations to ensure accuracy and fairness for other businesses.
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