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Sa Kaeo – Border residents complain that government efforts to tackle scammers are misdirected. While telecom towers have been reduced, scammers keep calling extensively. They are demanding the return of signal towers because poor phone reception and weak internet disrupt trade.
After the government mandated telecom providers to "cut, reduce, and dismantle" signal towers near Thailand’s borders—especially in seven high-risk areas such as Chiang Rai, Tak, and Sa Kaeo—to block internet access used by call center gangs and scammers, problems have emerged. In Sa Kaeo’s border areas, weak phone and internet signals affect residents’ communication, online transactions, trade, and emergency safety.
On 25 Apr 2026 GMT+7, reporters noted that many residents, vendors, and locals along Sa Kaeo’s border share similar views on this policy. Although they understand the government’s intention to crack down on fraudsters, in practice, ordinary people suffer most. They experience poor connectivity, difficulty making calls and money transfers, while scam calls persist unabated.
A 42-year-old local woman from the border area said that initially, upon hearing about the government’s plan to reduce phone signals to curb scammers, she supported it, believing it would help protect people from fraud. However, over time, she noticed a clear weakening of phone signals, especially near the border and Rong Kluea Market, a key trading hub in the province.
“When I go to Rong Kluea, I can hardly use my phone. Mobile payment scanning fails, so we have to scramble to find cash. Nowadays, everyone normally pays via mobile transfers instead of cash. Even regular phone calls are hard to make. Many families care for elderly relatives; if an elderly person falls ill and the phone signal is gone, they can’t call for help—what then?”
In these uncertain times, communication is vital. The woman urged the government to reconsider whether this measure is appropriate. Despite reducing border signal towers, scam calls continue, indicating the policy hasn’t solved the problem. She concluded that the approach is ineffective and misdirected.
A local fried meatball vendor and tea shop owner on the border, who wished to remain anonymous, said the government’s policy severely impacts residents. Reducing towers does not stop scammers, who still make fraudulent calls. Meanwhile, poor phone and internet signals directly harm trade because most customers now prefer mobile transfers over cash.
“For a 20-baht sale, sometimes it takes half an hour for the transfer to complete. The connection fails to load, customers have to wait, and some leave in a hurry, causing lost sales. The weak signal makes problems worse. Everything is slower and more disrupted than before. If scammers can’t be stopped, please restore the signals for the people.”
A 50-year-old coffee shop owner at the border said phone signals have been unstable lately, with intermittent internet access. If reducing signals really stops scammers, then it’s the right move. But if scam calls persist and residents suffer, the government should rethink the policy. He understands the need to combat transnational crime but stressed that the impact on local people—especially in border provinces that rely heavily on communication—must be considered. He urged restoration of signals to previous levels.