Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Akanit Nitithanprapas issued a warning after scammers used Deepfake technology to fake his face to promote investment schemes. He confirmed he has filed a police complaint and emphasized that the Ministry of Finance has never endorsed any "illegal loan apps." The ministry denies any association with these fraudulent applications.
At 12:55 PM on 13 Nov 2026 at the Government House, Akanit Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, addressed the issue of illegal loan applications misusing the Ministry of Finance's name and logo, falsely claiming endorsement to deceive the public, causing millions in damages. He stated that the Ministry of Finance is not involved and has never approved these illegal loan apps. Legitimate financial applications must be reviewed and regulated primarily by the Bank of Thailand (BOT). In cases requiring licenses, after BOT's review and submission to the Ministry of Finance, a strict verification process follows. Therefore, claims that the Ministry endorses illegal apps are untrue.
Akanit noted that cybercrime and financial fraud have intensified. The Ministry of Finance is working closely with the Bank of Thailand and the Thai Bankers Association to accelerate the development of protective systems. While efforts have improved in eliminating mule accounts, criminals are quickly adapting and employing advanced technology.
Akanit also revealed that he himself has become a victim of scammers who use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create fake videos (Deepfake) to deceive the public.
"Nowadays, there are many scammers. Even I have had my face used in video ads inviting people to invest. I was shocked because the imitation is so precise—the lip movements perfectly match the voice. This is the frightening reality of Deepfake technology. I want to take this opportunity to confirm that I have never invited anyone to invest. Do not be deceived into thinking that economic caretakers promoting investments guarantee safety—this is absolutely not true. As a Thai citizen whose rights have been violated, I have already filed a police complaint. I want to warn the public to be cautious and not trust any advertisements or apps, even if they feature official faces or government logos."