The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) warns the public against being hired to register "horse SIM" cards with severe penalties of up to 3 years imprisonment and fines up to 300,000 baht under the new Technology Crime Suppression law.
On 5 March 2026, Mr. Trairat Wiriyasirigul, Deputy Secretary-General and Acting Secretary-General of the NBTC, said that currently criminals are luring the public, children, and youth to register mobile phone numbers they do not use themselves, or so-called horse SIMs, to be used as tools for online crimes or technology-related offenses.
The NBTC emphasizes that accepting payment to register SIMs using one's personal information or consenting to others using such SIMs, if proven that the numbers are used for technology crimes, may constitute an offense under the Technology Crime Prevention and Suppression Act B.E. 2566 (2023), as amended in 2025, namely:
1. The owner of a horse SIM faces penalties of imprisonment for up to 3 years, or a fine of up to 300,000 baht, or both.
2. Those who arrange, advertise, or facilitate the sale, rental, or lending of bank accounts, electronic cards, e-wallet accounts, or mobile phone numbers face imprisonment from 2 to 5 years, or fines from 200,000 to 500,000 baht, or both.
"Being hired or consenting to open horse SIMs carries the risk that the buyer or the hired person becomes a criminal suspect, because they knowingly allow others to use the phone number which will be used for illegal activities, resulting in both imprisonment and fines," Mr. Trairat said.
Nevertheless, the NBTC will continue to crack down on horse SIMs and enforce its measures. The public is urged to be cautious about allowing others to use their personal information and facial scans to open SIM cards or to open SIM cards for others. If you find your name registered for a horse SIM or want to report online fraud suspects, you can file a complaint online at www.thaipoliceonline.com or contact the 24-hour Anti Online Scam Operation Center (AOC) hotline at 1441 for assistance.