Thai police are fully addressing the issue of cybercrime caused by "nominee accounts." Recent data shows that there have been over 5,800 related cases nationwide, resulting in a total economic loss of 437 million Thai Baht, with many citizens and vendors facing difficulties due to frozen accounts.
On September 19, the Chief of Thai Police, Chitira Panpai, chaired a meeting in Dongli Prefecture, issuing instructions to local police stations to collaborate with the cyber police department to vigorously track down criminal gangs illegally opening "nominee accounts." The police emphasized that they will prioritize unfreezing accounts for innocent people to reduce the losses suffered by the public due to fraud cases.
It is understood that "nominee accounts" have become an important tool for telecommunications fraud groups. Many people's bank accounts are registered without their knowledge, leading to account freezes and severe impacts on normal life and business activities. Police statistics show that since 2022, Thailand has received 5,834 reports related to telecom fraud, with only 485 cases resolved and the remaining 5,130 still under investigation, indicating significant pressure on case handling.
The police stated that criminal gangs often target people with weak awareness, luring them to lend their bank accounts for a small reward. This not only makes these account holders accomplices in crime but also leads to their accounts being frozen, causing widespread negative impacts.
Currently, various sectors of Thai society are calling for stronger legislation and law enforcement to block the financial channels of telecom fraud. The police pointed out that only by thoroughly resolving the issue of "nominee accounts" can the high incidence of telecom fraud be effectively curbed.
