BANGKOK — The Bank of Thailand (BOT) will meet with commercial banks and the Anti-Online Scam Operations Centre (AOC) on Monday to address growing complaints about the wrongful freezing of bank accounts in the fight against online fraud. The move comes after small retailers and individuals reported being abruptly cut off from their funds without warning or recourse.

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Assistant BOT Governor Daranee Saeju, who leads the Payments System Policy and Financial Consumer Protection Group, acknowledged that current procedures for identifying and freezing suspected “mule accounts” need refinement to prevent harming innocent customers. Many account holders have taken to social media to express frustration over being unable to access their money or conduct business after transfers from unknown sources triggered automated freezes.

#Thailand: There has been a growing social media outcry over bank accounts being frozen despite no links to call-centre scams.https://t.co/KHO1m8Jb0d

— The Star (@staronline) September 14, 2025

The issue stems from intensified efforts by banks and technology crime suppression police to trace money trails linked to scammers and recover stolen funds. Daranee explained that freezes occur either due to technical delays in updating account balances or at the direct request of police. While emphasizing the necessity of freezing suspicious accounts to combat fraud, she conceded that innocent customers are increasingly caught in the crossfire.

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Affected account holders can contact the BOT’s dedicated hotline at 1441 (extension 2) for assistance. Monday’s meeting aims to establish clearer guidelines, improve communication with customers, and ensure faster resolution for wrongly frozen accounts. The BOT reaffirmed its commitment to balancing security measures with consumer protection as Thailand escalates its battle against online financial crimes.

-Thailand News (TN)