BANGKOK — Thai financial authorities are intensifying efforts to unblock bank accounts mistakenly frozen in the government’s campaign against online scams, after small business owners nationwide reported sudden freezes without warning, severely disrupting their livelihoods.

Bank of Thailand Seeks Fix for Wrongful Account Freezing Amid Scam Crackdown

The issue stems from the enforcement of the Emergency Decree on Prevention and Suppression of Technological Crime (No. 2), which targets “mule accounts” used by criminals to launder stolen funds. However, innocent vendors have been caught in the crossfire when receiving transfers from suspicious sources, leading to account suspensions that halt all transactions.

DES Permanent Secretary Wisit Wisitsora-at clarified that freezes apply only to specific suspicious funds—not entire accounts—and require a police warrant. He emphasized that the measure is a collaborative effort with the Bank of Thailand, Thai Bankers’ Association, Anti-Money Laundering Office, and Technology Crime Suppression Division to trace illicit financial flows and return stolen money to victims.

The Bank of Thailand froze over 3 million accounts as part of an anti-fraud operation. Panic followed: people rushed ATMs, shops switched from transfers to cash. pic.twitter.com/td28xcPEVW

— Donna Wilson (@shaldm55) September 15, 2025

The Operational Center for the Prevention and Suppression of Technological Crime (OCPTEC) is now prioritizing the verification and release of wrongly frozen accounts through the Anti Online Scam hotline (1441). Affected account holders can submit evidence to prove legitimate transactions.

Thailand Imposes Stricter Mobile Banking Limits to Combat Soaring Fraud

In response, many small vendors have shifted to cash-only transactions to avoid risks associated with digital payments. Authorities urge patience and cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to balancing scam prevention with minimal public disruption. The move aims to restore confidence in Thailand’s digital payment systems while safeguarding citizens from financial crimes.

-Thailand News (TN)