Bangkok: The Ministry of Finance (MOF) is accelerating the process of temporarily suspending bank accounts for individuals not related to money mule activities. The ministry clarified that only funds transferred from suspicious accounts would be suspended, allowing other transactions to proceed as usual. Account seizures will only occur with a police warrant.
According to Thai News Agency, Professor Wisit Wisitsora-at, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), chaired a meeting to address the temporary suspension of bank accounts potentially linked to fraudsters’ mule accounts. This initiative follows the enforcement of the Royal Decree on Measures to Prevent and Suppress Technology Crime (No. 2) B.E. 2568 (2025). The meeting included representatives from the Bank of Thailand (BOT), the Thai Bankers’ Association, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), and the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD).
Professor Wisit revealed that the temporary account suspensions aim to investigate fraudulent activities, track financial transactions, and recover proceeds from online crimes. Mandated by the Emergency Decree on Measures to Prevent and Suppress Technology Crime, banks must temporarily suspend financial transactions, but only amounts transferred from suspect accounts are affected. Seizures require a warrant under the Criminal Procedure Code.
The meeting also discussed mechanisms for revoking temporary transaction suspensions. The TCSD is authorized to unlock honest individuals’ accounts through AOC 1441. A joint coordination center will expedite investigations into individuals’ accounts, examining financial flows and determining normal transaction patterns. The investigation will also check if the account owner is involved in freezes by AMLO and the police.
The TCSD is currently expediting the review of suspended accounts and unlocking those not associated with mule accounts. Affected individuals can contact the AOC Center to revoke suspensions and restore rights. Banks will notify account owners once the TCSD orders an account to be unlocked. The AOC handles complaints and processes information but does not contact the public directly to prevent fraud.
This initiative aims to block the financial flow of online crimes, protecting the public from harm.