Due to the increasing number of telephone and online scams, the Thai government has issued a new law to combat such crimes, as well as related money-laundering activities, namely, the Emergency Decree on Measures for Prevention and Suppression of Technological Crimes B.E. 2566 (2023) (“Technological Crime Decree“). The Technological Crime Decree became effective on 17 March 2023.
Media reports have focused on the increase of scam calls in Thailand, with some estimates that as many as 17 million scam calls were made in 2022, a 165% increase. The Technological Crime Decree, which was drafted by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, is intended to address certain practical difficulties which victims of online and phone scams have faced, such as the inability to freeze transactions immediately because banks would require proof of the filing of a police complaint.
This Update summarises the key features the Technological Crime Decree.
For more information, click here to read the full Legal Update.
