Authorities Accelerate Unblocking of Bank Accounts Unrelated to 'Mule' Schemes

BANGKOK, Sept 15 (TNA) - Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) is expediting the release of temporary bank account suspensions for individuals not involved in "mule account" schemes. 

Many small business owners' bank accounts are being frozen without warning. This is a result of government efforts to combat online scams, where innocent vendors are getting their accounts flagged and frozen after unknowingly receiving money from "mule" accounts.

The move follows the enforcement of the Emergency Decree on Prevention and Suppression of Technological Crime (No. 2). The DES clarified that suspensions only apply to specific funds transferred from suspicious accounts, not the entire account, allowing normal transactions to proceed. The ministry also noted that freezing an account requires a police warrant.

DES Permanent Secretary Wisit Wisitsora-at stated that the initiative is a collaborative effort with the Bank of Thailand, Thai Bankers' Association, Anti-Money Laundering Office, and the Technology Crime Suppression Division. He explained that the suspension measure is designed to trace financial flows from criminals and recover money for victims. 

The decree empowers the Operational Center for the Prevention and Suppression of Technological Crime (OCPTEC) to unblock accounts belonging to innocent individuals.

The OCPTEC, via the Anti Online Scam Operation 1441 call center, is working to verify and unblock accounts that have been temporarily suspended. 

In response to this situation, many vendors have decided to only accept cash payments for their goods and refused to accept bank transfers. -819 (TNA)