PUBLISHED : 28 Nov 2023 at 04:42
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will investigate 40,000 numbers linked to SMS and phone scams in a bid to apprehend core perpetrators.
A NBTC subcommittee convened a meeting on data collected of suspected phone numbers used by scammers. Notable attendees included representatives from law enforcement agencies, the central bank and mobile phone networks.
Pol Gen Natthorn Prohsuntorn, Cyber Crime Legal Integration Subcommittee’s chairman, said data began to be collected on the issue when the Royal Decree on Cyber Crime Prevention and Suppression became effective on March 17. The decree allows people who suspect they are scammed or that their online security has been breached to alert banks to freeze their accounts without first filing a police report.
Since the decree’s enactment, Pol Gen Natthorn said, the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau has received reports concerning 41,398 suspicious phone numbers. Out of these, 11,219 were flagged via the thaipoliceonline.com website and 11,219 numbers via the Anti-Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC) 1441 hotline. There are 30,179 numbers linked to mule bank accounts.
Pol Gen Natthorn said the NBTC approved a draft announcement on SIM-holder identity verifications on Sept 21, which requires holders registered with more than five SIM cards to conduct identity verification. It is expected to take effect in December. By law, those involved in supplying or advertising the sale of SIM cards without proper owner identification could face 2-5 years in jail, fines ranging from 200,000 to 500,000 baht, or both.