BANGKOK – The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) reported on Sunday that several bank accounts held by innocent online sellers were frozen as scammers adopted new ways to move illegal funds.
According to Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiwpan, the CCIB commissioner, many online sellers’ accounts have already been locked as the Anti-Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC), working alongside commercial banks, ramped up efforts to track and return stolen money.
Scammers, who once used “mule” accounts, have recently switched tactics. They now buy products from unsuspecting sellers and resell the items for cash. As the search for linked accounts expands, more people may find their accounts frozen while authorities work to trace the path of stolen funds and return money to those who lost it.
Pol Lt Gen Trairong explained that freezing suspicious accounts is important for both tracking and giving back stolen money. Authorities are also looking to make freezing and unfreezing bank accounts faster and more straightforward so that scammers are stopped, but regular customers are not unnecessarily caught up.
He revealed that commercial banks now automatically freeze accounts that suddenly receive unusually large sums from odd sources. This process can unfairly affect genuine vendors, such as those selling electronics, whose transactions might be flagged.
Some Online Sellers Helped Scammers
Some online sellers have knowingly taken part in scams, setting up fake sales to earn illegal commissions. In other cases, victims were deceived, such as when scammers “accidentally” transferred 100,000 baht to a child’s account and convinced the child to pass the money on, leading to that account being frozen.
The CCIB has now assigned more officers to respond to complaints and process the unfreezing of accounts more quickly. Agencies are also working to return money faster to people found innocent of any wrongdoing. Customers can call the 1213 hotline if their bank does not solve the problem.
Separately, the Digital Economy and Society (DES) has created a dedicated “war room” to urgently handle complaints about frozen accounts after an increase in reports from sellers and others whose funds were locked over links with “mule accounts.”
This move follows a meeting between the Bank of Thailand, commercial banks, and law enforcement, responding to public concern over temporary account suspensions. These “mule accounts” are often opened by people unaware that their accounts will be used to receive fraudulent funds.
Wisit Wisitsora-at, DES permanent secretary and chairman of the meeting, clarified that recent reports referred to temporary holds, not full seizures, while the funds are checked.
Funds Not Seized
He explained that this is not a legal freeze on the whole account, but a temporary block on certain amounts thought to be linked with suspicious activity. People can still use the rest of their account and make normal transactions. advising online sellers not to worry as the holds are temporary and will be lifted once checks show no links to scams.
According to the DES, banks can freeze suspect funds for up to three days, with police able to extend this deadline to seven days. If no evidence is found, the money is returned to the account.
Some people affected reported negative balances after the flagged funds were removed. Wisit explained that this happens when accounts do not have enough money to match the amounts involved in suspicious transactions, which causes a temporary shortfall.
Permanent freezes are only possible if police secure a court order based on evidence. Suspensions made by banks or the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) are precautionary and temporary to give time for checks.
The DES, along with the Bank of Thailand, the Thai Bankers’ Association, the CCIB, and Amlo, has set up a joint “war room” to closely review cases. This team will separate those who are caught up by accident from those with ties to criminal activity.
Reviews look at how the money was transferred, patterns in account activity, and whether the usage fits the account owner’s normal behaviour. If there is no sign of a criminal connection, the suspension is lifted at once.
People needing help should go to their local police or use the hotline numbers 1441 or 095-425-7478. Wisit said the aim is to return frozen funds quickly to those not involved in any scams while giving the police time to track down real criminals.
When a freeze is lifted on online sellers, the bank will inform the account holder directly. He said the DES or AOC will never call customers themselves.
