Thailand as an anti-fraud hub? Premier promises international cooperation!

Thailand as an anti-fraud hub? Premier promises international cooperation!

Thailand is at a crossroads when it comes to combating internet fraud. Dr. Paiboon Pitthasan, a senior lecturer at Thammasat University, sees a golden opportunity for Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to position himself as a leader in the fight against scam operations at the upcoming ASEAN and APEC summits. Thaipublica highlights that Thailand has already been actively involved in international conferences on combating transnational and cybercrime.

With the ASEAN conference in Kuala Lumpur and the APEC summit in Gyeongju also attended by prominent figures such as Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, Thailand's role as a potential hub for combating fraud operations is becoming increasingly important. Dr. Paiboon also emphasizes that Thailand needs international support in the form of technology and expertise to expand its role as an anti-scam hub. This could not only increase security for tourists, but also boost Thailand's tarnished international image, especially as 65% of international travelers have canceled their stays due to security concerns.

Rising cybercrime in Southeast Asia

The numbers are alarming: scams cost an estimated $23.6 billion last year, according to a State of Scams in Southeast Asia 2025 report. At a recent Global Anti-Scam Summit in Singapore, innovative approaches to combating this issue were presented, including the introduction of the Global Signal Exchange. This is seen as the first step to exchange fraud signals across countries and thus react in a timely manner. Media outreach also reports that Google.org is committing $5 million to strengthen online fraud prevention in the region.

Fraud scenarios are varied and numerous: 77% of adults in Southeast Asia were exposed to fraud in the past year. This shows the urgency to develop innovative educational programs, such as Google.org's planned game "Be Scam Ready" to be rolled out to schools in the region.

The dark side of the cyber world

Organized crime in Southeast Asia is a serious problem. According to UNODC reports, numerous fraud operations are moving to remote parts of the Mekong region following the closure of previous fraud hubs in Myanmar and Cambodia. Criminals use sophisticated methods to build trust with victims, for example through fake romantic relationships or investing in cryptocurrencies. Cyber ​​fraud revenue in these countries is over $44 billion per year, which is almost 40% of the GDP of countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. DW highlights that despite all efforts to change laws and protect against cyber fraud, criminal networks remain extremely active and technologically sophisticated.

Thailand has the opportunity to strengthen its position and improve security for tourists through cooperation with other countries, especially South Korea. The upcoming summits could be crucial to how Thailand is perceived internationally - as a country that takes decisive action against fraud rather than as a victim of criminal activity. Time is running.