Telecommunications regulator examining mobile-phone numbers in latest effort to foil online scammers
In an effort to screen out online scammers, Thailand’s telecoms regulator is examining mobile-phone numbers linked to an estimated 106 million mobile banking accounts to see if the owners’ names match.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is working with the Anti-Money Laundering Commission (AMLO), mobile network operators, and commercial banks to block the access of any phone numbers to mobile banking accounts unless they belong to the same persons, NBTC commissioner Nathathorn Prousoontorn said.
He said that to screen out “mule accounts” used in online scams preying on smartphone users, the NBTC will make sure that the connected phone SIM cards and mobile banking accounts are registered to the correct people.
According to Nathathorn, the AMLO and banks will provide the NBTC and network operators with information of mule bank accounts to check against the databases on SIM card registrants.
Nathathorn, who heads the NBTC’s subcommittee on law enforcement on technology-related cases, said the government had instructed his agency to examine about 106 million mobile banking accounts linked to mobile-phone numbers.
The commissioner said his panel would meet with relevant agencies next Tuesday (May 21) to discuss measures and methods in detail.
He said the NBTC would start its examination on May 27 and expect to complete the task within 120 days. If any inconsistencies are found, the NBTC will inform the AMLO and commercial banks to notify the owners of mobile banking accounts linked to SIM cards that are registered to different persons.
“The persons involved must correct it within a given time period, or their accounts will be suspended,” Nathathorn said.
He said the NBTC would deal with this matter carefully, as it involves the Personal Data Protection Act. He added, however, that relevant authorities are protected by law in case they act for purposes of preventing crime.
Online scammers use SIM cards registered under other people's names to call their prospective victims and lure them into sending money or take control of their phones remotely to steal their money with banking apps.
