Thai Authorities Revises Rules After Retailers Fear QR, Bank Transfer Payments Amid Mule-Account Crackdown
Authorities to refine criteria and open hotlines as merchants report frozen accounts and uncertainty over payment methods
Retailers and small vendors in Thailand are expressing growing concern over using QR code or bank transfer payment methods, fearing that their accounts might be frozen amid the government’s intensified efforts to combat “mule accounts” used in fraud operations.
The issue has surfaced following a recent surge in public complaints after many accounts—allegedly linked to mule activity—were frozen.
Authorities have acknowledged that some innocent people have been affected.
Cyber police have announced plans to revise the criteria for freezing accounts, and new communication channels have been established to help those wrongly impacted.
For larger restaurants or wholesalers, the risk is mitigated somewhat: many hold multiple bank accounts and often function on purchase credit terms, so a single frozen account may not immediately disrupt their operations significantly.
But small vendors—street-food operators, informal shops—often depend on a single bank account and rely on daily cash flow; for them, account freezing—even temporarily—can be devastating.
Some retailers are already scaling back or hesitating to accept unfamiliar customers who wish to pay via bank transfer or QR code, fearing links to mule accounts might trigger automatic freezing.
One wholesaler in Pathum Thani reported that his store’s account was frozen for a week.
Officials have responded: the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau and other agencies say they will clarify and tighten the definitions and rules for freezing accounts; accelerate remedial processes; and open hotlines for people to appeal or get help if their account has been wrongly frozen.
Underlying the concern is the broader crackdown: in 2024, over 1.66 million bank accounts suspected of being mule accounts were suspended, and nearly 2,500 individuals have been arrested.
Agencies such as the Digital Economy and Society Ministry and the Anti-Online Scam Operation Center are leading the push.
Analysts warn that unless the authorities act swiftly to resolve errors—especially for vendors and individuals who are innocent but caught in the dragnet—the ongoing uncertainty could erode consumer confidence and suppress domestic consumption.
There is particular concern that government stimulus programmes which depend on widespread digital payments (such as QR codes or bank transfers) could suffer if retailers cease accepting such payment methods.
The issue has surfaced following a recent surge in public complaints after many accounts—allegedly linked to mule activity—were frozen.
Authorities have acknowledged that some innocent people have been affected.
Cyber police have announced plans to revise the criteria for freezing accounts, and new communication channels have been established to help those wrongly impacted.
For larger restaurants or wholesalers, the risk is mitigated somewhat: many hold multiple bank accounts and often function on purchase credit terms, so a single frozen account may not immediately disrupt their operations significantly.
But small vendors—street-food operators, informal shops—often depend on a single bank account and rely on daily cash flow; for them, account freezing—even temporarily—can be devastating.
Some retailers are already scaling back or hesitating to accept unfamiliar customers who wish to pay via bank transfer or QR code, fearing links to mule accounts might trigger automatic freezing.
One wholesaler in Pathum Thani reported that his store’s account was frozen for a week.
Officials have responded: the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau and other agencies say they will clarify and tighten the definitions and rules for freezing accounts; accelerate remedial processes; and open hotlines for people to appeal or get help if their account has been wrongly frozen.
Underlying the concern is the broader crackdown: in 2024, over 1.66 million bank accounts suspected of being mule accounts were suspended, and nearly 2,500 individuals have been arrested.
Agencies such as the Digital Economy and Society Ministry and the Anti-Online Scam Operation Center are leading the push.
Analysts warn that unless the authorities act swiftly to resolve errors—especially for vendors and individuals who are innocent but caught in the dragnet—the ongoing uncertainty could erode consumer confidence and suppress domestic consumption.
There is particular concern that government stimulus programmes which depend on widespread digital payments (such as QR codes or bank transfers) could suffer if retailers cease accepting such payment methods.
