The Thai government aims to reduce online crime by 70% in 2024 through stricter regulations and enhanced digital security measures, according to Deputy Government Spokeswoman Sasikarn Watthanachan.

The initiative follows a 21.74% drop in online fraud cases, from 45,190 in 2023 to 35,358 in 2024, as reported by the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA).

The most reported online fraud cases included online shopping scams (15,050 cases), illegal websites involving gambling and phishing (11,371 cases), cyber harassment and threats (3,039 cases), investment and job scams (1,564 cases), and cyber threats such as hacking and malware (1,311 cases).

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has introduced the Digital Platform Services (DPS) law to enforce identity verification for digital businesses and improve user safety.

A new 'ETDA DPS NOTIFIED' label will help users identify legitimate service providers.

The government has also expanded the 1212ETDA centre to handle digital fraud complaints and provide real-time assistance.

Victims of online scams can seek support through the 1212 hotline, Line: @1212ETDA, or the ETDA Thailand Facebook page, available 24 hours a day.

Authorities emphasize collaboration across sectors and continuous enforcement of digital laws to strengthen online security and reduce fraudulent activities.