Thailand Freezes 3M Bank Accounts in Scam Crackdown

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Thai banks froze over three million accounts this weekend as part of a nationwide push to combat scam networks and “mule” accounts, reports the Bangkok Post.

But the dragnet has caught innocent vendors and merchants, leaving many locked out of funds for days.

Banks can freeze funds for 3 days, with police able to extend this to 7 days.

The crackdown began in August, with daily transfer limits now applied to all customers.

Victims of online scams surged in Thailand this year, often tied to Chinese-run call centers based in neighboring countries.

Authorities insist suspensions are “temporary,” but public frustration is growing.