Thailand Crypto Mule Accounts Surge to 62,000

MGR Online•Economy•6d ago

Reader Briefing

Digital asset mule accounts in Thailand have surged to 62,516 as scammers shift from bank accounts to cryptocurrency to evade law enforcement.

•The SEC reported 62,516 suspended crypto mule accounts as of the end of July 2026.
•Online crime damages for the week of August 9-15, 2026, totaled 260 million baht across 6,060 cases.
•Investment scams caused nearly 80 million baht in damages within a single week, accounting for 30.7% of total losses.
•Bangkok victims suffered an average loss of 458,000 baht per person.

Overview

•The SEC reported that by the end of July 2026, suspended crypto mule accounts reached 62,516, an increase of nearly 30% from the end of 2025.
•The Anti-Online Scam Center (ACSC) of the Royal Thai Police reported 6,060 cases with 260 million baht in damages between August 9-15, 2026.
•Bangkok victims averaged losses of 458,000 baht per person, with total damages in Bangkok reaching 63.3 million baht from 138 reported cases.
•Scammers use crypto mule accounts to launder money via P2P platforms and foreign exchanges, completing the process in under 3 minutes.
•The primary target group for scams consists of working women aged 21-30 years.
•The author argues that current 'downstream' account freezing by the AOC 1441 center is ineffective because assets are converted to crypto and moved abroad rapidly.
•Proposed measures include the SEC enforcing the Travel Rule for crypto transactions over 30,000 baht and the Bank of Thailand implementing Shared Responsibility for banks.

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Key Entities

Organization

SEC(ก.ล.ต.)

The agency reporting the number of suspended digital asset mule accounts.

Bank of Thailand(ธนาคารแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️

The central bank criticized for lacking laws to compel joint liability for fraud.

Royal Thai Police(สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ)ℹ️

The law enforcement agency responsible for arresting mule account holders.

Anti-Online Scam Center (ACSC)(ศูนย์ต่อต้านการฉ้อโกงออนไลน์ (ACSC))

The police unit that reported crime statistics for August 9-15, 2026.

AOC 1441 Center(ศูนย์ AOC 1441)

The center responsible for freezing accounts to stop fraud.

NBTC(กสทช.)

The agency criticized for allowing high-speed internet signals to leak across borders.

Ministry of Digital Economy and Society(กระทรวงดีอี)ℹ️

The ministry criticized for allowing internet signals to leak across borders.

AMLO(ปปง.)ℹ️

The agency tasked with seizing assets of international capitalists via money laundering laws.

FBIℹ️

A US agency proposed for joint cross-border cyber investigation.

Interpolℹ️

An international agency proposed for joint cross-border cyber investigation.

Person

Pol. Gen. Thana Chuwong(พล.ต.อ.ธนา ชูวงศ์)

An official overseeing the Anti-Online Scam Center (ACSC).

Pol. Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej(พล.ต.ท.จิรภพ ภูริเดช)

An official overseeing the Anti-Online Scam Center (ACSC).

Place

Bangkok(กรุงเทพมหานคร)ℹ️

The area where victims suffered an average loss of 458,000 baht per person.

Poipet(ปอยเปต)ℹ️

A location where real capitalists of scam networks are based.

Myawaddy(เมียวดี)ℹ️

A location where real capitalists of scam networks are based.

Policy

Travel Rule

A proposed regulation for crypto transactions exceeding 30,000 baht.

Shared Responsibility

A proposed principle requiring banks to share 50% of the loss if AI detection fails.