The Thai authorities will seek a Court order to shut down the Facebook platform in the country, because they claim that the social media service has accepted advertising fees from fake investment scams, which have allegedly cheated more than 200,000 Thais.

The estimated damage could be as much as Bt10 billion, said Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn.

“Thai authorities have raised the issue with Facebook many times, asking it to screen for fake advertisements on its platform. It has, however, failed to help us in tackling the scams,” the minister said.

Therefore, the Thai authorities intend to go to court to get the platform closed in Thailand within seven days, he said during a press briefing.

Also at the press conference were Thawatchai Pittayasophon, acting secretary general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Chaichana Mitrpant, executive director of the Electronic Transactions Development Agency and Deputy Police Commissioner Pol Maj General Thayut Chanthaworn of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau.

“If Facebook wishes to continue doing business in Thailand, it must take more responsibility in this matter,” Chaiwut said.

According to the minister, some scammers, claiming to be listed companies and displaying the Securities and Exchange Commission logo, placed advertisements on Facebook and convinced people to invest with them with promises of high returns.

The people who fell for the false advertising never received the money promised.