Tighter controls on the ownership of SIM cards, through the introduction of biometric technology in the registration process and a limit on SIM cards for some non-Thais, are among the measures being enforced to protect phone users from scam gangs more effectively.
Other measures include the requirement for smartphone service providers to have all their SMS systems with URLs attached screened by officials, caller ID display and any money transfers exceeding 50,000 baht through mobile banking systems will require facial scanning for identification confirmation.
These measures were agreed yesterday at a meeting, chaired by Pol Gen Nathathorn Prousoontorn, a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, and attended by representatives from the Information Technology Crime Suppression Centre, the Thai Bankers Association, mobile phone service providers, the Cybercrime Suppression Bureau and the Anti Money Laundering Office.
Pol Gen Nathathorn said that the measures are for immediate implementation and smartphone service providers must submit SMS-attached URLs to authorities for authorisation from February 1st.
Nathathorn said that police have discovered that many SIM cards seized from ‘SIM boxes’ (often used by scammers) were mostly registered in the names of foreigners using false IDs, hence the introduction of a biometric system in the registration of new SIM cards and the restriction on the ownership of SIM cards by some specific nationalities, though he did not specify which.
Regarding the caller ID system, Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, head of the Information Technology Crime Suppression Centre, said that the Royal Thai
Police have consulted with smartphone service providers about how the measure can be applied to protect phone users from being scammed.
He said SIM card dealers who fail to obey the law will be dealt with harshly and may face imprisonment or heavy fines if convicted.
