Mekong Countries Unite Against Telecom Fraud

The six Mekong-Lancang countries have united to address the growing issue of transnational telecom and online fraud. This commitment was made during a ministerial meeting held in Kunming, China, on November 14, attended by representatives from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

According to the Bangkok Post, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, assistant national police chief of Thailand, emphasized that scam centers in the region form a 'cross-border criminal ecosystem' which negatively impacts citizens across all six nations.

He stated that Thailand is fully committed to transparency and reciprocal cooperation in this fight against telecom fraud. The Anti-Cyber Scam Center in Thailand has integrated data from various sources, including banks and telecom operators.

Findings from this center reveal that financial flows from mule accounts are often transferred internationally, and that many scam operations are based in border zones and special economic areas. To combat these issues, three key mechanisms have been proposed.

These include the creation of a shared database of mule accounts, phone numbers, and IP addresses with automatic alerts; the establishment of cyber liaison officers in host countries for immediate communication; and stricter telecom regulations, which involve identity-verified SIM card registrations and monitoring of suspicious SIM cards.

Lt Gen Jirabhop highlighted successful Thai-Cambodian operations that led to network takedowns, account freezes, and victim rescues. Acknowledging the need for collaborative action, he stated, 'Crime has no borders, and neither should enforcement.' Recent joint operations involving China, Myanmar, and Thailand, as well as China, Laos, and Cambodia, have targeted known scam hubs.

Liu Zhongyi, China's Assistant Minister for Public Security, praised Thailand's decisive measures against telecom fraud. The six countries have collectively endorsed 21 points of cooperation, which cover joint raids, evidence sharing, extradition, asset seizure, and the establishment of cross-border intelligence channels.

This collaborative effort is crucial for enhancing consumer protection and maintaining trust in telecommunications services throughout the Mekong region.