How to Recover Scam Money in Thailand: The New 2026 Refund Process

A New Legal Pathway to Recover Scam Money in Thailand

For years, a frozen account was often the end of the story. Police could freeze a suspect’s bank account or digital asset wallet, yet no clear procedure existed to return those funds to the people who had actually lost them. Most victims simply navigated the process of unfreezing a bank account in Thailand or chased civil claims that rarely succeeded against anonymous fraudsters.

Related reading: investors in leisure venues should also check the rules on a sports facility license in Thailand.

The new regulation changes that. It sits under the Emergency Decree on Measures for the Prevention and Suppression of Technology Crimes B.E. 2566 (2023), as strengthened by its 2025 amendment, which first introduced shared liability for banks and telecom operators. The decree created the power to seize criminal proceeds; the 2026 regulation now supplies the missing machinery to give that money back. In short, Thailand has moved from freezing assets to formally redistributing them to victims.

What the 2026 Technology Crime Regulation Changes

The regulation does three things at once. First, it forces financial institutions to report frozen accounts quickly. Second, it requires investigators to hand their evidence to AMLO. Third, it opens a public claims window so that genuine victims can step forward. Together, these steps build a traceable chain from the moment authorities freeze the money to the moment AMLO refunds it.

Mandatory reporting by banks and asset businesses

Whenever a deposit account, e-money account, or digital asset wallet is frozen in connection with a technology crime, the relevant institution must report the transaction data to the Anti-Money Laundering Office through a designated electronic system. The required information is detailed and includes:

• Sender and receiver account numbers
• Names and identification or passport numbers
• Legal entity registration numbers, where a company is involved
• Phone numbers linked to the accounts
• Remaining balance and the total damage amount
• Transaction reference numbers and the bank’s internal case ID

Institutions that already exchange data through the information-sharing platform under the emergency decree automatically satisfy this obligation. As a result, the rule rewards platforms that participate in the central anti-fraud system.

Evidence transfer from police and the DSI

When the Royal Thai Police or the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) seize or freeze assets tied to a technology crime, they must give AMLO their investigation reports, complaint evidence, money-trail analysis, and account statements. Consequently, AMLO receives a complete picture before it decides on any payout.

How the Refund Process Works — Step by Step

Once AMLO holds verified reports, the recovery procedure follows a defined sequence. Understanding each stage helps victims act within the deadlines.

Notably, the single most important number is 90. Victims have 90 days from the publication date in the Government Gazette to submit a claim. Miss that deadline, and recovery becomes far harder. Therefore, anyone who suspects fraud should monitor official channels closely and keep their contact details current with the investigating officer.

Obligations for Banks and Digital Asset Businesses

The regulation is not only about victims. It also imposes real compliance duties on operators. Banks, e-money providers, and licensed digital asset businesses must now build internal processes to detect a freeze, gather the prescribed data, and report it to AMLO without delay. Failure to do so exposes a business to regulatory and reputational risk, and it may breach obligations already created under the 2025 amendment to the emergency decree. Recent case law on credit card fraud and bank liability in Thailand shows that courts increasingly expect institutions to act diligently when fraud is flagged.

Moreover, for foreign-owned fintechs and exchanges operating in Thailand, this is a governance issue as much as a legal one. Boards should confirm that anti-fraud reporting workflows, customer due diligence, and incident-response playbooks align with the new framework before it takes effect in mid-August 2026.

What Foreign Victims Should Do Now

Expats and foreign investors are frequent targets of investment scams, romance fraud, and fake job schemes. If fraudsters have already targeted you, act quickly and methodically:

• Report immediately. File a complaint with the bank and the police, including through the official Thai Police Online portal, so the bank can freeze the receiving account before funds move on. Lodging a police report in Thailand as a foreigner creates an essential record for your claim.
• Preserve evidence. Keep transfer slips, chat logs, wallet addresses, and reference numbers, as AMLO will require them to verify your claim.
• Track the Gazette. Watch for publication of the connected accounts, because the 90-day claims clock starts then.
• Update your contact details. Ensure officers can reach you, especially if you live outside Thailand, where notice is deemed received after 15 days.
• Seek legal guidance. A lawyer can file your AMLO claim correctly, respond to objections, and pursue parallel civil or criminal action where appropriate.

Because the procedure is new and entirely electronic, early professional support can make the difference between a successful refund and a missed deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

For the latest on banking compliance, see our guide to Thailand’s new cash controls.

Cross-border scams often raise jurisdiction questions, which we explain in our guide to the application of Thai criminal law under Sections 2 to 11.