Thailand has stressed the need for the international community to cooperate more closely and act more swiftly to rescue and protect victims of online scams, which have evolved into large-scale transnational crime causing significant economic adverse effects.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow on 17 December delivered opening remarks at the International Conference on the Global Partnership against Online Scams, co-hosted by Thailand and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on 17-18 December 2025.

In his remarks, Mr. Sihasak said, “Online scams are no longer petty crimes. They are industrial-scale, transnational operations that exploit technology, legal gaps, and weak enforcement -- causing serious harm to people, livelihoods, and economies. 

“According to UNODC, scam centers have expanded rapidly across Southeast Asia, and are spreading to other regions of the world. In 2023, online fraud caused financial losses of around 18 to 37 billion US dollars in East and Southeast Asia alone. In Thailand, reported losses exceeded 3.16 billion dollars over the past three years. 

“These numbers are alarming. But the human cost is far greater. Online scams are closely linked to human trafficking, forced labor, money laundering, and other forms of transnational organized crime. They threaten human rights, public security, and our shared progress toward sustainable development. 

“Scam centers do not operate in a vacuum. They flourish in countries where the rule of law is weak, accountability is lacking, and enforcement is selective or ineffective. While many scam operations are concentrated in Southeast Asia, the victims of trafficking for forced criminality come from all corners of the world. This year alone, Thailand has assisted in repatriating more than 10,000 individuals from over 40 nations, rescued from scam centers in our neighboring countries. This reality makes one point very clear: no country can solve this problem alone. 

“We must cooperate more closely and act more swiftly – to rescue and protect victims, to distinguish clearly between victims and perpetrators, to investigate and prosecute criminal networks, and to prevent new victims from falling into these traps. This requires strong political will, effective law enforcement, and a whole-of-society approach involving all stakeholders. 

“Thailand has taken concrete steps at home. In recent months alone, assets linked to online fraud worth more than 300 million dollars have been confiscated. We are also working closely with the private sector and civil societies to strengthen prevention and raise public awareness. 

“At the international level, Thailand is proud to be among the seventy-two states that signed the UN Convention Against Cybercrime in Hanoi earlier this year. This reflects our firm commitment to strengthening global cooperation against cyber-enabled crimes.

“When countries act alone, we may only catch small fish, while the big fish – the major criminal networks – continue to operate across borders. To dismantle these networks, we need a platform that allows us to pool our strengths, share intelligence, and act in a more coordinated manner. 

“Thailand initiated this Conference, not simply to create another forum, but to help close the gaps between existing ones. Our intention is to complement ongoing efforts and focus squarely on implementation. This Conference is therefore designed as a practical, multi stakeholder platform—where like-minded countries, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society can learn from one another, align their approaches, and move from discussion to action. 

“More importantly, Thailand hopes this Conference will lead to the establishment of a Global Partnership against Online Scams – a partnership that delivers concrete cooperation, not just good intentions.

“As a demonstration of our shared political will, I look forward to the adoption of the Bangkok Joint Statement. I encourage all countries and stakeholders who share our determination to consider co-sponsoring the Statement and joining this Global Partnership. 

“Online scams are a global threat. But our response can – and must – be global as well. Only by working together can we protect our people, uphold human dignity, and ensure that technology serves progress, not crime.”

The International Conference on the Global Partnership against Online Scams was attended by more than 330 participants from 60 countries, 5 international organizations, as well as representatives from civil society and academic sectors.