Surge in Bank Account Unblocking Requests
Thailand’s police have been inundated with over 600 requests from citizens seeking to unblock their bank accounts in just two days. The spike follows a new policy introduced by Police Chief Kittirat Phunpetch, aimed at standardizing account unblocking procedures.
Since 17 September 2025, citizens must provide five key details: full name, ID number, phone number, bank account number, and bank name. Once verified, requests are forwarded to the Police Cyber Crime Suppression Center (PCT) and then to the AOC Center for prompt action. Accounts linked to criminal activity remain blocked.
Numbers Reveal the Scale of the Issue
On 17 September, 285 unblocking requests were received, followed by 333 on 18 September – a 15% increase. Most came from Police Region 4, followed by Hotline 1599 and Police Region 3.
Breakdown of requests:
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359 private accounts
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78 business accounts
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74 salary accounts
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90 other accounts
So far, 17 accounts have already been successfully unblocked.
Why Are So Many Accounts Frozen?
The surge in account freezes is part of Thailand’s ongoing fight against cybercrime and money laundering. Banks often block accounts automatically when unusual transactions are detected, which can affect innocent citizens.
Police Chief Kittirat Phunpetch ordered the new standardized procedure to ensure citizens can regain access to their funds quickly without compromising security. A police spokesperson stated: “We want to help citizens access their money fast while maintaining safety.”
How to Apply for an Account Unblocking
Affected account holders can submit requests:
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At any police station
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Via the AOC Hotline 1441
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Via Police Hotline 1599
It is crucial to provide all five required pieces of information. Complete submissions are processed faster. Experts advise remaining calm, collecting all relevant documents, and understanding that many account freezes result from automated security systems designed to protect citizens.