Thai Finance Minister Warns of AI-Driven Financial Scams

On November 13, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas addressed the growing prevalence of financial scams in Thailand. According to Khaosod Online, Ekniti warned the public against loan and investment applications that falsely claim to be certified by the Ministry of Finance. These fraudulent platforms often use the Ministry’s logo and even deepfake technology, including AI-generated images and voices of government officials, to deceive victims.

Ekniti emphasized that the Ministry of Finance has never certified such applications. He clarified that all legitimate financial apps must be approved by the Bank of Thailand before undergoing further verification by the Ministry. The government is currently working with the Thai Bankers' Association to enhance protective systems against these sophisticated digital threats.

For residents and visitors, this serves as a critical reminder to exercise extreme caution when engaging with financial services online. Scammers are increasingly using advanced technology to mimic official entities, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent platforms. Authorities advise the public to verify the legitimacy of any financial application through official Bank of Thailand channels. While the government is actively working to combat these scams and address the misuse of digital identities, the full extent of the financial damage and the specific timeline for new security measures remain to be confirmed.