The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) yesterday set up a working group to implement a new policy aimed at preventing online scammers from preying on people who use mobile banking.
Approved by the NBTC previously, the policy requires that the name used in registering a mobile phone SIM card is identical to the name of the owner of the bank account connected to the internet via a SIM card.
The newly formed team comprises representatives from the NBTC, Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), Bank of Thailand, Thai Bankers' Association, mobile phone network operators and relevant state agencies.
Under the group's joint working agreement, the banks will be gathering information regarding the ID or passport numbers as well as mobile numbers used by people who have registered for a mobile banking service provided by banks, said Pol Gen Nathathorn Prousoontorn, commissioner of the NBTC.
He said the date that was gathered would then be supplied to Amlo in an encoded format for use and sharing with the NBTC.
The NBTC is responsible for sorting out the issue involving the mobile banking customer database held by mobile networks and verifying whether the users match the persons registered for the mobile phone number attached to the transaction service.
The verification results will be reported back to the bank, which will ask their customers to conform to the new rule in order to continue using the mobile banking service, Pol Gen Nathathorn said.
An exception will be made only in certain situations, such as when a person uses their name when registering to use mobile banking and mobile phone services on behalf of their young children or elderly parents, Pol Gen Nathathorn said.
In another development, the NBTC disclosed that up to 2.13 million SIM cards were cancelled after the deadline lapsed on Feb 14 for people who registered to use 101 or more SIM cards per person to identify themselves in person to the NBTC.