Statement by
H.E. Chaichanok Chidchob
Minister of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand
at
Signing Ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime and
the High-Level Conference
25 – 26 October 2025
Hanoi, Viet Nam

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His Excellency Pham Minh Chinh, (นายฝั่ม มิงห์ จิ๋งห์) Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

His Excellency António Guterres, (อันโตนิอู กุแตเรช) Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Delegation of Thailand, it is a great honour to join you at the Signing Ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime.

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Viet Nam and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for hosting this important occasion — a truly historic moment marking the world’s first convention dedicated to combating cybercrime, which has now become a serious transnational threat affecting us all.

In Thailand, data from the Royal Thai Police shows that between March 2022 and September 2025, losses from online fraud cases exceeded 3.08 billion US dollars (100.4 billion baht) — averaging 2.37 million US dollars (77 million baht) in damages every day. Bearing in mind, these figures reflect only a fraction of the total damage
to the nation.

Excellencies,

We must be honest with ourselves – we underestimated the problem of online scams. What once seemed small and manageable has now grown into a serious, deeply rooted threat that touches every part of our society. It is draining our nation’s wealth and undermining the safety and trust of our people and beyond. Thailand has faced this reality. We have seen how hesitation has allowed online scams to spread like wildfire — exploiting every weakness in our systems and every moment of inattention.

We share this as a lesson learned: never underestimate this problem. Once it takes hold, it becomes impossible for one nation to handle alone.

We must act together, and act with determination to protect our people, we all here represented and secure our digital future.

Distinguished Delegates,

As the UNODC’s April 2025 Report highlights, Southeast Asia has become a major hub for scam operations affecting victims worldwide.

Recently, several countries have taken decisive action.

Thailand especially commends the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Korea for their strong measures against scam networks and for enhancing regional cooperation.

Their leadership inspires, and why we welcome stronger international cooperation to address these criminal acts, the truth remains that their operations persist, as the number of scam victims in Thailand did not falter in last few weeks. Therefore, we urge stronger international action.

Excellencies,

Recognizing the severity of this threat, the Royal Thai Government has placed the fight against cybercrime and online scams among its top national priorities. Thailand has established the National Committee on the Prevention and Suppression of Cyber Crimes, bringing together all key agencies — the Royal Thai Police, National Intelligence, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Ministry of Justice, and the Bank of Thailand — enabling a whole government approach.

To strengthen our defences, Thailand is now expediting proactive measures through three key approaches:

First – Proactive Measures:

Internet and mobile signals in border areas will be cut to prevent illegal operations. Strict and immediate legal action will be taken against all involved – including officials – if found connected with scams or illegal networks.

Second – Data Integration:

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, in collaboration with relevant agencies, is developing a centralized real-time database to track crime trends, monitor financial flows, and facilitate the swift return of victims’ funds. At the same time, Thailand seeks to strengthen international cooperation on data exchange – to jointly detect, disrupt,
and dismantle scam networks as quickly as possible.

Third – Legal Enhancement:

The Government is establishing a specialized Cyber Fraud Agency, to coordinate more effective nationwide responses, retaliate where necessary, and enhance penalties, which will be operated within one or
latest two months.

Excellencies,

Thailand stands before you today not only as a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, but as a nation that has felt the deep human impact of this crisis — and is determined to fight back.

May this Convention serve as a beacon of hope — guiding all nations toward a safer, more secure, and trusted digital world, where no criminal can hide, no victim is left behind, and no nation stands alone.

Thank you.