IIC Thailand Chapter meeting: From Detection to Protection: Thailand’s model for combatting Call and SMS scams

Anantiya Kittipromwong is currently the Division Director of the Telecommunication Enforcement Bureau at the NBTC, specializes in the regulatory oversight of telecommunications licensees to prevent cyber-enabled fraud and illicit activity. She is responsible for managing the enforcement bureau’s response to emerging digital threats, such as SIM box fraud and scams and other telecommunications- based crimes. By establishing and enforcing strict compliance guidelines for service providers, she ensures that licensees take proactive steps to verify user identities and disrupt criminal communication cycles.

With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Ben Wong has been at the forefront of intelligence and investigative work in Singapore. As the current Director (Network Project Office) at the Info-Communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), Mr Wong spearheads efforts aimed at combatting scams and safeguarding Singapore’s telecommunications network against emerging threats.

Prior to this role, he dedicated over 20 years to the Singapore Police Force, where expertise was honed in the Police Intelligence Department and the Criminal Investigation Department. During this tenure, Mr Wong played a critical role in dismantling organized crime groups involved in scams, cybercrime, unlicensed moneylending, transnational illegal gambling, and other serious criminal activities. His collaborative efforts with international law enforcement agencies, including the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) of China, Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), Vietnam’s MPS, and the Hong Kong Police Force, were instrumental in executing cross-border operations that led to significant breakthroughs in combating organized crime.

Today, Mr Wong leverages a deep understanding of criminal operations to address complex challenges in telecommunications security, ensuring the safety and reliability of Singapore’s telecommunication networks.

Mr. Buncha Manoonkunchai has been with the Bank of Thailand for over 20 years, with a background in Economics and Finance. Currently, he serves as Advisor to Deputy Governor, Financial Institutions Stability. He has been a key driver for several national projects, including formulating and driving the National e-Payment Master Plan, which encompasses the PromptPay project – Thailand’s fast payment – the Standardized Thai QR Payment, and e-Donation. These projects are very successful and significantly contributed to foster digital financial inclusion and digital economy of the country. He now plays a crucial role in the Anti-Fraud Policy Working Team, which aims to combat digital financial fraud through various measures.

Dr. Ekapong Rimcharone is a senior Thai government executive with expertise in statistics, digital policy, and cybersecurity. As Director of Thailand’s National Statistical Office (NSO), he oversees the development of official statistics that enable evidence-based policymaking, national planning, and sustainable development. Under his leadership, the NSO has accelerated statistical modernization through the integration of digital technologies, administrative data, big data, and artificial intelligence, enhancing data quality, timeliness, and relevance.

Dr. Ekapong strengthens Thailand’s national statistical system by promoting global statistical standards, advancing inter-agency data sharing, and increasing the application of official statistics in economic, social, and governance decision-making. He also actively fosters regional and international statistical cooperation, particularly within the ASEAN and Asia-Pacific frameworks, to enhance statistical capacity and innovation throughout the region.

In parallel, Dr. Ekapong serves as Director of the Anti-Online Scam Operation Center (AOC), and he leads national efforts to prevent and suppress technology-related crimes. Under his leadership, the AOC has become a central hub for multi-agency coordination, utilizing data-driven approaches to efficiently address and resolve online scam cases.

Previously, Dr. Ekapong has held several prominent positions, including Inspector-General of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission, Director of the National Space Affairs Division, and Director of the Digital Economy Driving Division. These roles have strengthened his expertise in driving digital transformation across economic, social, and governance sectors.

At the regional and international levels, Dr. Ekapong has represented Thailand in key forums such as the APEC Digital Economy Steering Group, the ASEAN Digital Integration Index, and the ASEAN Anti-Online Scam Working Group. He has also contributed to national committees focused on statistical development, digital infrastructure, online gambling prevention, and cybercrime suppression.

With his combined expertise in official statistics, digital governance, and cybersecurity, Dr. Ekapong Rimcharone continues to play a vital role in strengthening Thailand’s data ecosystem and shaping policies toward a safer, more data-driven, and sustainable digital society.

Lynn Robinson became Director General of the International Institute of Communications (IIC), in March 2020.

Lynn is an experienced senior director and trustee / non exec-director, having held key senior leadership positions in the technology, built environment, regulation, accreditation and dental industries. She has extensive experience of professional membership bodies working within the full spectrum including, Regulatory bodies, Industry associations and Chambers of Commerce. Lynn is a well-known and established ambassador in these areas having led on many strategic programmes to aid engagement, growth, retention, change management, stakeholder and political engagement.

Montri Stapornkul is the Data Protection Officer of True Corporation, Thailand’s leading telecommunications and digital services provider. He leads the company’s privacy governance and authority request functions, working closely with regulators, law enforcement, and business units on lawful data use, anti-scam operations, and responsible AI. His work focuses on aligning telecom operations with the Emergency Decree on Cybercrime Suppression, strengthening SIM registration controls, and embedding privacy and human rights principles into fraud prevention and consumer protection measures. Montri regularly represents True in engagements with NBTC, PDPC, and international partners on digital trust and ethical technology governance.

Pol.Gen.Nathathorn Prousoontorn is the Commissioner of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and a Chairman of the Cyber Crime Legal Integration Subcommittee.

As the head of the Subcommittee, his initiatives to combat and prevent technology-related crimes involve leading representatives from law enforcement and relevant agencies to implement laws and guidelines —such as SIM card registration controls— propose regulatory enhancements, and coordinate cross-agency efforts to dismantle criminal networks. These measures serve as a critical defense against modern online scams, which have now evolved into borderless, causing the loss of billions from the national economy and threatening the digital safety of millions

Prior to joining the NBTC, Pol.Gen.Nathathorn had a distinguished career as a Police Executive, spanning nearly 38 years in law enforcement across operations in the field of Prevention, Suppression, and Management. His notable former roles include Special Advisor to the Royal Thai Police, Executive Director of the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA), and Commissioner of the Thai Immigration Bureau. During his years in immigration, he oversaw all international airports and border checkpoints in Thailand and led significant modernization efforts, including the implementation of automated lanes and the transition toward digital immigration processing (the cancellation of the TM6 form).

Pol.Gen.Nathathorn Prousoontorn holds a Bachelor of Laws from Ramkhamhaeng University, a Master of Public Administration from Kentucky State University (USA), and a PhD in Political Science from Chulalongkorn University, where he also earned Master’s degrees in Translation and Interpretation and Computer Science. He is an alumnus of several prestigious international programs, including the FBI National Academy (USA) and the Police Management Development Program (PMDP) in Australia.

Onwaree Jarernporn joined Numbering Management Bureau since 2020.  As Executive Director, she oversaw amendments of key regulations such as Numbering Management Notification, Numbering Plan Notification, and Guidelines for Mobile Number Registration (which first introduced Requirements for the Use of Biometric Technology for Identity Verification and Authentication).  She has also undertaken projects and activities to promote the use of mobile phone numbers for digital identity verification.  Known as Mobile ID, the service compliments Thailand’s Digital ID Framework as one of the trusted options for secured online transaction.

Having a background in economics, Onwaree has been with NBTC since its foundation and worked the longest on price regulation with Telecommunications Tariffs Bureau.  Before Numbering Management Bureau, she also acted as executive directors for Telecommunications Tariffs Bureau, Special Task Implementation Bureau, and Digital Organisation Development Bureau respectively.

Pol.Col.Padet joined The Royal Thai Police in 2003 and Has been working on serious
crime investigations since 2005 until now. currently oversees the management and
investigations of scam cases within The Anti Cyber Scam Center ,Thailand (ACSC) in
2023-2025.The ACSC is seeking cooperation from all government and private sector
agencies in Thailand, as well as international law enforcement officials, to help combat
online fraud. And Has been specifically assigned to work with the National Broadcasting
and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and Telecommunications service
providers to prevent and suppress scammer gangs.

Mr Pratompong Srinuan serves as the Executive Director of the Policy Assessment Bureau at the Office of the NBTC in Thailand. In this role, his main responsibilities included conducting spectrum valuation and setting reserved prices for several IMT bands and FM radio. Recently, he conducted research on demand for mobile broadband bandwidth in Thailand and a study on the impacts of spectrum auctions on firms’ investment.

Previously, Mr Pratompong held the position of senior expert economist and played a key role to formulating telecom policy and market design. He has been involved to various working committees within the NBTC, contributing to the sustainable development of both telecommunications and broadcasting industries through regulatory policies, including spectrum auction design, MVNO regulation enforcement, and telecom wholesale market regulations.

Mr Pratompong earned his PhD in Economics as a government scholar from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Saran Phaloprakarn is the Head of Mobile and Consumer Products at AIS, where he drives the development of 5G and next-generation consumer services. With extensive expertise in mobile broadband and fixed broadband networks, he has been a key architect in shaping AIS’s technology and consumer business ecosystem.

With an engineering background and over 30 years of tenure at AIS, Saran began his career as a network engineer and has played a central role in the company’s transformation from 1G through 5G. In 2015, he led the launch of AIS’s fixed broadband business, which has since grown to become the largest fixed broadband provider in Thailand.

A recognized industry innovator, Saran has pioneered a number of breakthrough solutions that expanded connectivity and unlocked new revenue streams for both mobile and fixed broadband business.

Saran holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Chulalongkorn University and a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (Electromagnetics) from the University of Missouri–Rolla.

Mr. Trairat Viriyasirikul, the Deputy Secretary General, assumed the role of Acting Secretary General of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) in July 2020. Prior to his tenure at the NBTC, Mr Viriyasirikul gained extensive experience in budget analysis at the Office of the Prime Minister’s Budget Bureau.

With nearly two decades of leadership in the telecommunications sector, Mr Viriyasirikul has been instrumental in supporting the nation’s spectrum auctions and facilitating the transition from 2G to 5G. Under his leadership, the implementation of the 5G Roadmap and broadband connectivity initiatives has significantly enhanced national connectivity. His commitment to promoting basic infrastructure has provided access to ICT infrastructure in urban, rural, unserved, and underserved areas, driving digital transformation across the country. Furthermore, he initiated the transition of granting the right to use satellite orbits from concession system to licensing system in satellite orbit management.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Viriyasirikul championed measures to ensure continued access to the internet, equipment, and essential services for the public. Notably, he financially supported the initiative to establish the Central Vaccination Center, which provided free vaccinations to the public. Mr Viriyasirikul is currently dedicated to addressing issues relevant to scams and call centers, particularly in border areas. He also focuses on satellite related issue. In particular, he supports open market access to allow foreign satellite operators to provide services within Thailand. Additionally, under his guidance, Office of the NBTC is actively researching and raising awareness about Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), with plans to launch a regulatory framework for NTN next year.

He holds a Master of Science in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne, USA.