BANGKOK, Thailand – The government has announced the launch of the “DE-fence” platform, a new digital tool designed to block scam calls and fraudulent SMS messages. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society Prasert Chandraruangthong said the service, developed in collaboration with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, the Royal Thai Police, mobile network providers, and relevant agencies, will be available for download starting May 1.
The DE-fence platform is intended to tackle the rising number of scam activities conducted through phone calls and SMS, often linked to call center gangs. Between October 2023 and March 2025, more than 519,000 cases of cybercrime were reported in Thailand, resulting in financial losses exceeding 50.7 billion baht. The platform will help users detect and block suspicious communications while verifying legitimate calls from trusted organizations such as banks and police agencies.
The system will categorize incoming calls and SMS messages into three groups: a blacklist for confirmed criminal numbers that will be blocked automatically, a greylist for suspicious contacts flagged with warnings, and a whitelist for officially registered and verified government agency numbers. Alerts will be provided to users based on the risk level associated with each contact.
A trial version of the DE-fence app will be available for download through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store starting May 1. Users will be able to search for “DE-fence” to access the application, which is part of a broader strategy to strengthen protections against online fraud.
The public is also encouraged to report cybercrime and fake news through a 24-hour hotline at 1111, via the LINE ID @antifakenewscenter, or by visiting the Anti-Fake News Center’s official website. (NNT)
