The move follows a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, where Governor Saransak met with victims and Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee to discuss the growing number of fraud cases linked to the exploitation of transport app systems.
According to the victims, hackers and their associates advertised ‘car application unlocking’ services through Line and Facebook groups, claiming they could help drivers restore access to their ride-hailing accounts after the Department of Land Transport (DLT) deactivated unregistered vehicles on Oct 2.
Drivers were reportedly charged between B3,000 and B7,000 per “unlock” session. Many transferred money to so-called ‘mule accounts’ but never received the promised service.
Others regained access to their accounts but later discovered that their vehicle details and registration numbers no longer matched the official records, raising serious safety and trust concerns among passengers.
The victims have since filed complaints with the Phuket Provincial Ombudsman, calling for legal action against the hackers and those behind the fraudulent network.
Governor Saransak said he has ordered a coordinated response involving the Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office (PLTO), the Provincial Commercial Office, the Provincial Police, and the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA).
A special subcommittee on land transport has been established to gather information, trace the source of the hacking operation, and track the financial trails of the mule accounts.
Governor Saransak said that police will provide guidelines to resolve and prevent such problems in the future, MP Chalermpong explained.
He added that provincial officials will also work directly with major ride-hailing app companies to strengthen digital security.
Among the proposed measures are two-factor authentication, unusual login alerts and stricter verification for vehicle registration and driver profiles.
The Governor also ordered the PLTO to conduct training sessions for app-based drivers, including guidance on proper registration, relevant laws and how to avoid falling victim to online fraud.
He further said he would consider proposing amendments to secondary laws to make app vehicle registration more convenient, transparent, and secure ‒ closing loopholes currently exploited by scammers.
MP Chalermpong noted that the PLTO and police are already coordinating efforts to suppress illegal ride-hailing vehicles and ensure full legal compliance.
“Solving this problem involves not just technology, but also protecting honest workers, ensuring fairness for victims, and creating a safe, trustworthy system for app drivers in Phuket,” he said.