Scammed Online: How to File a Police Report to Get Your Money Back

This guide is written for victims who have just realized they were deceived — whether it's buying goods and not receiving them, being tricked into investing, being tricked into transferring a deposit, or being deceived by someone impersonating a government official.

⏱ This is truly a race against time — money that enters a scammer's account is often transferred onward within a very short time. The later you report it, the lower the chance that there will still be money left to freeze. The order below is therefore arranged by what you should do first, not by importance.

The First Hour: Stop the Bleeding First

1. Stop Transferring, No Matter What Reason Is Cited

The pattern that causes the damage to spiral the most is being told that you must transfer just a little more in order to get the original lump sum back, such as a claim that it is for tax, an account unlock fee, a withdrawal fee, or an expedited processing charge. If you hear a reason of this kind, treat it as confirmation that it is a scam.

2. Call and Report to the Originating Bank Immediately

Tell them that you were tricked into transferring money and ask them to take action on the destination account. Banks have an emergency reporting channel specifically for this situation. Have the following information ready when you call: the destination account number, the destination account name, the date, time and amount of the transfer, and the channel used to make it.

3. Write Down the Bank's Notification Reference Number

Every time you make contact, record the date and time, the officer's name, and the reference number of the case. This documentation is what allows the matter to proceed to the next step.

Preserve Evidence Before It Disappears

Scammers' storefronts, profiles, and chat rooms are often deleted or shut down within a few days. Collect these immediately:

• Every transfer slip — not just the large ones
• The entire conversation — scroll and screenshot from the first message to the latest; don't capture only the parts you think are important
• Profile, username, link, and phone number of the person who contacted you
• The sales listing or webpage that led you to make the transfer
• Recipient account name and number, including the PromptPay or e-wallet used

Don't delete and don't block — even if you feel like cutting ties. Blocking makes it harder to access the original conversation, and deleting destroys your own evidence.

Filing a Police Report: Both Online and In-Person

Notifying the bank alone is not enough, because for the freeze to proceed, a police report must be filed in accordance with supporting procedures.

Online fraud cases have a dedicated online complaint reporting system, designed for cases where the victim and the perpetrator are in different provinces. An effective approach is to file the report online first to obtain a report reference number quickly, then meet with the inquiry officer to give a statement and submit the full set of evidence.

What to prepare when giving your statement

• National ID card, and bank book or app screen showing the transfer records
• Complete set of evidence files, arranged in chronological order
• A brief timeline: how the matter began, how many transfers were made, how much each time, and when you realized
• The bank's complaint reference number

Arranging evidence in chronological order really helps, because in this type of case the decision turns on the continuity of the money trail, not on the severity of the wording in the complaint.

The Frozen Money Does Not Come Back Automatically on Its Own

The point that many victims misunderstand the most is the belief that once the account is frozen, the matter is over. The truth is that the freeze is only a stop keeping the money from flowing out any further. For the money to return to the victim's hands, there must be an order or a judgment backed by due process.

This is the reason one should not stop at merely reporting the freeze — and it is the right moment to consult a lawyer about whether to proceed with the criminal route alone, or whether to file a civil lawsuit alongside it as well.

Criminal and Civil Proceedings Can Be Used Together

• Criminal proceedings aim to prosecute the wrongdoer. They provide a channel that allows asset freezes and the tracing of financial trails to move forward, and in many cases the injured party can request compensation within the criminal case.
• Civil proceedings aim to obtain a judgment ordering payment of money, which can then be used to enforce against assets that have been located.

The deciding factor as to which path to take is not a matter of feeling, but two questions: whether the wrongdoer can be traced and what assets remain for enforcement. If you can answer these two questions, choosing the path is not difficult. The procedures for asset tracing and enforcement are in the guide Debt Collection, Asset Tracing, and Enforcement.

Common Traps After Becoming a Victim

• Being scammed again by someone claiming to help recover your money — Victim lists are passed around, so people often contact you offering money-recovery services and charging fees in advance. Be especially cautious with those who guarantee that you will definitely get your money back, because no one can give such a guarantee.
• Demanding the money back yourself or publicly shaming the perpetrator on social media — This may make you the subject of new accusations and cause the perpetrator to become more cautious and move the money even faster.
• Waiting to see whether they will contact you back — This is the most damaging of all, because the time spent waiting is time in which the money is being moved and dispersed.

Short Summary

1. Stop transferring money immediately, whatever reason is claimed.
2. Call the bank first, and note down the report reference number.
3. Keep the entire set of evidence before the other side deletes it; do not block them.
4. File a police report online to obtain a report reference number, then meet with the investigating officer.
5. Do not stop at the freeze — the money will not be returned automatically.
6. Assess together with a lawyer whether a civil claim should be pursued in parallel.

Read more

• Debt Collection, Asset Search, and Enforcement in Thailand
• What to Do If You Receive a Police Summons
• Mule Account Defense: A Complete Guide
• A Guide to Criminal Cases in Thailand

This guide was prepared by Suwanvara Law Firm — founded in B.E. 2529, with its head office in Khon Kaen and a branch in Bangkok. This content is general information and is not legal advice for any specific case. The outcome of each matter depends on its own facts and evidence. Before taking any action, you should consult with a professional.