Free SIM scam hits schoolkidsThe Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) has ordered mobile phone operators to clarify their role in a case in which schoolchildren were allegedly deceived into scanning their faces in exchange for free SIM cards. Officers raided eight locations in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Samut Prakan and Prachuap Khiri Khan, uncovering a scheme in which students were lured to join "free SIM giveaway" activities. Their personal data was then allegedly used to register so-called ghost SIM cards, which were later sold to scam networks. Police seized 2,160 SIM cards, two mobile phones and documents related to SIM distribution and advertising. The PDPC stated that facial data significantly affects the rights and freedoms of children, who are considered a vulnerable group under the Personal Data Protection Act.

Source: Bangkok Post February 28, 2026 06:09 UTC