Section 269/2 — Forging an electronic card
English translation
Whoever makes a false electronic card in whole or in part, adds to or removes data, or alters by any means a genuine electronic card, in a manner likely to cause damage to another person or to the public, if the act is done in order to make any person believe that it is a genuine electronic card, commits the offence of forging an electronic card and shall be liable to imprisonment from one year to five years, or a fine from twenty thousand baht to one hundred thousand baht, or both.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 269/2 is the card equivalent of the document forgery in Section 264, mirroring its structure. Its elements are: (1) making a false electronic card wholly or partly, or adding, removing, or altering data on a genuine card; (2) a manner likely to cause damage to another or the public; and (3) intent to make a person believe it is a genuine electronic card. It is the general forging offence for the Chapter; Section 269/3 raises the penalty where the forged card is a payment or withdrawal card issued to an entitled user. Using or possessing for use a card forged under this section is separately punishable under Section 269/4.
Why this matters in practice
Section 269/2 carries a one-year minimum prison term, which makes it materially more serious than ordinary document forgery, and courts have imposed cumulative punishment where several forged cards are made or held with intent to use each separately. Prosecutions are typically multi-count and bundle forging, using, and possessing offences (Sections 269/2 to 269/7) with theft under Section 334. Where the forged card is a payment or cash-withdrawal card, expect the heavier Section 269/3 instead. The defence usually contests intent to deceive or the likelihood of damage. For related material see fraud and scam laws in Thailand.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2490/2558 (2015)
Where an offender intends each forged card to be used separately, in a manner likely to cause damage to the cardholder or issuing bank, holding several forged cards for use constitutes several distinct offences, one per card.
The defendants were charged under Sections 269/1, 269/2, 269/4, and 269/7 for forged payment cards. Because each card was intended to be used separately, the conduct was held to be five counts of jointly possessing electronic cards for use.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1517/2564 (2021)
Forging an electronic card under Section 269/2 supports conviction alongside document forgery and theft, because a payment card is treated as both an electronic card and a right document.
In a multi-count prosecution under Sections 264, 265, 266, 269/1, 269/2, 269/4, and 269/7 together with theft under Section 334, the defendant was convicted on several counts, with the payment card treated as both a right document and an electronic card.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
What is the penalty for forging a credit or ATM card?
Under Section 269/2, forging an electronic card carries imprisonment of one to five years, a fine of 20,000 to 100,000 baht, or both. If the forged card is a payment or cash-withdrawal card issued to a user, the heavier Section 269/3 applies.
Are multiple forged cards counted separately?
Yes. Where several forged cards are made or held with the intent that each be used separately, courts treat them as several distinct offences and impose cumulative punishment.