European Hacker Arrested for Scamming Pattaya Hotel Guests

A European man, identified as Mikael, 42, was arrested in Pattaya for hacking a hotel database and scamming guests. He posed as a senior hotel employee, claiming guests had damaged property and demanding compensation. Victims, including both Thai and foreign nationals, lost approximately 100,000 baht in total. The suspect used specialized forensic tools to decrypt data and created a fake website and email account to facilitate the scam. Over 35 guests fell for the fraudulent claims and transferred money to his account. Police seized 20 electronic devices from his residence in Bang Lamung district. He faces charges of unauthorized access to computer data and inputting false data into a computer system. Cyber police are advising potential victims to verify claims with the hotel and report to authorities.

Key Points: • A European man was arrested for scamming hotel guests in Pattaya using a hacked database. • The scam involved over 35 victims and total losses estimated at 100,000 baht. • The suspect created a fake website and email to impersonate hotel staff.