Pattaya/Chonburi, Thailand
Thai cyber police have arrested a 42-year-old dual Swedish-Finnish national identified only as Mr. Mikael for allegedly hacking into a prominent hotel’s guest database in Pattaya. He is accused of using the stolen information to impersonate hotel staff and extort money from guests by falsely claiming they had damaged hotel property.
According to Pol Maj Gen Siriwat Deepor, commander of Cyber Crime Investigation Division 1, and other officials from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, the suspect was apprehended on Wednesday, April 29th, 2026, at a residence in Moo 2, Tambon Takhian Tia. Authorities seized around 20–25 electronic devices, including computers, hard drives, and mobile phones.
The suspect, an IT specialist, had been living with his Thai wife for over eight years. She worked at the unnamed hotel, which reportedly gave him access to the guest database through their marital relationship. He allegedly used this information to create fake hotel websites and email accounts, then contacted guests claiming they owed compensation for damaged items.
More than 35 victims, both Thai and foreign nationals, reportedly fell for the scam and transferred money, with total losses estimated at around 100,000 baht (approximately USD 3,000). The hotel became aware of the fraudulent messages and reported the incident to cyber police.
The man faces charges under Thailand’s Computer Crime Act, including unauthorized access to computer data protected by security measures and inputting false data into a computer system.
Cyber police have urged potential past or current victims, including tourists, to verify any suspicious demands directly with the hotel before making payments and to report incidents to authorities. They explained the importance of contacting the hotel to confirm legitimacy in such cases.
This incident shows ongoing concerns about cybersecurity in Thailand’s tourism sector, particularly in popular destinations like Pattaya, where hotels handle sensitive guest data. Investigations are continuing.
