Self-Taught Hacker Arrested in Phuket After Cyber Fraud and Attempt to Erase Criminal Warrants

Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau officers have arrested a 26-year-old suspect in Phuket accused of carrying out online fraud and attempting to hack police systems to erase his own criminal records. Investigators say the man, despite having only a primary school education, learned advanced hacking techniques by using AI-powered chatbots and other artificial intelligence tools.

According to Cyber Police, the suspect, identified only as Sahachat, admitted that his original goal was to gain unauthorized access to the Royal Thai Police database in an effort to remove outstanding arrest warrants issued against him. After failing to penetrate the police system, he turned his attention to private websites that were less secure.

Authorities said his latest target was Firstup.in.th, an online platform providing mobile top-up and gaming credit services.

Investigators allege that Sahachat exploited weaknesses in the site's payment system, making the platform register unsuccessful payments as completed transactions. This allowed him to obtain fraudulent account credits, which he later converted into prepaid game vouchers. The company estimated its financial losses at more than 200,000 baht.

Following the investigation, Cyber Police Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapol Prembutr ordered a joint operation with officers from Police Region 8. Acting under court-approved search and arrest warrants, officers raided a rented room in Talad Yai, Phuket Town.

During the search, police seized desktop computers, laptop computers, four mobile phones, a firearm with ammunition, and 80 methamphetamine tablets.

Further investigation revealed that the suspect was already wanted under five separate arrest warrants on allegations including robbery, fraud and computer-related offences.

During questioning, Sahachat reportedly told investigators that while hiding near the Myanmar border, he used AI chatbots and other artificial intelligence tools to teach himself programming, identify software vulnerabilities and develop hacking tools.

He described artificial intelligence as his primary instructor, saying it helped him master technical skills despite having no formal education in computer science.