British tourist, 50, wanted over luxury hotels card fraud arrested in Bangkok

A British tourist suspected of being a hacker was arrested over alleged credit card fraud in Thailand.

Josh, 50, from Northern Ireland, reportedly checked into luxury hotels using credit cards that later bounced.

Police launched an investigation following a complaint from the Hotel Security Association.

Dozens of five-star hotels were unable to claim payment after the legitimate card owners froze their cards upon discovering Josh's unauthorised transactions.

The suspect also allegedly tried hacking hotel security systems with forged electronic cards to access lifts and guest rooms, but the attempts were unsuccessful.

Josh had allegedly escaped arrest for two years by hiring Thai women to book rooms on his behalf.

But he was finally detained at a hotel in Bangkok's On Nut area on February 19, when officials learned he was about to check in with another Thai woman.

The Brit was charged with 'fraud, importing false computer data into a system in a manner likely to cause damage to any person, and accessing a computer system with specific access prevention measures not intended for his own use'.

He had reportedly caused around 1.7 million baht in damages.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Suthee Theerasawat of Immigration Division 1 said: ‘We handed the suspect over to the inquiry officer at Thong Lor Police Station for further legal action.'

Police Major General Prasath Khemprasit, Commander of Immigration Division 1, said: 'The Immigration Bureau will continue to enforce the law strictly and consistently, as directed by our superiors, to prevent further offences.'