Thai Hacker Arrested for Tampering a Telecom Network

A Thai citizen faces accusation of causing harm to two regional telecom firms worth Bt100 million. Taweesap, alias Phumipat, Lalitsasiwimol, 34, has his name in a book listing world's wittiest thefts for a hacking crime he previously committed. Police arrested Taweesap on May 15, 2007 from his apartment at Wong Charoen at Soi Lat Phrao 13.

Police collected two notebook PCs, a hard disk, mobile phones, passbooks and a credit card. There was also a book titled, Plon Yiab Mek (High-Profile Robberies), which included Taweesap's story as the third most dangerous villain.

In April this year, a complaint was filed by Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS) with police reporting that an unidentified person hacked into its network (computer system) tampering airline grants AIS provided to its pre-paid mobile phone users. The incident caused the organization a loss of Bt8 million.

Investigators reviewing AIS database found traces that first misled them to search different Internet cafes. But when they read police records they came across a similar fraud with TA Orange in 2005. TA Orange, now called True Move is a mobile phone operator. When Taweesap allegedly intruded into AIS's system he was already on bail for another hacking crime he was allegedly involved, with Orange network.

Taweesap is charged for making fake documents and employing them in AIS incident. Crime Suppression Division deputy commander Colonel Kowit Wongrungroj said on May 15, 2007 that the computer-skilled Taweesap was able to invade the telecom network in approximately 10 minutes. The Nation reported this on May 16, 2007.

Wiwat Kamcham-narn - the Pol Lt Col and deputy superintendent with the CSD & chief investigator in the AIS incident said his men were able to trace Taweesap after they located a person owning a SIM-card thought to have earned tampered airline allowances. The person had purchased the SIM from Taweesap, as reported by The Nation on May 16, 2007.

Wiwat said initially it seemed that Taweesap accessed the system from Internet cafes since he employed many SIM-cards and used different service providers' Internet connections. But using advanced technology Wiwat's team got hold of Taweesap's real activities.

Related article: THE SPAM MAFIA

» SPAMfighter News - 5/21/2007