Recently, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in Thailand cracked a major cybercrime case, where a hacker group infiltrated several provincial government websites to channel traffic to illegal gambling platforms, involving funds exceeding 20 billion Thai Baht. During the operation, 16 suspects were arrested, exposing cybersecurity vulnerabilities and the professional operation of the criminal gang.
Criminal Methods and Intrusion Details
The gang has long attacked the official government websites of places like Trang and Phuket provinces, by implanting malicious scripts that automatically redirect visitors to gambling pages. Additionally, they created fake backlinks to boost the websites' rankings in search engines, misleading the public into thinking these platforms were government-supported.
Gang Operation and Money Laundering
The investigation revealed that the criminal organization had a clear division of labor, with some members responsible for technical intrusions and others for operating gambling platforms and managing funds. They used hundreds of bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets for money laundering, with huge daily transaction volumes involving fraud, money laundering, and other crimes.
Law Enforcement Actions and Subsequent Impact
DSI successfully arrested 16 suspects, including the core culprits, and is pursuing other fugitive members. The case has exposed weak links in the security of Thailand's government systems. DSI has requested a comprehensive review of vulnerabilities and strengthened protection to prevent similar crimes from recurring.
