An Indian tourist begging locals for money has been arrested by immigration officers for allegedly overstaying his visa in Thailand.

Shahul Kandathilparambil Shamsh, 26, had been using a translation app to ask passers-by for cash in the Hat Yai District of Songkhla province.

He would reportedly claim that his ATM card was malfunctioning, approaching residents for funds to cover his food and rent, and promising to return the money to them later on.

The alleged scammer's deceit was exposed when a concerned local posted online that the motorcycle-riding visitor had been roaming the district and repeatedly soliciting financial aid for several months.

Immigration authorities acted on the complaints and tracked down the Indian man, who was found and detained at the Premsuk Resort on November 7.

Shahul reportedly admitted to the trickery and told police he had entered Thailand on July 7. He said he was driven to scamming people as he had used up all of his savings before he could fly to his original destination, Malaysia.

He added he had been carrying out the scheme for at least two months, and would usually receive up to 1,000 THB (28 USD) from sympathetic lenders.

Authorities said Shahul will be charged for staying in Thailand on an expired visa. They said he had overstayed in the country for 113 days.