PATTAYA, THAILAND – Police investigated a series of distraction scams that allegedly left tourists from China, Russia and Germany with heavy financial losses.
Chinese visitor reports missing cash
The 34-year-old Chinese tourist Wen Zhao was the first to report the scam, arriving visibly upset at the police station in Mueang Pattaya shortly after midnight. Outside the Akara Hotel Pattaya, a foreign-looking man had approached him and asked to see Chinese banknotes.
“Wen took both Chinese and Thai cash out of his pocket,”
said police. The man appeared to examine the notes and then returned them, but Zhao later discovered that 11,000 baht (about 275 euros) were missing.
Russian couple fall for similar trick
Only hours later, Russian couple Aleksandr Kaminski (42) and his wife filed a complaint at the same station, describing a strikingly similar experience. In an outlet on Thep Prasit Road, a foreign couple struck up a friendly conversation before suddenly asking to see the Russians’ wallet.
Kaminski showed his wallet, and the pair handed it straight back. When he checked later, 41,900 rubles (about 16,800 baht or 420 euros) had disappeared.
Suspects described as foreign nationals
According to victim descriptions, the alleged perpetrators were foreign nationals, possibly from an Arab country. Police said they were reviewing CCTV footage from both locations but had made no arrests so far.
Officers stated that the method appeared consistent: the scammers used politeness and distraction to remove money unnoticed, with victims often realizing the loss only much later.
German tourist faces major card loss
On 12 November, a German tourist reportedly became the victim of a related scheme involving a credit card. A man, believed to be from the Middle East, allegedly persuaded him to buy hair care products.
The tourist agreed to pay 4,000 baht, but the scammer then charged 4,000 euros (about 140,000 baht) to his credit card. The incident suggested the group shifted tactics between cash theft and card fraud.
Police issue warning to Pattaya visitors
Police warned all tourists to be cautious of seemingly harmless encounters involving money or cards. They urged visitors never to show their wallet or credit cards to strangers.
Officers described the scammers as masters of distraction who likely operated in teams, with one suspect engaging the victim while an accomplice acted in the background. For the defrauded tourists, the main hope lay in CCTV images leading to identifications, though authorities indicated the chances of success were low.
Rising concern over safety in the resort city
According to the account, a simple smile and a casual question were often enough to mislead tourists, without violence or haste, using a refined trick that appeared to be working more frequently. Observers in the report questioned whether warning signs and police patrols were sufficient, or whether much tougher measures against foreign offender groups would be needed.