PHUKET, THAILAND – A visit to a beauty clinic in Phuket reportedly turned into a financial nightmare after staff allegedly used a customer’s unlocked phone to carry out unauthorized transactions.
Clinic visit on 9 December ends in shock
A female customer arrived at a Phuket beauty clinic on 9 December for treatment. While she was lying with her eyes closed, an employee identified only as “N” offered an additional package for 13,000 baht (around 325 euros). Later, another staff member proposed paying in instalments via Shopee, and the trusting client handed over her unlocked smartphone so the payment could be set up.
Bank call reveals massive credit card charge
Shortly afterwards, her phone rang: Krungthai Bank sought confirmation for a credit card transaction of 227,000 baht (about 5,675 euros). Still in the clinic, the woman denied the payment in shock. She confronted the staff and discovered they had opened her credit card app in her absence and debited the large amount for services that had never been agreed.
Additional loan taken via Shopee account
The alleged fraud did not stop there, as the perpetrators had also accessed her Shopee account and taken out a loan of 40,800 baht (about 1,020 euros). From the originally agreed 13,000 baht, the woman was left facing more than 267,800 baht (around 6,695 euros) in unauthorized charges. The clinic promised assistance, but the customer no longer trusted the assurances and filed a complaint with the authorities.
At least nine alleged victims connect online
Through a well-known Phuket Facebook page, two affected people came forward publicly. They reported being in contact with at least seven further victims who had experienced similar incidents. Another person described a loss of 150,000 baht, and the group of victims now planned to join forces and pursue legal action together against the clinic.
Warning to tourists and residents in Thailand
The method was described as particularly insidious because it exploited trust and inattention during a relaxed treatment situation. The victims were effectively defenceless, lying with their eyes closed while under treatment.
“Give your unlocked phone to no one, especially not with open banking apps.”
said victims in a public warning.
Investigations underline risks of unlocked devices
Investigations were under way into the alleged fraud, which highlighted what one report called Phuket’s “new, ugly face of deception” inside a supposedly trustworthy beauty clinic. The cases served as a stark reminder of how quickly large sums could vanish when an unlocked smartphone was handed over.
“One moment of trust, an unlocked smartphone – and suddenly tens of thousands are gone.”
said affected customers discussing the incidents online.