One of 3 “fake” officials
caught on camera before he and his accomplices were about to sneak out
of the police station during a similar extortion scam in November 2012.
Sutini Munnoisu / Warunya Thongrod
A gang of grifters operating in the Soi Bunkanchanaram
neighborhood again has authorities warning business owners about
music-copyright scams.
Piyada Pleesai, 34, said a group of about six men recently came into her
restaurant claiming to represent the Inter Music Copyright Co. One was
dressed as a policeman and demanded she pay 30,000 baht for playing
music in her eatery without buying a music license.
Piyada wisely went to police at the Dongtan station, but found that the
officers offered her no assistance and told her to negotiate with the
scammers herself. She claimed police told her that if she didn’t, she’d
be locked up.
Piyada negotiated the extortion down to 15,000 baht, but said that she’d
been victimized earlier by the same scam.
The fraudsters apparently have been operating for some time, as the
owner of Bagga Massage reported a similar scam in August last year. That
time, however, the masseuse said she refused to pay and was beaten up by
the gang members.
In March, the Central Committee of Price, Products and Services of the
Department of Internal Trade listed only 10 companies authorized to
collect license fees and fines: GMM Music Publishing International Co.,
Thai Copyright Collection Co., RMS Publishing Co., MPS Music Co., TCC
SPC Co., Partner Smile Co., CMC Entertainment Co., VPP Center Music Co.,
Intellectual Property Management Co., and Limited Partnership. Any
others should be reported to the department for investigation.
Of course, that doesn’t stop grifters from claiming they are from
authorized companies. And if unscrupulous law enforcement is sharing in
the extortion proceeds, business owners will continue to find themselves
at a disadvantage.
However, in a similar situation in November last year, when the
fraudsters demanded compensation of 30,000 baht, a pizza restaurant
owner being extorted managed to call their bluff by asking police to
call GMM to verify their identity. Realizing their trick was up, the
gang used the commotion and confusion at the station as cover to flee,
leaving the pizza cooks and their music behind. Reporters did manage to
take a photo of one of them.
Until Thailand changes its bizarre practice of charging business owners
simply to play music they already legally own - as is the case in most
countries - then the scams will continue. The best business owners can
do to protect themselves is make sure they’ve paid for music licenses.
If music-copyright scammers are caught and prosecuted, they face jail
terns of 3-5 years and fines of up to 10,000 baht. Those needing help or
assistance can call the Department of Intellectual Property at
02-547-4421-25 or 1368.
