HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Another ATM scam

Suggestion in regards to “Falang Hunting”

Water, water everywhere … for wasting

Serve and protect

Waterfront menace

Another ATM scam

Dear Pattaya Mail;
I thought I would write to inform you of a recent experience that I had at an ATM machine in Pattaya 2nd Rd near Soi Pattayaland 1, as you may wish to warn your readers of an obvious scam operation that fortunately did not succeed on me.
I live and work in Jomtien and have an account with Siam Commercial Bank. Unfortunately my mother in England recently died and I had to hurriedly arrange a return trip to attend her funeral. I had collected my air ticket from the travel agent and before booking my taxi to the airport for the next day I stopped at the ATM concerned to withdraw 5000 baht.
I observed my usual caution when entering my pin no. and duly received my money; however, when I walked away from the machine and was about to cross 2nd Rd a tall farang man who I believe to be a non-native English speaking European ran up to me waving a 1000 baht note telling me that the machine was still paying out money and that I needed to return to the machine to “Conclude my transaction”. Naturally my first reaction, which is what the scammers rely on, was that the guy was very honest and obviously, not thinking too clearly, I was concerned that my money was still being paid out.
I walked back to the machine where another French guy was standing who told me that I should replace my ATM card, type in my pin no. and press some buttons to conclude my transaction. Probably because my mind was on other things I foolishly did so and did not take my usual precaution of concealing my pin no. The result was that the machine “swallowed” my card and the 2nd guy kept telling me to type in my pin no. again which again I did as I was now desperate to get my card back as I was leaving for the airport in the morning and had about 100,000 baht in my account.
The 2nd guy then put his own card in the machine, which I assume was to clone mine, and whilst he and his friend were chatting to me, I glanced over my shoulder and noticed that he deliberately covered the display screen with his hand by pretending to lean on the machine.
Another thing I recalled after the event was that the first guy was pretending to read an advert in the window of the adjoining shop and was writing something down in a small notebook, presumably my pin no. that was being conveyed to him by his partner by way of hand signals behind my back.
After what seemed an eternity, and when I was about to walk away faced with having to visit my bank at 8.30 in the morning to cancel my card, my card emerged from the machine which I obviously put in my wallet and walked away leaving the 2 guys still at the machine.
All this happened very quickly and at the time I did not suspect anything as my main concern was retrieving my card.
As I walked away I suspected that these 2 “Good Samaritans” were up to something and were relying on the 1000 baht bait and quick talking to make me drop my guard. Praying that they did not do anything with the cloned card too quickly, I raced like something possessed to the large Siam Commercial Bank on 2nd Rd and immediately changed my pin no. and when the bank opened next morning, as an added security as I was leaving the country for at least 2 weeks, I transferred the entire contents of my account to another account, as I did not know whether these guys had the technology to override the fact that I had changed my pin no.
Of course it could have all been genuine and I had encountered 2 of the most honest and helpful Europeans in Pattaya but should you choose to print this letter, I will leave your readers to decide.
My advice is that if the same thing happens to anyone else they should take the offered “bait” of 1000 baht but decline to return to the machine and tell the guys that they will sort it out with their bank and then take the nearest policeman to meet them!
Yours sincerely,
Mick Shrosbree

Suggestion in regards to “Falang Hunting”

Editor;
It’s unfortunate that some of Pattaya’s police are as corrupt as the day is long. It wasn’t always this bad. I would suggest that the falang involved in the “Accident Scam” make an official complaint to his embassy. When enough complaints are logged, embassies have no other choice but to investigate matters and possibly issue travel notices. This was obviously a scam as the scammers did not want to talk to your insurance agent and the sum requested sounds inadequate for the damage described.
I would suggest that all foreigners get proper insurance and carry a camera in their vehicle. When confronted with this type of situation, start taking pictures and go to court with your insurance company if you have to. Having a good insurance agent helps. If needed, find a good lawyer and request your embassy send an observer for the proceedings. Once in Thai court, the stakes are generally far too high and the scammers can’t be sure just how much money a foreigner has in reserve overseas to “buy all the justice he requires under Thai Law”.
If you are clearly being scammed and your embassy sends an “observer”, you will normally get a square deal in court. If both your insurance company and embassy get involved, it will never get that far. Basically, these types of scammers back down quickly when they realize they brought a knife to a gunfight. I’m the type that if it got beyond the police station, I would also go after the scammer in a counter suit and press the police (in Bangkok) to file charges against the scam artist for their criminal act.
Thailand could easily find itself in the position of Aruba if it keeps screwing with foreigners and foreigners start standing up for their right to basic fair treatment. The people in Bangkok aren’t stupid and understand what is going on down here.
Over the last ten years, I’ve had a scam or two tried and was the one to call the police so a police report can be made for my insurance company. So far, in all cases the other party just left - very quickly. If you are on the phone first (with a camera in hand), these types of people figure you have a “friend” on the force or have connections. Also, connections don’t hurt. If they would always find themselves in court when dealing with foreigners, they would just go back to scamming each other because we would be too much trouble.
The Anti-Federalist

Water, water everywhere … for wasting

Editor,
For two weeks running in the past month the Pattaya Mail had front page articles from city hall and the Water Dept. stating that we would have no water shortages in Pattaya this year.
In one major case, they are right. There has been no shortage of water to be thrown on the streets during Songkran. What I don’t understand though, is why have I not had any water running from the pipes in my home for the past week?
It seems to me, Thailand needs to adopt the Lao laws recently passed, and outlaw throwing of water from any vehicle, and outlaw throwing of water at any vehicle or pedestrian. Go back to the true spirit of Songkran.
I sure would like to take a shower this morning, but it seems the only way I’ll be able to do that is to go out on Pattaya Klang and join the crowd.
Charlie Brown
Soi Keow Noi
Pattaya

Serve and protect

Editor;
Having lived in this wonderful city for numerous years (my choice) I thought that I had heard (or even been involved) in most stories involving Pattaya’s finest police force. However, a few days ago I was ‘stopped’ (unjustly) for riding ‘the wrong way’ up a one way street. On dismounting my scooter I turned off the engine and removed my crash helmet so that I could speak with the officer. He then informed me that ‘’fine’’ for not wearing a helmet and driving without lights was 600 baht, couple this with the 200 baht fine for allegedly going the wrong way I would have to go to the police station and pay a total of 800 baht and in his words “probably stay long time as Police very busy”. On seeing that I was slightly perturbed he offered me an interesting solution.
“You like Thai-boxing?” he asks me, to which I reply “sometimes”. “Ah good idea you buy ticket for boxing off me (500 baht) and no have to go Police Station.” Torn between an arch criminal and a fool, I paid the said amount and I was on my way (the correct way). Later, on reflection, I had to applaud the officer on his ingenuity, as the ticket for the boxing match had expired over one week earlier.
Yours,
Well and truly done.
Chris

Waterfront menace

Editor;
A new form of pollution has emerged on Pattaya’s inadequately regulated waterfront. This takes the form of small, one-man boats which skim and bounce over the water, emitting a plume of spray at the rear. These vessels make a louder and nastier racket than a 750cc motorbike. In addition, they thud and bounce over the water and this causes more unpleasant noise. Because they can operate in very shallow water the boats are often driven close into the shoreline and this endangers swimmers and fishermen. It is possible to smell these boats because they spray the air and water with engine fuel – an extra form of pollution on top of the noise.
These water toys seem to give pleasure to a small number of young louts who are not short of money while causing annoyance and danger to much larger numbers of people on the waterfront. It is unfortunate that certain local companies are seeking to make a profit out of vessels that are clearly antisocial and most unwelcome. It is probably pointless to ask if these boats are being licensed and regulated by the local authority.
The companies who are supplying these playthings should take note that some of Pattaya’s more prestigious waterfront hotels are concerned. Before more vessels are ordered and put on the water they should consider their legal position.
Waterfront resident
Jomtien

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