PATTAYA, Thailand – Tourist Police have arrested an Indian national accused of illegally working as a fortune teller in Pattaya, allegedly approaching visitors and claiming they were facing bad luck before requesting payments for spiritual remedies. The arrest followed complaints from residents and tourists about a group of Indian men dressed in a manner resembling religious figures who were approaching visitors around Pattaya’s tourist areas, including beaches, restaurants, and coffee shops. Investigators said the suspects allegedly used claims such as “your luck is falling,” “a major misfortune is coming,” or “your good deeds are not bringing results” to convince people they needed fortune readings or rituals to remove bad karma.
The alleged fortune-telling process involved palm reading, face reading, lucky numbers, red threads, and religious-style charms to create credibility before requesting payment. Police said fees started at around 199 baht, with some victims allegedly being pressured to pay thousands of baht for additional “cleansing” ceremonies. At around 1:20 p.m. on July 16, 2026, Tourist Police investigators inspected a coffee shop in Pattaya and found a 36-year-old Indian man, identified as Mr. Singh, allegedly providing fortune-telling services to tourists.
Officers checked his documents and found he did not have a valid work permit. A tourist who reported the incident told police that the man approached them and claimed they had bad luck before offering a fortune reading. The visitor and a friend paid 200 baht each for the service, after which the man allegedly requested an additional 1,900 baht for a karma-removal ceremony. They refused, saying they did not have enough money. Police charged Singh with working in Thailand without permission and engaging in an occupation without a valid work permit. He was taken to Pattaya City Police Station for legal proceedings. Police said the suspect admitted receiving money from fortune-telling activities. Tourist Police warned visitors to be cautious of strangers who approach them claiming they have bad luck or need special ceremonies, as such tactics may be used to pressure people into paying money. Authorities encouraged anyone encountering similar behavior to contact the Tourist Police hotline at 1155, available 24 hours a day.
