Two Australian tourists have reported being deceived into purchasing herbal coffee products at an inflated price in Pattaya, prompting a police investigation and renewed concerns over alleged scams targeting visitors.
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At 6.10pm on 18 June 2026, Pattaya City Police received a report that two foreign tourists had been persuaded to buy herbal products and slimming coffee at excessive prices. Officers and reporters travelled to a convenience store on Pattaya Second Road to investigate.
The tourists were identified as Henry Reddy, 56, and Sam Alsuhery, 29, both from Australia. They said two foreign men wearing red and black shirts approached them and struck up a conversation before leading them to a herbal products shop located inside a market on Pattaya Second Road.
According to the tourists, the sellers initially offered the products for 4,600 baht before gradually increasing the price to 9,600 baht. They were ultimately charged a total of 14,600 baht for two bags of herbal coffee, which the sellers claimed could be used as an effective weight-loss product.
After becoming suspicious, the pair consulted their Thai driver, who warned them they may have fallen victim to a herbal product scam. They then contacted police and requested an investigation.
When officers and reporters arrived at the shop, they found products displayed inside but no staff or sellers present. The individuals involved had apparently left the area before authorities arrived.
Nopparat, 49, the taxi driver and friend of the victims, reported he had been showing the tourists condominiums in Pattaya and said the men had originally wanted to buy medicine for stomach pain and were directed to a convenience store. He later noticed they had been approached by strangers and taken elsewhere.
He said he became concerned after learning the tourists did not know the individuals who approached them. Nopparat added that he had previously seen news reports and social media videos describing similar herbal product scams.
Picture courtesy of แจ็ค โพธิ์แดง
Police advised the tourists to file an official complaint at Pattaya City Police Station so the case could be recorded and used to help identify and prosecute those responsible. Although the tourists considered the financial loss relatively minor, officers stressed that filing a report was important for broader investigations.
The pair later met detectives and provided photographs and video footage of the alleged perpetrators as evidence. They told reporters they were less concerned about recovering the money than preventing other tourists from becoming victims.
Investigators are expected to review the evidence supplied by the tourists and continue efforts to identify those involved. The case adds to previous reports alleging that groups of Pakistani nationals have been selling herbal products and making exaggerated health claims to tourists in Pattaya, with complaints reportedly occurring on a regular basis.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now แจ็ค โพธิ์แดง 19 June 2026
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