A Thai man reported losing 58,000 baht to a group of foreign suspects near a bank in central Phuket on May 4. The incident occurred after the victim, having withdrawn cash, was approached by a foreign woman who appeared to express interest in exchanging currency.
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The man stated that he had withdrawn money from a local bank around 6pm and was leaving the premises by 10pm. In the process, a woman who seemed to be of Middle Eastern descent engaged him in conversation outside the bank where four foreigners were seen in a car. She requested to see Thai banknotes under the guise of a currency exchange.
During the interaction, the woman reportedly reached into the man’s bag and handled his cash while feigning excitement. The victim, unaware of her actions at the time, later discovered the discrepancy after returning home and realizing that 58,000 baht was missing.
He promptly returned to the location and informed local authorities. Phuket police responded by gathering evidence from the bank and plan to examine CCTV footage to identify those involved. As of now, there have been no further updates from police regarding the suspects.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 04 Mar 2026
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