Pattaya: Two pub owners fall for man claiming to be "deputy chief of police" in Covid cases

[webfact]

Picture: Siam Chon News

 

Two well known pub owners in Pattaya have fallen for a old trick.

 

After their places were raided for breaking Covid-19 regulations they got calls from a man claiming to be a policeman of the rank of deputy commander. 

 

He said for the payment of a fee - in one case 90,000 and in another 40,000 baht - he could get everything sorted out and end the case.

 

The owners believed him and also believed that the money must be transferred - CCTV meant that it couldn't be delivered in person, suggested the man on the other end of the line. 

 

Perhaps not surprisingly the man subsequently disappeared with all the pub owners' money and they were forced to go to the Pattaya police to report it. 

 

Siam Chon News reported that many places have been raided during the pandemic with owners and customers hauled off to the police station. 

 

Picture: Siam Chon News

 

But two had a double whammy. 

 

The first was a man called Prakop or "Sia Hua" who owns the Add Time pub that was raided in February.

 

He said he got a call from a man who said he was a deputy chief called "Day" and for 90,000 baht he could sort everything out. 

 

After the money was transferred he disappeared into thin air. 

 

Sia Hua said this was "terrible" especially coming on top of the pandemic and all the trouble that has caused. 

 

The second case featured Wattana or Sia Geng aged 49 the owner of Sky Mountain (Bali Hai Cape) that was raided just last Wednesday.

 

He got a call from someone identifying himself as "Ton" and after several phone calls it was decided that Sia Geng would need to pay 40,000 baht. 

 

He asked if his staff could bring the money round but was told that with CCTV eveywhere that was not possible so he must transfer it. This was done in two lots, 10,000 baht and then 30,000 baht. 

 

Picture: Siam Chon News

 

He took the precaution of recording all conversations.

 

In a final act of bravado the fraudster said to Sia Geng: "Let's go and have a meal together when all this is over".

 

He too disappeared.

 

Both men have been to Pattaya police to report their losses and the case is being handled by Pol Lt Amornthep Petchthim.

 

The lieutenant warned pub owners not to believe these scoundrels (the fraudsters, not the police).

 

He advised people to only deal directly with the constabulary to avoid becoming victims twice over. 

 

In the case of being prosecuted for Covid matters in breaking the emergency decree both owners have already admitted their culpability. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-05-31

 

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[champers]

I thought this was going to be a love story - a gleesome threesome.

[Susco]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

Sia Hua said this was "terrible" especially coming on top of the pandemic and all the trouble that has caused. 

 

Agreed, engaging in corruption is terrible, especially when it doesn't work out for you.

 

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

The lieutenant warned pub owners not to believe these scoundrels (the fraudsters, not the police).

 

Obviously the pub owners got used over the years that things can be arranged with REAL police officers, if the price is right, maybe time to do something about that lieutenant......................or do you suggest that next time they call the station to confirm that the scoundrel is a real policeman?

[NCC1701A]

3 minutes ago, champers said:

I thought this was going to be a love story - a gleesome threesome.

glad there is no CCTV of that. 

[wprime]

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

The lieutenant warned pub owners not to believe these scoundrels (the fraudsters, not the police).

 

Thanks for the clarification.

[colinneil]

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

After the money was transferred he disappeared into thin air. 

How bloody stupid can you get?

Transferring money without out first checking, but hey just shows how gullible some folk are.

[Geoffggi]

Thai Rak Thai ........................LOL

[jacko45k]

And can transferred money not be tracked to a recipient or did they use some method I am not familiar with.?

A bit ironic really, double whammy for breaking the rules. 

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

they got calls from a man claiming to be a policeman of the rank of deputy commander. 

Well somehow he got their numbers, I suspect a policeman at some level was involved. 

[smedly]

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

He advised people to only deal directly with the constabulary to avoid becoming victims twice over. 

555  

[worgeordie]

Sounds like an inside job, otherwise how would someone

know the details of whom was in trouble with the Police.

regards Worgeordie

[DerbyDan]

20 minutes ago, colinneil said:

How bloody stupid can you get?

Transferring money without out first checking, but hey just shows how gullible some folk are.

People don't get smarter. The same scams that worked years ago will always work.

[jaltsc]

"...they were forced to go to the Pattaya police to report it. "

 

TIT...where you go to the police to report that someone ripped you off while you were attempting to break the law. 

 

Lesson learned...Go directly to the top when making a payoff to skirt the law. Don't ever use a  middle man. Even if he is telling you the truth, it will cost you more, since he then has to pay off the higher ups. 

Edited May 31, 2021 by jaltsc

[OneMoreFarang]

Any pub owner should know the important police officers personally.

If someone calls you: Let me check that with Somchai... 

[ezzra]

Sigh... what has the world have become to that you can't even trust people calling you on the phone calming to be police officers? Oh wait, i forgot, this IS Thailand...

[BenDeCosta]

Surely, they have the bank account information that they used when they transferred the money? Wouldn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure this one out.

[ChrisKC]

If it were me as the bar owner:

 

I would demand there was CCTV

 

Show me your ID

 

Which station are you from. I will pay there!

 

And I will need a receipt.

[nightfox]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

After the money was transferred he disappeared into thin air. 

I'm pretty sure he just disappeared to the next room at the police station waiting for them to go home so they can enjoy their monthly bonus.

Edited May 31, 2021 by nightfox

[ChipButty]

What did that other guy say the other day about impersonating a police officer? 

[mikebell]

The victims should contact Big Joke as he's trying to end police corruption.

[Pattaya Spotter]

They reported their attempt to bribe police to the police...not too bright. Also shows evidence of guilt so the "fines" paid seem appropriate. 

[Emdog]

This sort of scam would not be possible if "real" police didn't also shake down local businesses.

[ronaldo0]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

He advised people to only deal directly with the constabulary to avoid becoming victims twice over

So they were victims of the actual police first time ? ????????????

[timendres]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The lieutenant warned pub owners not to believe these scoundrels (the fraudsters, not the police).

 

I am going to be laughing on and off all day. Still trying to catch my breath...

[Ireland32]

Should not  have opened in lockdown payback is a M, they deserve it 

[1duckyboy]

The simple solution is checking for proper police ID before paying the bribe.

[tifino]

 and the Triple Whammy;

 - is that they both still have to pay the Real Fines etc... 

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

He said he got a call from a man who said he was a deputy chief called "Day" and for 90,000 baht he could sort everything out.

Day-light robbery?

[Bangkok Barry]

9 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

They reported their attempt to bribe police to the police...not too bright. Also shows evidence of guilt so the "fines" paid seem appropriate. 

Perhaps the real police can now 'negotiate' them out of trouble for admitting they tried to bribe a police officer.

[Pattaya Spotter]

3 hours ago, tifino said:

 and the Triple Whammy;

 - is that they both still have to pay the Real Fines etc... 

 

 

 

Yep...moral of the story is always pay your police bribes at the police station. 

[sanuk711]

10 hours ago, ChrisKC said:

Which station are you from. I will pay there!

 

And I will need a receipt.

Is that what you say when you are stopped for speeding..??    or do you just pay the 200 instead of the full fine......easy to say that now