Thai restaurant owner loses 600,000 baht during family trip to France

[webfact]

A 30 year old restaurant owner from Nonthaburi suffered a loss of over 600,000 baht during his recent family trip to France. He has shared his harrowing experience to alert others and prevent them from becoming victims.

Thalerngsak Khongkwanmuang revealed yesterday, December 12, his ordeal which occurred between November 7 and 21 during his holiday in France with his 48 year old mother and 53 year old aunt. On November 7, they were targeted by a group of criminals in Paris. While travelling on the underground train, the perpetrators targeted his mother who had her handbag in front of her. Due to the crowded nature of the train, the criminals managed to snatch her purse.

 

Subsequently, Thalerngsak reported the theft to the Paris police. It was discovered later that the mother’s credit card was used to purchase goods worth approximately 300,000 baht. He then immediately contacted the bank to cancel the credit card.

 

On November 10, the family was travelling by train to visit the Palace of Versailles. They changed to a weekly ticket but did not sign it. Four individuals, posing as police officers, checked their tickets and claimed that Thalerngsak was sitting rudely by putting his feet on the seat and that he did not sign the ticket. They were fined 500 euros.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-12-13

 

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[smedly]

you would think he'd be well aware of scams considering where he lives, the EU has been invaded by thieves and scamers in recent years so a warning is not unwarranted 

[Shuya]

If the credit card was stolen, it will cost them nothing. If they payed 500 Euro as a fine / bribe / scam, thats 20'000 THB. Nowhere near the 600'000 THB they claim. Sounds more like a scam from their side. 

[CartagenaWarlock]

Just now, Shuya said:

f the credit card was stolen, it will cost them nothing.

I'm not sure how much fraud protection Thai credit cards have or how easy it is to claim fraud for charges. 

[stoner]

not to worry. in a few days a lovely french taxi driver will return 1 million euro in cash to some tourists. 

[stoner]

also this story is all kinds of strange. 

 

all of these events happened to this single family on 1 holiday ? 

 

first - robbed on a train

 

second - extorted on a train

 

third - car broken into and subsequently robbed again

 

fourth - ya i don't buy this BS at all. 

 

aaaaaaaaand the story just happens to come out right after TAT boasts about local tourism. now i know i am a stoner and all but i am also a trained customs and immigration officer. 

 

this story has red flags galore. just saying.

 

 

[Pouatchee]

Financial loss warning

Thalerngsak contacted a Thai restaurant owner in Lyon who helped them report the incident to the police. They then obtained a police report to claim insurance.

 

from 'the thaiger'

 

yup, smells like scam... so his inferred message is, for thais, get insurance so you can scam them and come back home wealthier than when you left.

 

 

[StayinThailand2much]

Damn! Thai shenanigans taking hold in France...

[Tropicalevo]

Quote

It was discovered later that the mother’s credit card was used to purchase goods worth approximately 300,000 baht. He then immediately contacted the bank to cancel the credit card.

So he did not cancel the credit cards until after they had been used?

Surely, any normal person would cancel the card immediately after the theft.

[ezzra]

What an adventure, i bet they didn't figure on having so mun fun and excitement in one trip...

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Subsequently, Thalerngsak reported the theft to the Paris police. It was discovered later that the mother’s credit card was used to purchase goods worth approximately 300,000 baht.

Where was the purchase made? Any CCTV of the person using the card and time of purchase?

Does it stand-up to what they say.

Or is it just a scam to get insurance to cover the cost of the holiday?

[stoner]

56 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

So he did not cancel the credit cards until after they had been used?

Surely, any normal person would cancel the card immediately after the theft.

 

yes when thefts actually occur. 

[bradiston]

 

From The Thaiger article:

 

"Thalerngsak contacted the Thai embassy for advice. The embassy spoke to the supposed police officers and informed Thalerngsak that they were not actual officers. However, fearing for the safety of his mother and aunt, he negotiated and gave them 60 euros, which he claimed was all the money he had left."

 

This doesn't add up at all.

[stoner]

Just now, hotchilli said:

Where was the purchase made? Any CCTV of the person using the card and time of purchase?

Does it stand-up to what they say.

Or is it just a scam to get insurance to cover the cost of the holiday?

 

would be interesting to know the state of their business back in thailand ? how is the restaurant making out ? 

[Peterphuket]

2 hours ago, smedly said:

you would think he'd be well aware of scams considering where he lives, the EU has been invaded by thieves and scamers in recent years so a warning is not unwarranted 

Because they let everybody in, especially from the middle east....

[French mate]

This repport dont look geniune to me.  He combine a real stroke of very bad luck, unlikely event and a great deal of reapeted gullibility to not say stupidity.

- Your bag with your credit card got snached, and you dont think to tell your bank about it? -> stupid
- Fake policeman: this is a very serious offence in France, and doing that in the train where their have camera everywhere for try to collect fine from tourist wont get you far. -> unlikely to have happen like they said if happen at all.
- They park the car a 100 m from a tourist spot and come back from the petrol station ??? was they going to visit the tourist spot or was taking a break in the petrol station who always have is own parking? In both case anyway you never leave your value in a parked car, even less in a place where many people come and go. -> gullibility.

 

 

[BritScot]

4 hours ago, stoner said:

also this story is all kinds of strange. 

 

all of these events happened to this single family on 1 holiday ? 

 

first - robbed on a train

 

second - extorted on a train

 

third - car broken into and subsequently robbed again

 

fourth - ya i don't buy this BS at all. 

 

aaaaaaaaand the story just happens to come out right after TAT boasts about local tourism. now i know i am a stoner and all but i am also a trained customs and immigration officer. 

 

this story has red flags galore. just saying.

 

 

All that quite often happens to tourists in Thailand. My advice to this family "Don't buy any lotto or raffle tickets for a while".

[stoner]

2 minutes ago, BritScot said:

All that quite often happens to tourists in Thailand. My advice to this family "Don't buy any lotto or raffle tickets for a while".

 

sure on separate holidays span over a decade. all three of those events in a single holiday though ? and as another commenter pointed out impersonating an officer is a very serious crime in the west.

[BusyB]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

So he did not cancel the credit cards until after they had been used?

Surely, any normal person would cancel the card immediately after the theft.

 

Best to keep practical but tight daily spending limits on all cards and adjust ad hoc for the odd, rare larger purchase or withdrawal.  

[steven100]

I'll bet after all the thefts, scams and shenanigan's he felt like he hadn't even left Thailand.  

[daveAustin]

All very possible for those not used to travelling in foreign climes, and Thais are generally polite and obliging by default (and typically decent middle class and up folks holidaying overseas), so easy pickings for thieving scum. Paris is a bit of a hole like that and has only gotten worse with the massive influx of undesirables--no, I understand they're not all bad, but many pile in to do this kind of thing. Guess they won't be going to froggyland again for a bit.

[steven100]

4 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

So he did not cancel the credit cards until after they had been used?

Surely, any normal person would cancel the card immediately after the theft.

 

my immediate thoughts also ....  if your wallet is stolen or a bag or anything with CC's, passport or doc's .... you would call the bank, embassy and whoever straight away,   not wait until it's used or a day later.     very strange story ....   I'm calling it suspicious  ... 

 

 

 

[Lucky Bones]

4 hours ago, stoner said:

also this story is all kinds of strange. 

 

all of these events happened to this single family on 1 holiday ? 

 

first - robbed on a train

 

second - extorted on a train

 

third - car broken into and subsequently robbed again

 

fourth - ya i don't buy this BS at all. 

 

aaaaaaaaand the story just happens to come out right after TAT boasts about local tourism. now i know i am a stoner and all but i am also a trained customs and immigration officer. 

 

this story has red flags galore. just saying.

 

 

I'm surprised that this hasn't yet happened to georgiageorgia, aka georgie porgie puddin' & pie.🙃🙃

[off road pat]

6 hours ago, Shuya said:

If the credit card was stolen, it will cost them nothing. If they payed 500 Euro as a fine / bribe / scam, thats 20'000 THB. Nowhere near the 600'000 THB they claim. Sounds more like a scam from their side. 

Read the article !!!

[brianthainess]

They negotiated the fine, yer sure in France.  

[kidneyw]

At least they did not lose any gold to a katoy.

[Celsius]

6 hours ago, stoner said:

also this story is all kinds of strange. 

 

all of these events happened to this single family on 1 holiday ? 

 

first - robbed on a train

 

second - extorted on a train

 

third - car broken into and subsequently robbed again

 

fourth - ya i don't buy this BS at all. 

 

aaaaaaaaand the story just happens to come out right after TAT boasts about local tourism. now i know i am a stoner and all but i am also a trained customs and immigration officer. 

 

this story has red flags galore. just saying.

 

 

 

Maybe.....just maybe.....and bear with me for a moment.....the whole family was stoned.

[steven100]

7 hours ago, stoner said:

also this story is all kinds of strange. 

 

all of these events happened to this single family on 1 holiday ? 

 

first - robbed on a train

 

second - extorted on a train

 

third - car broken into and subsequently robbed again

 

fourth - ya i don't buy this BS at all. 

 

aaaaaaaaand the story just happens to come out right after TAT boasts about local tourism. now i know i am a stoner and all but i am also a trained customs and immigration officer. 

 

this story has red flags galore. just saying.

 

 

 

i'm with you on this one buddy ....   just too much information.   

 

warning warning  !!   danger Will Robinson    !    does not compute  !!   request to fire   !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[stoner]

1 hour ago, Celsius said:

 

Maybe.....just maybe.....and bear with me for a moment.....the whole family was stoned.

 

did you come up with that all on your ownsome ? :)

[Barnet1900]

7 hours ago, bradiston said:

 

From The Thaiger article:

 

"Thalerngsak contacted the Thai embassy for advice. The embassy spoke to the supposed police officers and informed Thalerngsak that they were not actual officers. However, fearing for the safety of his mother and aunt, he negotiated and gave them 60 euros, which he claimed was all the money he had left."

 

This doesn't add up at all.

It adds up if you're Thai. Thai sib story plus money equals complete scams, cheating and lies.