I noticed this pattern, in Central Pattaya near shopping areas there is some strange people, looking Indian or something similar. They come to random people trying to give some weird advice, usually they start without any manners telling that you are too fat, skinny,  bald or something other about person's  appearance and say they have advice, stupid and annoying. I smell it's some scam going on or just thieves trying to distract victim. Maybe someone smarter can comment what it's all about? 

I think you'd be correct 

The Indians were doing the same thing in Hong Kong 20 years ago. HK must have caught on and ran them out where they found their way to Thailand.

Just some forum members taking it to the streets. Nothing to see here.

1 hour ago, dingdongrb said:

The Indians were doing the same thing in Hong Kong 20 years ago. HK must have caught on and ran them out where they found their way to Thailand.

So what exactly they are doing with this behaviour? 

Scamming fortune tellers, palm readers, psychics types.  I had it attempted on me one time, the guy tried to say he could tell me my past for 1000b.  I just laughed and said no thanks, he countered with "Ok, how much you give?", I said "Why do I need to pay somebody to tell me my past? I lived it".

Edited March 7, 20242 yr by bbko

A few years ago in Pattaya i had a man in turban stop me and say you are a very lucky man, i said yes i am and walked off

3 hours ago, dingdongrb said:

The Indians were doing the same thing in Hong Kong 20 years ago. HK must have caught on and ran them out where they found their way to Thailand.

How does the scam progress?

This world is just chock full of scammers these days who refuse to work for a living and prey off the naivety of others. We just simply have to be smart enough and display sufficient survival skills to be able to thrive in the world these days.

 

Just say no to idiots, just say no to strangers, just say no. I would rather give 20 or 30 baht to a homeless person in real need, than give 100 baht to some idiot who professes to have psychic ability. 

Just walk on I say. Starting a conversation doesn’t help, just opens a door.

Lots of crazies everywhere. The scam in EU cities, a scruffy kid holds up a sign in front of you.You look at it, and in 3 seconds a second kid is stealing your wallet/ purse/ bag. And jeez, can they run !!! 

Follow the advice your parents gave you when you were young -- "Dont talk to strangers"! or Stranger Danger!!

17 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

A few years ago in Pattaya i had a man in turban stop me and say you are a very lucky man, i said yes i am and walked off

You should have said, "I won't be if I keep talking to you." 😆

If they are Indian, for sure a discussion will turn into an argument that you can never end......you have to hit them, fast and hard, before you lose the will to live. 

 

(Note... For the trolls and woke, this is a bit of fun and not to be taken seriously.)

20 hours ago, bbko said:

Scamming fortune tellers, palm readers, psychics types.  I had it attempted on me one time, the guy tried to say he could tell me my past for 1000b.  I just laughed and said no thanks, he countered with "Ok, how much you give?", I said "Why do I need to pay somebody to tell me my past? I lived it".

"Thank you sir.  Here is the answer.  In the past you were 1,000 baht richer."

 

See, they really can tell you the past.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

This world is just chock full of scammers these days who refuse to work for a living and prey off the naivety of others. We just simply have to be smart enough and display sufficient survival skills to be able to thrive in the world these days.

 

Just say no to idiots, just say no to strangers, just say no. I would rather give 20 or 30 baht to a homeless person in real need, than give 100 baht to some idiot who professes to have psychic ability. 

 

I wouldn't mind giving to people in real need but even here you are not sure if it's scam. The women you see near The Avenue with a baby/child on the floor. I read that they are just scams not real homeless people.

3 minutes ago, Henryford said:

 

I wouldn't mind giving to people in real need but even here you are not sure if it's scam. The women you see near The Avenue with a baby/child on the floor. I read that they are just scams not real homeless people.

 

A forum member was giving her coin/taking her to dinner/feeding her a length.

Typically, these Indian psychics try to trick people into believing that they have special powers, and so that these 'customers' feel compelled into paying the psychic for this 'service'.

 

A person with special powers, better give a good tip, so that this power does not turn bad towards this individual.

 

These scammers could have made good psychologists...

On 3/7/2024 at 8:27 AM, Terek said:

I noticed this pattern, in Central Pattaya near shopping areas there is some strange people, looking Indian or something similar. They come to random people trying to give some weird advice, usually they start without any manners telling that you are too fat, skinny,  bald or something other about person's  appearance and say they have advice, stupid and annoying. I smell it's some scam going on or just thieves trying to distract victim. Maybe someone smarter can comment what it's all about? 

Further along in the conversation and they would tell you that they are Microsoft Tech Support and you need to turn over control to them......they will solve all your problems. 

Edited March 8, 20242 yr by xeniv23

On lower Suk some weeks ago, Indian man approached from behind: "Young Man, I can tell you are searching for something..."

So I turned around: "Young Man? I'm 65, and I can tell you that you are not good at this."

"Sorry Sir, have a good day"

Be aware, they are always at least two...

 

On 3/7/2024 at 8:27 AM, Terek said:

I noticed this pattern, in Central Pattaya near shopping areas there is some strange people, looking Indian or something similar. They come to random people trying to give some weird advice, usually they start without any manners telling that you are too fat, skinny,  bald or something other about person's  appearance and say they have advice, stupid and annoying. I smell it's some scam going on or just thieves trying to distract victim. Maybe someone smarter can comment what it's all about? 

 

They probably want to sell you suits at their tailor shop. Other such patterns are saying: "You're a lucky man", or: "Come to my shop for free fries."

Edited March 8, 20242 yr by StayinThailand2much

21 hours ago, bbko said:

Scamming fortune tellers, palm readers, psychics types.  I had it attempted on me one time, the guy tried to say he could tell me my past for 1000b.  I just laughed and said no thanks, he countered with "Ok, how much you give?", I said "Why do I need to pay somebody to tell me my past? I lived it".

They used to Ply there trade in Kaosan Rd. "I can tell you your mothers name'', showing an old photo of some Indian school,  taken down a quiet alley 3 of them, ''write the name'', somehow maybe one hidden could see you write, 'now buy 10 bars of this soap for our school an expensive brand name, just to get away from them I brought 10 bars of the cheapest soap, they were waiting outside, jeez they were really pissed off. "We told you this .......soap" 

They attract your attention while second party looking for quick grab of your wallet, phone, gold, etc.

1 hour ago, klauskunkel said:

On lower Suk some weeks ago, Indian man approached from behind: "Young Man, I can tell you are searching for something..."

So I turned around: "Young Man? I'm 65, and I can tell you that you are not good at this."

"Sorry Sir, have a good day"

Be aware, they are always at least two...

 

I did not know they work in pairs.

 

Sounds like a variant of the “you have a lucky face”  Indian fakir. I have been approached by them many time on lower Suk, and once in Hong Kong. I just laughed 

 

I think it is a hazard to talk to them they may be skilled at hypnosis and thus talk you out of your monies. 
 

 

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

If they are Indian, for sure a discussion will turn into an argument that you can never end......you have to hit them, fast and hard, before you lose the will to live. 

 

(Note... For the trolls and woke, this is a bit of fun and not to be taken seriously.)

Not long after I first came to Thailand I was walking down Beach Road when I passed an Indian tailors shop, the guy at the door said something to me, I ignored him and tried to walk on, he then grabbed my arm in a very aggressive way, I grabbed him and put him up against the wall and just stopped myself from landing him one. It was him who was the lucky man.

These definitely are not tailors looking for clients. Thieves or scamers more likely, previously in nearby areas there was epidemic of ladyboy thieves, kinda weird as there should be a lot of security cameras around.

6 hours ago, Henryford said:

 

I wouldn't mind giving to people in real need but even here you are not sure if it's scam. The women you see near The Avenue with a baby/child on the floor. I read that they are just scams not real homeless people.

When I lived and worked in India for a couple of years a long time ago I used to carry around a daypack full of food, and when I would run into beggars I would offer them a banana or an orange. The real hungry people would be very grateful and would accept the gift, the professionals would look at me with scorn and turn away. 

no sapiek anglish

10 hours ago, Henryford said:

 

I wouldn't mind giving to people in real need but even here you are not sure if it's scam. The women you see near The Avenue with a baby/child on the floor. I read that they are just scams not real homeless people.

 

In fact, I remember one in that area who was with several children. The baby she was holding was never the same and someone told me that she rented it to beg on the street.

A decently dressed Indian guy came down the escalator at Phrom Phong BTS Station in front of Em Quartier Mall, Bangkok. Asked if I speak English. He pressed his internal start button and went straight into his pitch, showing me his -- not sure if it's called a colostomy bag if it's used to collect urine. Yeah, yuck. Drama button 2 gets pressed and the tears started to flow. Then and there I knew the game was on. "No. Bye." The nerve these bums have. I have also gotten the "you have a lucky face" pitch in years past.

On 3/7/2024 at 8:27 AM, Terek said:

I noticed this pattern, in Central Pattaya near shopping areas there is some strange people, looking Indian or something similar. They come to random people trying to give some weird advice, usually they start without any manners telling that you are too fat, skinny,  bald or something other about person's  appearance and say they have advice, stupid and annoying. I smell it's some scam going on or just thieves trying to distract victim. Maybe someone smarter can comment what it's all about? 

 

I think it's an early probing of gullibility for the later scam.
They will praise some product (snake oil) to lose weight or whatever, and then direct people to their "brother" who has a shop or clinic nearby.