Report Pattaya Herbal Scam: Tourist Loses 51k Baht in Hair Tonic Hoax

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of Pattaya News

 

In a case that highlights ongoing consumer fraud in Pattaya, Thai authorities have launched a crackdown after an Indian tourist was duped out of 51,000 baht (£1,100) by sellers hawking bogus baldness remedies.

 

Ajaykumar, the victim, reported encountering three men near the Baywalk Hotel who convinced him to check out a supposed miracle hair tonic. Enticed by promises of a new head of hair, he followed them to a discreet shop where he handed over 15,000 baht in cash and transferred 99,000 rupees for three bottles of dubious liquid and four bars of soap.

 

Realising he'd fallen prey to a scam, Ajaykumar quickly filed a complaint at the Pattaya City Police Station. Responding to his report, Lieutenant Colonel Torlap Tinamat of the Tourist Police Division 2 led a raid on the store. However, the site was found abandoned.

 

Not deterred, the police targeted a nearby shop on Soi 13/2 and apprehended six individuals—two Pakistani men and four Thai women—on charges of selling unregistered herbal products and working without permits.

 

Officers seized various concoctions, including butterfly pea powder and coconut oil, which matched the items described by Ajaykumar.

 

The Pattaya police stress their commitment to combating fraud, as reports of deceitful traders pushing fake miracle cures have surged over the past year. Both locals and tourists are urged to exercise caution and report suspicious activities to authorities.

 

This incident underscores the need for vigilance when dealing with unsolicited street vendors, as scams continue to evolve, targeting vulnerable tourists seeking quick fixes. Police action aims to deter such practices, protecting Pattaya's reputation as a tourist haven.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-09

 

 

[Gandtee]

Goodness gracious. How audacious. The bald audacity of these people. It's hair-raising.

[newbee2022]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Picture courtesy of Pattaya News

 

In a case that highlights ongoing consumer fraud in Pattaya, Thai authorities have launched a crackdown after an Indian tourist was duped out of 51,000 baht (£1,100) by sellers hawking bogus baldness remedies.

 

Ajaykumar, the victim, reported encountering three men near the Baywalk Hotel who convinced him to check out a supposed miracle hair tonic. Enticed by promises of a new head of hair, he followed them to a discreet shop where he handed over 15,000 baht in cash and transferred 99,000 rupees for three bottles of dubious liquid and four bars of soap.

 

Realising he'd fallen prey to a scam, Ajaykumar quickly filed a complaint at the Pattaya City Police Station. Responding to his report, Lieutenant Colonel Torlap Tinamat of the Tourist Police Division 2 led a raid on the store. However, the site was found abandoned.

 

Not deterred, the police targeted a nearby shop on Soi 13/2 and apprehended six individuals—two Pakistani men and four Thai women—on charges of selling unregistered herbal products and working without permits.

 

Officers seized various concoctions, including butterfly pea powder and coconut oil, which matched the items described by Ajaykumar.

 

The Pattaya police stress their commitment to combating fraud, as reports of deceitful traders pushing fake miracle cures have surged over the past year. Both locals and tourists are urged to exercise caution and report suspicious activities to authorities.

 

This incident underscores the need for vigilance when dealing with unsolicited street vendors, as scams continue to evolve, targeting vulnerable tourists seeking quick fixes. Police action aims to deter such practices, protecting Pattaya's reputation as a tourist haven.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-09

 

 

Maybe for drinking much better. If it's herbal stuff it's made with alcohol

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Ajaykumar, the victim, reported encountering three men near the Baywalk Hotel who convinced him to check out a supposed miracle hair tonic. Enticed by promises of a new head of hair, he followed them to a discreet shop where he handed over 15,000 baht in cash and transferred 99,000 rupees for three bottles of dubious liquid and four bars of soap

Knob....

[Formaleins]

Does this now mean that there will now be another (usual) U - Turn regarding yesterdays story about Thailand becoming "The Hub of Hair"? 

 

Thailand, the hub of one step forward, three steps back.

[Grusa]

I don't normally go for victim blaming, but............really!?

 

🤑

[banyanman]

Sounds like a new variation on the infamous Dubai black seed hair oil scam which has duped so many Indian tourists there.

[Free the 115]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Knob....

Pretty sure it was for his head

[Vibora99]

The one who should be put in jail is the Indian tourist, for being ignorant and stupid.

[Quentin Zen]

I used to sell something similar back in the day.   Bottle that promised riches!!!!!  In small print on the label, it asked the buyer to ask the seller about becoming rich.

 

One bottle was 1000 USD.  I sold 100 bottles a week and, sure enough, the bottle got me rich!!!!   

 

Then I went into selling property on Saturn.   Big money maker in S. Africa

[mjakob007]

Have to admit, these guys are good marketing mob

 

i was approached by 2 of these talented men in 2022 near night bazaar across from central festival.  Thier sales pitch is nearly convincing especially if you had been out drinking the previous night.

 

 

[kimothai]

Back in the days of the wild, wild West they use to call it "snake oil".

[VBF]

1 hour ago, Quentin Zen said:

I used to sell something similar back in the day.   Bottle that promised riches!!!!!  In small print on the label, it asked the buyer to ask the seller about becoming rich.

 

One bottle was 1000 USD.  I sold 100 bottles a week and, sure enough, the bottle got me rich!!!!   

 

Then I went into selling property on Saturn.   Big money maker in S. Africa

No "Ocean front property in Phoenix, Arizona" then?

[VBF]

5 hours ago, Gandtee said:

Goodness gracious. How audacious. The bald audacity of these people. It's hair-raising.

Bet there was a right wigging out going on.   😁

[Brick Top]

I cant understand these bald fools buying these products. 

On Lazada you can get a lovey wig for 300 baht 

[suspectdevice]

Pakistan / Indians pestering people on Suk in Bangkok with all types of available miracles! 🤬

[jacko45k]

22 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Knob....

I wonder what he wanted the soap for?

[lamyai3]

7 hours ago, suspectdevice said:

Pakistan / Indians pestering people on Suk in Bangkok with all types of available miracles! 🤬

 

The bald scam, the belly fat scam, the lucky man scam and fake Rolexes...

 

Meanwhile across the road it's their African cousins "Sup bruh, need something..."

[thesetat]

8 hours ago, suspectdevice said:

Pakistan / Indians pestering people on Suk in Bangkok with all types of available miracles! 🤬

It gets annoying at times. They stand in your way and get up to your face trying to convince you to go into their shops. but then, in Pattaya you can not even relax to eat or sit in a beer bar drinking without some Thai coming in and going to your table to try to convince you to buy their cheapo product. 

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

I wonder what he wanted the soap for?

Spit-n-polish of the miracle cure didn't work ?