Report Pattaya Car Theft: Indian Owner Claims Professional Scam

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Pictures courtesy of The Pattaya News

 

A luxury rental vehicle has vanished in Pattaya, leaving its owner, an Indian businessman, to suspect foul play and professional scammers at work.

 

On the night of 19th August, Prem Kumar, 54, approached Pattaya City Police Station with a pressing complaint. He reported the unexplained disappearance of a white-and-black Toyota, with the licence plate JPH 9160 Chon Buri, which had been rented weeks prior but never returned.

 

Using an interpreter, Kumar conveyed to Colonel Kamol Uppakarat, Lieutenant Deputy Superintendent of Investigation, that the car was rented by a Thai man on 28th July with a clear agreement to return it by 11th August. Instead, the renter vanished, cut off all contact, and even disabled the car's GPS—a detail Kumar cites as evidence of deceitful intent.

 

"If the renter had honest intentions, they would have contacted me or returned the car by now," Kumar asserted.

 

As a small business owner, Kumar highlighted the significant financial impact the loss has incurred, fearing this incident might be part of an organised criminal network preying on car rental businesses in Pattaya. Other operators, he mentioned, have experienced remarkably similar incidents, raising alarms about a potential wider scheme.

 

"This feels like an organised scam. They know how to disappear with vehicles and cover their tracks," he said.

 

Kumar called on the police to intensify their efforts, expressing concerns over both his own livelihood and the broader confidence in Pattaya's car rental market. A single unrecovered vehicle not only represents a financial blow but also undermines trust among honest customers.

 

In response, police confirmed that an investigation is underway. Officers are trying to trace the missing Toyota and uncover those responsible for this apparent fraud.

 

Car rental scams are a known issue in Pattaya, where the environment of tourists, locals, and short-term rentals can be exploited by con artists. Missing vehicles are often taken far from the city, dismantled for parts, or illegally sold with fraudulent documents.

 

Kumar remains hopeful that timely action will deter future scams, stating: "I just want my car back and those responsible punished."

 

With the market for rental vehicles so vulnerable, the case highlights the need for businesses to employ advanced security measures and for authorities to crack down on such fraudulent activities, aiming to protect both proprietors and renters alike.

 

The estimated value of the missing vehicle is around 1.5 million Thai Baht, a significant loss that underscores the gravity of the situation for the rental business community in Pattaya.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-08-20

 

[bdenner]

"Som nom nah" comes to mind!