Pictures courtesy of Phuket Times / Facebook

 

Several money exchange shops in Phuket have reported losing nearly 40,000 baht to a foreign man who exchanged counterfeit British pound banknotes at multiple booths across the island. The Phuket Times Facebook page revealed that it received numerous alerts from different exchange shops and issued a warning on October 6 to prevent further incidents. The report included a photograph of the suspect, though his identity and nationality remain undisclosed.

 

According to the Phuket Times, the suspect targeted exchange counters in Phuket’s Patong area, presenting fake pound sterling notes that some staff failed to identify as counterfeit. As a result, several booths collectively suffered losses totalling almost 40,000 baht. The scam came to light after multiple shop operators recognised similar encounters with the same man and shared their experiences online.

 

In the comments under the Phuket Times post, users claiming to be exchange shop staff described their interactions with the suspect. One wrote, “Yesterday (October 5), he came to my shop in the Chalong area, but I refused to make the exchange.” Another added, “Last night, he came to exchange pound sterling at my shop in Saiyuan, but I detected the counterfeit bills.” Their accounts suggest that the suspect moved between several districts attempting to exchange the forged currency.

 

The online community reacted swiftly, with several users urging the police to expedite an investigation and arrest the man before he could leave the country or repeat the crime elsewhere. Others voiced frustration over Thailand’s visa-free policy, arguing that it had made it easier for foreign criminals to enter the country and target popular tourist areas such as Phuket.

 

As of Monday, October 6, there have been no official reports of an arrest or confirmation of the suspect’s whereabouts. Authorities have not yet issued a public statement or provided details of any ongoing investigation. Exchange shop operators have been advised to closely inspect foreign currency and remain alert to further attempts involving counterfeit pound banknotes.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• A foreign man allegedly used fake pound banknotes to scam Phuket exchange shops, causing losses of nearly 40,000 baht.

• Shop staff in several districts, including Patong and Chalong, reported similar encounters with the same suspect.

• Police have not yet confirmed an arrest or issued updates on the investigation.

 

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American-arrested-in-Pattaya-for-attempting-to-exchange-fake-US-dollars

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from TheThaiger 2025-10-07

 

 

 

 

 

They always blame free visa 😆 🤣 😂 

I do not know about in phuket. But in Bangkok and Pattaya when you exchange foreign currency, You must provide passport to be recorded also. This is also true in banks when you go and exchange even thai baht into smaller notes. 

So how is it they do not have a name and copy of this mans passport information and made arrests already. 

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

I do not know about in phuket. But in Bangkok and Pattaya when you exchange foreign currency, You must provide passport to be recorded also. This is also true in banks when you go and exchange even thai baht into smaller notes. 

So how is it they do not have a name and copy of this mans passport information and made arrests already. 

 

The passport copy is shown in the article.

3 minutes ago, Roel said:

 

The passport copy is shown in the article.

That is a driving license.

1 hour ago, Roel said:

 

The passport copy is shown in the article.

does not look like from passport. but then I do not know how EU passports look like inside.. with numbers on every line? 

Troll post removed.

 

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Those brother inkjet printers are getting better and better every day. 

I thought that all UK banknotes are now new polymer notes with all the latest anti-counterfeit protections printed into them, including holographic images.

 

I wonder how the counterfeiters are managing to overcome them. 

 

What with showing ID and the tools the exchanges have nowadays such as CCTV, UV lights and special pens to verify notes, it's a brave man who tries converting fake notes in them nowadays.

 

If the police have his name, they should be able to find where he is staying because every person has to show a passport at check in?

 

I would imagine that the UK police will also be interested in this case. This one guy may be the tip of the iceberg, not just in Thailand but potentially other countries.

 

The visa free thing is a complete red herring. 

On 10/7/2025 at 4:16 AM, falangUK said:

They always blame free visa 😆 🤣 😂 

He doesn't look British maybe he should go to Britain and dump them in night clubs, Nothing to do with visas 

Countries like North Korea have the latest bank note printing machinery and print million & millions of dollars, pounds & euros and sell them to gangs around the world for 20% of their face value....

Was an Israeli woman caught yesterday in samui trying to pass off fake $100 notes.

On 10/7/2025 at 8:23 AM, Andrew Dwyer said:

That is a driving license.

....and contains the Passport Number.................

2 minutes ago, ujayujay said:

....and contains the Passport Number.................

……. not necessarily …… because my U.K. driver’s licence doesn’t !

24 minutes ago, ujayujay said:

....and contains the Passport Number.................

This is definitely a European Union driver's license.
See the picture detail of my driver's license.

 

 

 

Wow....kudos.....I have enough trouble getting real ones accepted.

2 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Wow....kudos.....I have enough trouble getting real ones accepted.

Are you related to Johnny B. Good(e)?  🙂

1 hour ago, ronster said:

Was an Israeli woman caught yesterday in samui trying to pass off fake $100 notes.

 

   Quick websearch :

 

There were no recent reports of an Israeli woman being caught in Koh Samui with fake $100 notes.

Cancel all flights, ban all tourists, no visa free entries, what now?

50 minutes ago, BerndD said:

This is definitely a European Union driver's license.
See the picture detail of my driver's license.

 

UK ones have the same format.

On 10/7/2025 at 7:46 AM, thesetat said:

I do not know about in phuket. But in Bangkok and Pattaya when you exchange foreign currency, You must provide passport to be recorded also. This is also true in banks when you go and exchange even thai baht into smaller notes. 

So how is it they do not have a name and copy of this mans passport information and made arrests already. 

I have never used my passport to exchange money in Pattaya. I just hand over an expired drivers license, with photo id, which has been sufficient and never had an issue.

54 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Wow....kudos.....I have enough trouble getting real ones accepted.

 

   You must look dodgy 

41 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Quick websearch :

 

There were no recent reports of an Israeli woman being caught in Koh Samui with fake $100 notes.

 

3 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   You must look dodgy 

 

 

Why are people so nasty on here?

 

 

3 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Why are people so nasty on here?

 

   Why is it that you often get refused in money exchangers ?

Just now, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Why is it that you often get refused in money exchangers ?

 

 

Never use them......it was a joke........🙄

 

 

2 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

If the police have his name, they should be able to find where he is staying because every person has to show a passport at check in?

 

I would imagine that the UK police will also be interested in this case. This one guy may be the tip of the iceberg, not just in Thailand but potentially other countries.

 

The visa free thing is a complete red herring. 

 

If he has the ability to make convincing fake notes, I suspect he can fake a passport, too.

 

56 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Quick websearch :

 

There were no recent reports of an Israeli woman being caught in Koh Samui with fake $100 notes.

My mistake. Koh phangan.

3 minutes ago, ronster said:

My mistake. Koh phangan.

 

Koh Phangan seems to be a hotbed of Israeli criminal activity.