Picture courtesy of Matichon

 

On October 11, 2025, tourists from the Middle East reported being defrauded in a shop located in Soi Nana, Sukhumvit, Bangkok. The suspects lured customers into the store, offering products claimed to aid weight loss, hair growth, general health and sexual enhancement. Victims were reportedly given drinks mixed with these products, causing disorientation and confusion before being pressured to purchase the items.

 

Investigations revealed that the products carried fake FDA registration numbers and were unregistered. Tourists discovered that the items were counterfeit only after attempting to verify their legitimacy. Payments were primarily made via credit card, often at inflated prices, with complaints ignored or deflected by the store operators.

 

Sources confirmed that the gang consisted of approximately 200 Afghan nationals who had effectively taken control of parts of the Soi Nana area. Most operated without valid visas or work permits and specifically targeted Middle Eastern tourists, including visitors from Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. The gang acted as intermediaries, greeting customers and guiding them into the store before selling the counterfeit products.

 

When victims attempted to file police reports, they were informed that the case would be treated as a civil matter, requiring lengthy procedures. Many tourists could not wait for legal action due to travel schedules, leaving them unable to recover funds from fraudulent credit card transactions. This incident highlights ongoing concerns over consumer safety and the potential reputational impact on the tourism sector.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Middle Eastern tourists were defrauded in Soi Nana by a gang selling fake health and herbal products.

• Products were unregistered with the Thai FDA, and payments were inflated through credit card transactions.

• Authorities noted the gang consisted of Afghan nationals operating without legal visas or work permits.

 

Related Stories

 

Pattaya-herbal-scam-tourist-loses-51k-baht-in-hair-tonic-hoax

 

Police-raid-5-sites-seize-200000-fake-cough-syrup-bottles

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-10-12

 

 

 

 

 

 

A shame it has taken so long to get these frauds..  Being most happened on Soi Nana. I would think the police allowed it to collect their tea money. Especially since the police are always checking what happens on this Soi. 

Didn't same sort of scam happen couple months ago?

Deja vu all over again...

And what kind of visas did the Taliban mafia have?

On 10/12/2025 at 3:35 PM, Georgealbert said:

Middle Eastern tourists were defrauded in Soi Nana by a gang selling fake health and herbal products.

 

How can you tell if a product that is already a fake is being faked?

 

Can't see that there's any difference.

On 10/14/2025 at 10:17 AM, Emdog said:

Didn't same sort of scam happen couple months ago?

Deja vu all over again...

actually you are correct... there was a scam 6 months ago and a year ago. 

https://www.facebook.com/Thepattayanews/posts/three-detained-at-pattaya-herbal-shop-for-scamming-tourists-selling-unlicensed-p/1603491613752747/

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2024/11/07/indian-tourist-reports-scam-by-pakistani-herbal-vendors-in-pattaya/#google_vignette

 

When one gets caught, they always seem to return and do the same thing again.