Pictures courtesy of TMN

 

An Australian tourist has filed a complaint with Pattaya police after being tricked into buying overpriced herbal and hair growth products from a foreign gang. The incident occurred in the early hours of November 10, 2025, when 23-year-old Mr Muhammad was approached by a foreign man along Pattaya Beach. The scam has reignited concerns about persistent fraud targeting tourists in the city.

 

According to Mr Muhammad’s statement, he had been walking along the beach when a foreign man initiated conversation and befriended him. The man claimed to sell herbal medicine and hair tonic with extraordinary healing properties, boasting that the products could “cure all diseases.” He then escorted the tourist to a herbal shop located within the Baywalk Hotel complex on Pattaya Second Road in South Pattaya.

 

Believing the exaggerated claims, Mr Muhammad agreed to purchase two bottles of the product for 13500 baht. He later discovered that the same items retail in local markets for only 98 baht per bottle. The realisation prompted him to report the incident to Pattaya City Police Station.

 

While speaking to reporters at the police station, the victim attempted to call the shop again. A foreign man answered, alternating between a fireign language and English, before abruptly ending the call. This added weight to suspicions that the operation was being run by a group of foreigners specifically targeting tourists with inflated prices and false advertising.

 

Police have recorded the incident and dispatched an investigative team to inspect the herbal shop later in the morning. The establishment reportedly has a history of similar complaints and has been raided multiple times by Pattaya Tourist Police and investigative units. Despite previous crackdowns, it has continued to reopen under different guises and misleading foreign visitors. Authorities say they intend to take stricter action this time, with renewed efforts to close down fraudulent operators permanently.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• An Australian tourist paid 13,500 baht for herbal products worth only 98 baht each.

• The scam was conducted by a foreign gang operating a shop in South Pattaya.

• Police plan a renewed investigation into the repeatedly offending business.

 

Related Stories

 

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British-tourist-tricked-in-Pattaya-herbal-remedy-scam

 

 

  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from TMN 2025-11-11

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I still haven't got any new growth on my bald head....... do you think I might have been scammed! At 13500 baht price it must surely work!

Off topic post removed

I wonder if this is related to the Pakistani health product scammers caught several time in Pattaya doing this to foreigners.  https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2024/11/07/indian-tourist-reports-scam-by-pakistani-herbal-vendors-in-pattaya/

https://thai.news/news/thailand/pattayas-herbal-shop-scandal-unveiling-the-deceptive-miracle-herb-operation

https://thainewsroom.com/2024/11/07/indian-duped-into-buying-magic-herb-by-two-pakistanis-in-pattaya/

https://thethaiger.com/news/pattaya/pattaya-shop-raided-for-selling-overpriced-herbal-products-to-tourists

https://thai.news/news/thailand/pattayas-herbal-hair-tonic-scam-exposed-ajaykumars-costly-lesson

 

As you can see by all the links dating back more than a year. The police have know about this for some time. 

So one has to wonder if they are serious about shutting these people down. Or why they have not shut them down already. 

Anyone who pays more than a thousand baht for an herbal product is reckless, has very minor and perhaps no survival skills, and can be called a fool. 

Gullible fools are easily parted from their money!!

46 minutes ago, thesetat said:

As you can see by all the links dating back more than a year. The police have know about this for some time. 

So one has to wonder if they are serious about shutting these people down. Or why they have not shut them down already. 

 

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The establishment reportedly has a history of similar complaints and has been raided multiple times by Pattaya Tourist Police and investigative units. Despite previous crackdowns, it has continued to reopen under different guises and misleading foreign visitors. Authorities say they intend to take stricter action this time, with renewed efforts to close down fraudulent operators permanently.

 

17 minutes ago, LennyW said:

Gullible fools are easily parted from their money!!

Thats not how the old saying goesLennyboy😭

16 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

The establishment reportedly has a history of similar complaints and has been raided multiple times by Pattaya Tourist Police and investigative units.

I wonder how it continues to operate in the face of police attention?  Is there some herbal elixir that somehow distracts Plod's gaze?

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

An Australian tourist has filed a complaint with Pattaya police after being tricked into buying overpriced herbal and hair growth products from a foreign gang.

Your choice what you pay for an item... walk away is an option.

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Pattaya Beach.

They got to him and took his money before the Coconut Bar girls could.

He wasn’t going home with that money either way.

Those are like the Indian dudes that walk around Sukhumvit poking fat folks in the belly to sell them herbal weight loss product. I laid one out after he poked me. 

 

Otherwise, Just yell khmoy and point 

I do not really call this being scammed. They did not force him to buy anything or steal money without his permission.  But the predators do look for gullible people.   Caveat emptor as the saying goes.  Let the buyer beware. 

Stupid is as stupid does...Forrest Gump

 

For those who are totally brain dead they might want to notice that the world is full of grifters, scammers, liars, fraudsters.  They are all over the internet, they are in every city and country in the world.  Many are in political power.  Many are religious and corporate leaders.  Many are everyday people wandering the streets looking for a mark.

 

If all the conmen did not have idiots to prey upon they would all be out of business.

 

If you buy something being promoted on beach road in Pattaya as a "cure all disease" tonic you likely got what you deserved which is scammed. Grow a brain.

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

An Australian tourist has filed a complaint with Pattaya police after being tricked into buying overpriced herbal and hair growth products from a foreign gang.

 

There is a sucker in every crowd.  Do you realized why confidence games (Cons) work?  Stupid people.  The world is full of stupid people with big bulls-eyes 🎯 on their backs that say, "Con Me - I'm Stupid."

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Believing the exaggerated claims, Mr Muhammad agreed to purchase two bottles of the product for 13500 baht. He later discovered that the same items retail in local markets for only 98 baht per bottle. The realisation prompted him to report the incident to Pattaya City Police Station.

This isn't illegal.  The seller makes an offer, the buyer accepts the offer (acceptance) and provides the seller with money (consideration).  There is an intent to conduct the transaction, the buy has the capacity to use due diligence to determine if the product has value, and they product is legal.
This is a legal contract!

Just because the buyer found a cheaper price for the same product doesn't negate the contract.  Buyer's remorse doesn't void a contract under common law.  He should have done his homework.

Caveat Emptor: Buyer Beware.

 

1 minute ago, connda said:

This isn't illegal.  The seller makes an offer, the buyer accepts the offer (acceptance) and provides the seller with money (consideration).  There is an intent to conduct the transaction, the buy has the capacity to use due diligence to determine if the product has value, and they product is legal.
This is a legal contract!

Just because the buyer found a cheaper price for the same product doesn't negate the contract.  Buyer's remorse doesn't void a contract under common law.  He should have done his homework.

Caveat Emptor: Buyer Beware.

 

They only way the buyer may be about to void the contract is to get the police to agree that they seller was not legally allowed to sell in Thailand.

To the buyer.  You've learned an important lesson in life which is well worth more that 13,500 THB:  Don't be a sucker and a mark.

Troll post removed @Frankie baby

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

 

According to Mr Muhammad’s statement,

If anyone should recognise a scam, it should be Mr Muhammad. 😀

2 minutes ago, suspectdevice said:

If anyone should recognise a scam, it should be Mr Muhammad. 😀

New breed of Aussies, not the smartest. 

 

1 minute ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

New breed of Aussies, not the smartest. 

 

New breed? The old breed was smart? 555. They're all descendants of criminals, at least the non aboriginal ones.

Yes. These guys are still around they are hanging outside of Avenue on second road and walk along beach road. They also gather outside Central mall most time. There are five or six of them. 

3 minutes ago, gargamon said:

7 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

New breed of Aussies, not the smartest. 

New breed?

It's all about genetics. 

 

Poor genes, barbaric DNA 

 

A friend of mine bought 5 bottles of "Snake oil" when we were working in China. It was supposed to grow hair on his bold head within one month if he applied it properly on his head every night before going to bed. The five bottles lasted for 3 months but there was still not even one single hair on his bold head. 😂 😂 😂

3 minutes ago, JJ-Thailand said:

A friend of mine bought 5 bottles of "Snake oil" when we were working in China. It was supposed to grow hair on his bold head within one month if he applied it properly on his head every night before going to bed. The five bottles lasted for 3 months but there was still not even one single hair on his bold head. 😂 😂 😂

A photo of his pillow after 3 months ...

What a dufus.

 

I tried this stuff once, all it did is grew hair in my nose and ears..

The old saying "There is one born every minute" is still alive and well today.

 

regards worgeordie

The buyer should be arrested for sheer stupidity.

41 minutes ago, vincent13 said:

The buyer should be arrested for sheer stupidity.

Maybe they can post his name and pic on FB so the entire world can see who could possibly be that dumb and try to avoid him.  I'm sure his family would be very proud to see him become viral on the web.