A British tourist has reported being held at knifepoint and forced to transfer cryptocurrency worth GBP9,782 at a Pattaya condominium after being invited to watch England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina.

Dion Adam Timberlake, 24, told police he was lured to a sixth-floor flat at Tudor Court Condo at about 10.30pm on July 15 by a British acquaintance known as Maz. Another British man was waiting inside, police said.

Alleged lure to sixth-floor flat

According to the complaint, one of the men asked to use Timberlake's phone, supposedly to exchange Telegram details for crypto trading. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sudej Imjai said Timberlake had previously shown the suspects his cryptocurrency portfolio and discussed trading with them, making them aware, by telling them, that he held digital assets of considerable value.

Timberlake alleged that Maz then produced a knife, took his passport and car keys, taped his hands and forced him to send Ethereum from his wallet. After the transfer, the men allegedly returned his belongings and let him leave unharmed.

He went to a police station shortly after midnight on July 16 to report the alleged robbery. Police said he was badly shaken and could not give a detailed account of each suspect's role.

Two British nationals detained

CCTV footage led officers to identify a suspect as British national Nisar Armaan, 22. He was arrested at the flat where the alleged offence took place.

Police later located the man known as Maz at a hotel on a street near Pattaya beach. He was identified as British national Nolan Emmanuel, also 22.

Both men have been accused of jointly committing armed robbery, jointly unlawfully detaining or confining another person, and jointly using another person's electronic payment instrument to pay for goods or services.

Picture courtesy of The Sun - Dion Adam Timberlake (right) was allegedly lured to a flat and robbed by Nolan Emmanuel (left) and an accomplice

Emmanuel also faces an additional charges of overstaying his permission to stay by 191 days. The two suspects denied the allegations but acknowledged they were the people named in the arrest warrants, police said. They were handed to investigators for further legal proceedings.

Sudej said Armaan's girlfriend was present when he was arrested, but that only the three men were in the room during the alleged offence. He said Timberlake identified Emmanuel as the person who allegedly threatened him with the knife, restrained him with duct tape and compelled the transfer, while Armaan allegedly remained in the room and took part.

Police seized both suspects' phones for examination and to trace the transactions. Sudej said investigators believe it was an isolated case, rather than a criminal network targeting tourists for cryptocurrency.

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22 July 2026

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Rule #1, when in Pattaya.

1. Avoid unknown foreigners, do not seek acquaintances or friendship from foreigners

Edited July 21Jul 21 by SAFETY FIRST

Your advice also applies to Thais ?

The moral of this story might be that the biggest danger to your own security is your mouth!

If he held digital assets of considerable value why did they force him to send such a paltry amount ?

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Rule #1, when in Pattaya.

1. Avoid unknown foreigners, do not seek acquaintances or friendship from foreigners

I thought we were friends.

15 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

If he held digital assets of considerable value why did they force him to send such a paltry amount ?

Transactions over 10000 gbp attract closer scrutiny by UK banking authorities.

Edited July 21Jul 21 by Martin71
Spelling

Dumb <deleted> all round. Definetly Brit, nice condo that tho!

56 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

If he held digital assets of considerable value why did they force him to send such a paltry amount ?

Well, it would have been double that less than a year ago 😁

Yeah, if you go to someone's place, they can gangbang you if they have friends there.

And this is not the first time we've seen someone brag about their crypto wallet to people who they thought they could trust.

Maybe people should have multiple phones. Keep the phone with the crypto wallet in your safe at home and carry a dumb phone with you.

Keep your gob closed about your wealth

in Thailand, It may well shorten your life, if you don't.

These guys , all of them, are the lowest of the low.

Nobody ought to be using that damn cr@ptocurrency anyhow. It is backed by literal hot air.

Just stash some US dollars and always pay in TH baht cash paper money, you good to go.

💯% 💥

4 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Rule #1, when in Pattaya.

1. Avoid unknown foreigners, do not seek acquaintances or friendship from foreigners

Billy no mates then!

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

The moral of this story might be that the biggest danger to your own security is your mouth!

Yep , he was bragging about how many cryptos he had and deserves what he got...the old saying ...loose lips sink ships.

I prefer using cash. And I don't discuss my assets with strangers, it's just not a good survival technique.

3 minutes ago, twizzian said:

Billy no mates then!

Get chummy with a few girls but tell them little!

Just wait until he tries to get real money for it and realizes he became a felon for 16 US dollars and 43 cents.

2 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

If he held digital assets of considerable value why did they force him to send such a paltry amount ?

My thoughts too. Why not take it all?

Don’t share details of how rich you are! Tell everyone your poor that’s why your in Thailand!

30 minutes ago, twizzian said:

4 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Rule #1, when in Pattaya.

1. Avoid unknown foreigners, do not seek acquaintances or friendship from foreigners

Billy no mates then

I've got foreigners as good friends, my best friends.

I don't go looking for mates in Pattaya. Thailand is a big country

Edited July 22Jul 22 by SAFETY FIRST

2 hours ago, blaze master said:

hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Rule #1, when in Pattaya.

1. Avoid unknown foreigners, do not seek acquaintances or friendship from foreigners

I thought we were friends

We've known each other a long time now 👍

"Police seized both suspects' phones for examination and to trace the transactions. Sudej said investigators believe it was an isolated case, rather than a criminal network targeting tourists for cryptocurrency."

What does Police Lieutenant Colonel Sudej Imjai mean by that "it was an isolated instance"? Is he implying that they have evidence that the GBP9,782 was transferred to one of the phones or both. With the cctv footage, it should be a close and shut case. The suspects said that nothig happened but by the miracle of digital technology the money found it's way into their mobile phones (smile).

Edited July 22Jul 22 by riverhigh

This caper was stupid on so many levels. Talk about rank amateurs!

Among other things, invite the victim to your place, so he can tell the police exactly where to find you.

Be totally unaware of any CCTV security cameras, so there’s video evidence of your whereabouts.

Off topic troll post removed @NicoBKK discuss the topic, not your bigotry about a name.

Thailand seems to be attracting the dregs of British society low class tourists coming to Thailand and preying on others

Even worse is one of the guys involved has over stayed by 191 days 😱

Thai immigration authorities need to get a grip as one of these guys should have been flagged up as over staying his welcome

I thought the system was computerised

Here for the clueless comments about crypto and how it’s worthless and how you should stick to fiat and the banking system…..

1 hour ago, Front Row said:

This caper was stupid on so many levels. Talk about rank amateurs!

Among other things, invite the victim to your place, so he can tell the police exactly where to find you.

Be totally unaware of any CCTV security cameras, so there’s video evidence of your whereabouts.

1 hour ago, Front Row said:

This caper was stupid on so many levels. Talk about rank amateurs!

Among other things, invite the victim to your place, so he can tell the police exactly where to find you.

Be totally unaware of any CCTV security cameras, so there’s video evidence of your whereabouts.

1 hour ago, Front Row said:

This caper was stupid on so many levels. Talk about rank amateurs!

Among other things, invite the victim to your place, so he can tell the police exactly where to find you.

Be totally unaware of any CCTV security cameras, so there’s video evidence of your whereabouts.

Indeed- it would not be too difficult for the suspect to be traced - and the victim clearly needs to learn to keep his mouth shut and not brag about his wealth to strangers- or indeed to friends really

All in I have to say all 3 of the men involved are not great adverts for British intelligence really are they?

4 hours ago, Martin71 said:

Transactions over 10000 gbp attract closer scrutiny by UK banking authorities.

If you are doing bank transfers maybe yes and you will get some confirmation scrutiny on your app but this is a crypto to crypto transfer. You can transfer however much you want and no pop up is going to ask are you sure you are not being scammed and if you are receiving there’s no where did it come from or freeze hold until you confirm those details.

4 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

If he held digital assets of considerable value why did they force him to send such a paltry amount ?

Maybe the amount is considered to be 'considerable'?

Why else would they take such an odd amount. Are you still wet behind the ears?

4 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

If he held digital assets of considerable value why did they force him to send such a paltry amount ?

Sometimes people talk about their funds like they talk about the fish they caught

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSf9ah_QyGTQTcFhZ551IKG3mFEdKUlcE6niSsBG1dJOg&s=10