Three massage shop employees in Pattaya have alleged that men claiming to be police officers took them to a Jomtien room, threatened them over drugs and extorted 7,500 baht for their release.

The three complainants approached the media at 10.30pm on 2 August 2026, bringing CCTV footage which they say shows three men entering a massage shop on Pattaya Third Road, Chonburi.

CCTV footage recorded at 8.17am that day reportedly shows the men arriving on motorcycles. One wore an orange motorcycle-taxi vest, while the other two had covered their faces. One was carrying an object resembling an electric baton.

Taken to Jomtien room

The workers said the men identified themselves as police investigators and searched the premises for drugs and illegal items. Although nothing illegal was found, the group allegedly said the employees would be taken for drug testing.

They said they were forced onto motorcycles and taken to a room in Soi Jomtien 12, described as a "safe house".

Video and picture courtesy of สายข่าวพัทยา

At the room, the workers reportedly found a former female employee of the shop, who they said had previously been detained by the same group. They believe she may have provided information to the men.

The complainants alleged that the men produced drugs and drug-taking equipment, and attempted to force them to take drugs. The workers said they refused, while the alleged offenders used drugs in front of them.

They further claimed they were threatened with drug charges unless they agreed to act as informants and lure foreign nationals into drug-buying operations.

Money demanded for release

After the workers refused to cooperate, the group allegedly demanded 5,000 baht from each person, later reducing the demand to 3,000 baht each. Their phones were allegedly taken and they were made to call relatives to borrow money.

A total of 7,500 baht was transferred to an account specified by the group, the workers said.

They also said they were kept separately in different rooms. Even after the money was paid, one person was allegedly told to remain and work for the group before all three were eventually released.

Police collecting CCTV and banking evidence

The shop staff said the men had also asked for personal details and the owner's address, leaving them deeply frightened. The owner expressed concern that the case could escalate in a similar way to a recently reported abduction and murder case involving people claiming to be police.

The employees have filed a report with Pattaya City Police Station. Police said they had contacted a man identified by the complainants as one of the alleged offenders, but he denied involvement and did not attend an interview.

Investigators are now gathering CCTV footage, financial-transfer records and witness statements as they seek to identify and prosecute those responsible.

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3 August 2026

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Only in Pattaya could someone flash a fake badge, carry an electric baton, extort money via bank transfer, and still have to tell people they’re police.😆

1 hour ago, Nemises said:

Only in Pattaya could someone flash a fake badge, carry an electric baton, extort money via bank transfer, and still have to tell people they’re police.😆

They wouldn't be believed if not masquerading as police.

When you combine fake police extortion with real police extortion that puts these shop owners in quite a bind.

This type of thing is on the increase it seems, especially in the Pattaya area?

Some work in gangs apparently.

These gangs sometimes escalate from simple extortion to more serious violence and murder when victims resist, as appears to have happened with the Russian siblings and the Thai family.

Police do arrest people for this (including in the recent murder case), but the tactic keeps reappearing because it works — many people comply out of fear when confronted by what looks like real authority.

Arriving 8.17am.is weird, shops don't usually open until 10am.

Hopefully the police solve this fast

Pattaya massage staff allege fake police extortion.

Of course real police extortion is ok then! We all know why.

48 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Arriving 8.17am.is weird, shops don't usually open until 10am.

Hopefully the police solve this fast

If someone is ripping off their money source, it will be solved very quickly and possibly permanently.

5 hours ago, Nemises said:

Only in Pattaya could someone flash a fake badge, carry an electric baton, extort money via bank transfer, and still have to tell people they’re police.😆

Never go anywhere with police or anybody else. If you're under arrest you're put in cuffs and into the back of a police pickup truck. Any other way you go with the police is voluntary.

If it's an abduction attempt then run like he'll, fight, or worse case freeze. Once they take you somewhere secluded you will very likely end up dead.

In a public place you have much better odds.

1 minute ago, Wes81 said:

Never go anywhere with police or anybody else. If you're under arrest you're put in cuffs and into the back of a police pickup truck. Any other way you go with the police is voluntary.

If it's an abduction attempt then run like he'll, fight, or worse case freeze. Once they take you somewhere secluded you will very likely end up dead.

In a public place you have much better odds.

Of course you have first hand experience of this or did your girl-friends best friends cousin tell you all about it?

7 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Of course you have first hand experience of this or did your girl-friends best friends cousin tell you all about it?

His comment is accurate. Some of us do have first-hand experience of incidences involving arrest here.

Is Pattaya getting worse?

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

When you combine fake police extortion with real police extortion that puts these shop owners in quite a bind.

Indeed- and perhaps they were using the same colour of brown envelopes to add further credibility?

Thailand needs their version of the Equalizer.

In the deaths of the Russian siblings, they also pretended to be police.

And they also murdered a family of 3 Thais.

13 hours ago, jacko45k said:

They wouldn't be believed if not masquerading as police.

Bit of a give away really. Taken to a ROOM and not the police station. 🙈

UPDATE

Pattaya warrants over fake police extortion case

On 8/3/2026 at 7:11 AM, Artisi said:

Of course you have first hand experience of this or did your girl-friends best friends cousin tell you all about it?

Hm, My wife's best friend is not here anymore to prove you're wrong.