An Indian tourist has received a 10,000 baht refund after alleging he was pressured into buying supposed hair-growth and weight-loss herbal products at a Pattaya shop for 11,000 baht, after initially being quoted 600 baht.

Abdul Sajid, 45, filed a complaint at Pattaya City Police Station at 12.10am on 7 September. He arrived with fellow Indian nationals and said the products sold to him included herbal remedies and coconut oil said to regrow hair and aid weight loss.

Tourist says he feared for his safety

Sajid said the alleged incident began on 4 September while he was staying at a hotel in South Pattaya. A foreign man approached him outside the hotel, struck up a conversation and discussed hair and health concerns, according to his account.

The man then recommended herbs which he claimed could regrow hair and help reduce weight, quoting an initial price of 600 baht. Sajid said he was taken to a herbal-products shop on Pattaya Second Road, near a hotel.

Inside, he said he encountered three older men and was persuaded and pressured to buy the goods. He alleged that some herbal powder was mixed in the shop before he was asked to pay 11,000 baht rather than the quoted 600 baht.

Sajid said he paid because he was afraid and wanted to leave safely. He received only one bottle, which he believed appeared to be lotion or coconut oil with a typical market value of around 100 baht.

The payment comprised a bank transfer of 20,000 Indian rupees, 6,000 rupees in cash and 2,000 baht in Thai cash, which he said totalled about 11,000 baht.

Police take shop caretaker for questioning

Police coordinated with Pattaya City Police investigators and took Sajid to identify the shop. Laksman Singh, president of the Indian Association of Eastern Thailand, also attended with a group of Indian friends after being contacted by the tourist.

The owner was not at the premises. Police found only 21-year-old Sataporn, who said he was the shop caretaker and denied knowing or remembering whether he had sold products to Sajid.

As the alleged transaction did not occur in front of officers, police said they could not detain him. He was invited to Pattaya City Police Station for discussion and a warning, with Singh and the Indian group also taking part.

The shop owner later instructed Sataporn to return 10,000 baht. Sajid accepted the money and returned to his accommodation.

What visitors should take from the case

For foreign residents and visitors, the case is a reminder to be cautious when strangers approach with health, cosmetic or wellness offers, especially if they suggest taking customers to a particular shop. Avoid making transfers or handing over cash under pressure, keep receipts and evidence, and contact Tourist Police or local police promptly if a sale feels unsafe or misleading.

The tourist livestreamed the shop visit on social media. Police are continuing to examine the facts, the shop and the conduct alleged in Sajid's complaint before taking further steps.

Picture courtesy of Daily News

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8 September 2026

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4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Abdul Sajid, 45, filed a complaint at Pattaya City Police Station at 12.10am on 7 September. He arrived with fellow Indian nationals and said the products sold to him included herbal remedies and coconut oil said to regrow hair and aid weight loss.

Should stay at home with mother until he grows up a bit

You can’t fix stupid TIT

Gullibility at its best..🫢

1 hour ago, TheFishman1 said:

You can’t fix stupid TIT

TIT? No Thais were involved just Indians/Pakistanis(?). ...apart from the shop assistant, who appeared to have had nothing to do with the actual scam,

Edited Tuesday at 03:10 AM5 days by Liverpool Lou

He should be fined 10,000baht for stupidity and wasting police time.

Or did they get that under the table from the perps?

The blurred pictures don't hide his full head of hair.

Why can't anyone just admit that they were duped into buying stuff to make his peepee work again?

Every morning some idi@t gets up and waits to be cheated.🤪

I was approached outside The Avenue on 2nd road, same scam, convincing before and after pics of this middle eastern guys 'cousin' who's hair miraculously grew back. I went along with it out of pure curiosity. He told me I could buy cheap ingredients from any 7/11 (less than 100 baht) that was the 'hook' - then an additional herbal ingredient must be added from another shop - that was the 'sting', obviously. I didn't go with him to find out how much, but I'm guessing that would be where they charge you thousands of baht for some cheap oil. No shortage of gullible balding blokes in Pattaya, easy prey for these ruthless scammers

I wondered why the police were taking such an interest in the case.

Then I read this:

“The tourist live streamed the shop visit on social media.”

Law enforcement by way of social media strikes again.