Jet Ski Scam Pattaya When Will It Stop

[LucidLucifer]

Certainly, the Mayor could request his dad to make a call if he wanted the beach mafia cleaned up.

Nobody crosses him and gets away with it.

Bang On

But it begs the question, who, apart from government officials, is at the very top of the tree. Is some sort of tribute being payed to the mafia topdog? Likely so, that is the price of running a criminal business of this scale on his manor.

[pauljones]

Daylight robbery, continuing for years and years in the same location and not a peep from the Thais.

Only foreigners keeping an eye on the situation.

Does this situation really reflect how Thai people feel about foreigners?

I have a feeling they would slaughter us and make dog food from our carcasses if they could get away with it.

[LucidLucifer]

Daylight robbery, continuing for years and years in the same location and not a peep from the Thais.

Only foreigners keeping an eye on the situation.

Does this situation really reflect how Thai people feel about foreigners?

I have a feeling they would slaughter us and make dog food from our carcasses if they could get away with it.

A bit of a harsh generalisation of all Thais. We are talking about mafia types here (BiB included in that). They would slaughter anyone the same, Thai or foreigner, that stood in their way.

I'm sure the majority of Thais, once the initial denial that anything like this could happen in utopia, would be as equally appalled by the whole situation as we are.

If only it could make waves in national news, and the Thais realised how much these people are sullying the name of the LoS.

Saying that, until it directly affects them, which it doesn't, I imagine they would shake there heads and say, 'ooh, vewy bad,' then get back to tucking into their somtam.*

I doubt they would give a toss.

*dam_n, now i've just generalised and stereotyped!

[IAMSOBAD]

Every single time I tell a Thai about farang being scammed and threatened by the jet ski scum...THEY LAUGH IT OFF.

They could care less in my opinion unless they are affected directly.

So sad because in reality they are affected.

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[theoldgit]

We had friends from the UK visiting us last month and spent a night in Pattaya, we were walking along beach road and I was explaining the jet ski scam, I don't they believed me.

We sat on the beach for a while and almost on cue it played out before us. The Indian guys were shown the damage "they had caused", then came the Indian "independent" interpreter, the two police officers. Plenty of waving of hands and then one of the Indian guys disappeared with one of the thugs whilst the other guys stayed with the remainder of the gang.

The Indian guy returned with his thug escort and seemed to hand over the money, the Indian guys left the scene.

Shortly afterwards my girlfriend went to use the toilet and on her return told me that the thug was handing out cash to the Indian interpreter and the police officers, I can only assume it was their share of the scam.

Just another day in paradise, more holidays ruined, Thailand's reputation tarnished again, and so it continues and will continue to do so whilst there are so many hands in the pot.

[Orac]

Certainly, the Mayor could request his dad to make a call if he wanted the beach mafia cleaned up.

Nobody crosses him and gets away with it.

Bang On

Bit difficult with him hiding out in Bang Saen Cambodia from his murder rap.

[LucidLucifer]

Every single time I tell a Thai about farang being scammed and threatened by the jet ski scum...THEY LAUGH IT OFF.

Isn't that just the Thai coping mechanism when confronted with a difficult situation?

And which Thais are you specifically talking about?

[striderman]

it was the late late show today. i was waiting in the high five bar (something like that) by the mike shopping mall steps but gave up as the 4 indians i had seen leave must have agreed more than the usual 30 mins.

i figured 1 tiger enough as the chances of getting reimbersed by rimmer were lower than getting bitten by an emohawk anytime soon!!.

but 18 45 passing mcdonald's royal garden plaza, bingo a group coming back in got hit.

how they could claim to see any damage in the rapidly fading light is beyond me.

with the flash set to off i got off 1 fast pic and scarpered.

that brings my photo scam total to approx 83. I would tell you where to look for them but it's a Secret

[crudy21]

Im not sure its brave of you or foolhardy to keep photoing these scumbags but it should be applauded for actually doing something.

While i was in Pattaya a couple of weeks ago, i sat with my wife on a bench opp Royal Gdn and watched some of these guys for a while, when i walked down on to the beach to take a pic or 2 i could sence them watching me, didn't hang around too long just incase.

Be carefull out there mate, don't get caught.

[toenail]

The mayor is running for election this month and is campaigning on his "accomplishments" ...I wonder if he mentions how he has accomplished getting rid of the jet ski scammers-???? (sarcasm)

[striderman]

The mayor is running for election this month and is campaigning on his "accomplishments" ...I wonder if he mentions how he has accomplished getting rid of the jet ski scammers-???? (sarcasm)

as it's the Thai's who vote rather than the falangs i guess it's not a priority right now, and who could blame him for that.

we would all do the same if we were fighting an election.

[KeyserSoze01]

The mayor is running for election this month and is campaigning on his "accomplishments" ...I wonder if he mentions how he has accomplished getting rid of the jet ski scammers-???? (sarcasm)

as it's the Thai's who vote rather than the falangs i guess it's not a priority right now, and who could blame him for that.

we would all do the same if we were fighting an election.

I am shocked that anyone is actually surprised over the non-action by the authorities, especially the mayor. That is, if you know anything about who pulls the strings in Chonburi province. Lots of pockets are getting lined by this government sponsored con game.

It's much like the old joke, "How can you tell if a politician is lying? Because their lips are moving."

[theoldgit]

I am shocked that anyone is actually surprised over the non-action by the authorities, especially the mayor.

Yes, but didn't the mayor go public on this very issue, stating that this scam was a major problem and was tarnishing Pattaya's image?

[pauljones]

I am shocked that anyone is actually surprised over the non-action by the authorities, especially the mayor.

Yes, but didn't the mayor go public on this very issue, stating that this scam was a major problem and was tarnishing Pattaya's image?

He backed off real quik and went silent after his investigation.

[lovetotravel]

He's announced at least twice over the past several years he was going to target the jet ski scam. Nothing so far.

[pauljones]

His political opponents could use this as campaign material.

[LennyW]

His political opponents could use this as campaign material.

He has'nt got any!!!!

[Razzler1973]

I honestly can't believe people still both to rent jet skis on Pattaya. I know that's not the point but there really isn't a person alive that doesn't know about this? It's like the people in the gem shops in Bangkok ... really ... you have never heard of anything?!

[marinediscoking]

His political opponents could use this as campaign material.

Paul as logical as it sounds it won't be mentioned in the elections. Foreigners can't vote, and last year i mentioned the jet ski scams to a local gold shop owner I know, he said the phuket JJ incident on TV last year was a lie and JJ was falsely accused. He does seem to only watch the PAD channel when I go in there though. With this mindset many Thai's who have not herd first hand accounts about the scam don't know about it.

[pauljones]

The U.S. Ambassador personally went to the Phuket Police to discuss the jet skis and tuk tuks.

She even had to bring up the tuk tuk mafia that blockaded the US Navy.

The US Navy crew, repeatedly being cheated, decided to provide private van service for the U.S. Sailors on break so tuk tuks blocked the road and ruined their holiday.

They have done this to cruise ship companies too.

[Hishoni1945]

6.45pm just below Soi 8, 5 Indians being ripped off. Then moved to the main crime area of MS. Waited until 7.15, when the 3 last Indians came back on their skies. They had been going up & down very slowly all the time and finally came back. They got off the skies and where briefly yelled at for having bumped into each-other. Then 1 guy took his ski and moved it up the beach to some better lighted stretch. Nobody paying attention the 3 Indians wandered off to the walkway, not realizing how close to disaster they were. I followed them and walking by them, gave them a very strong warning to get across the road and run...They went off, but maybe not fast enough. Looking back I already saw 1 crook coming running along the walkway. I decided to disappear into the market near TQ and hope these naive Indians made their getaway. Also today a large Indian taking lots of pictures of the action, he did not get bothered. There is quite a few daily observers, easy to recognize....Foreigner with a disgusted look on their faces.......

[striderman]

today another walk along the coconut bar another scam to the right of the dreaded mike shopping mall steps.

tucked in nice n cosy to the new lamp tower and the 2 trees on the beach 4 indians getting the once over at about 15 00 hrs. still at it on my second pass 50 mins later.

remember i only post about the ones i happen to see, not the total number for any 1 day. also i tend to call it a day before darkness falls and taking a pic from range becomes too difficult.

and that is the worst time for scams so they can all go home on a nice little earner

[Ohyesuare]

Does anyone know if westerners are just not targeted anymore or they don't rent jet skis anymore? I am still offered jet ski rides when I am walking bymyself along the beach, but I am 1/4 Russian so I do look the part a bit.

[Hishoni1945]

Does anyone know if westerners are just not targeted anymore or they don't rent jet skis anymore? I am still offered jet ski rides when I am walking bymyself along the beach, but I am 1/4 Russian so I do look the part a bit.

Westerners are not interesting for them. The Indians, Pakis etc. are very easy targets, most of them are very insecure and inexperienced, naive. Some of them don't figure out how to drive a ski in 30 minutes and just idle along on a uncontrollable ski. When I go for my long walks I tell as many Indians as possible NOT to rent and spread the word. They are all very grateful. But soon I go home and you local guys must keep it up.

[parallaxtech]

Could you ask the Indians/Pakistanis to write a warning in Hindi/Urdu/Punjabi and post it along the beach road? This would not be risky for the people putting up the notices because the jetski mafia can't read it and this could help many tourists and hurt the criminal jetski business.

[Ohio]

Could you ask the Indians/Pakistanis to write a warning in Hindi/Urdu/Punjabi and post it along the beach road? This would not be risky for the people putting up the notices because the jetski mafia can't read it and this could help many tourists and hurt the criminal jetski business.

VERY SENSIBLE SUGGESTION ! IMHO

[petercool]

Except that the local Indian "middleman" could read them ..... and destroy them.

[lovetotravel]

Could you ask the Indians/Pakistanis to write a warning in Hindi/Urdu/Punjabi and post it along the beach road? This would not be risky for the people putting up the notices because the jetski mafia can't read it and this could help many tourists and hurt the criminal jetski business.

I'm pretty sure the Marriott has a sign on their property saying something about this. Would be nice for the other hotels to do the same. That would probably make a big impact.

[striderman]

it was either a special promotion day at the royal garden plaza of buy 1 get 2 free or a nod to the european championships that we get some hat tricks.

but 18 30 we had 3 scams going down at the same time.

1 st one opposite the pizza company, quite a large group of indians

2.nd one opposite burger king a smaller group talking in arabic (this is 30 metres or less than the first one)

3 rd one opposite KFC, couple of indians came back in and the pointing and shouting started straight away.

so 3 within the frontage of the royal garden plaza, not a bad earner!!!

*the 2nd one had 1 of the falangs who help the ski guys in the heat of the debate. short slightly stocky short hair have seen him many times before

Edited June 8, 2012 by striderman

[Ohyesuare]

Isn't India scam central as well? You would think they would be street savvy enough to not rent anything in Thailand. The Falangs who help the scammers anger me more then the scammers for some reason. I doubt they are as protected as they think they are since they are easily replaceable.