Just Hit By The Music Scammers- But For Them It Was A Flop

[eyecatcher]

Earlier this evening, my receptionist came upstairs and said she thinks the music scam gang are here.

About a year ago, the same gang were operating around the city and I was at that time fully prepared for the hit, taking on board advice from TV members here.

However this time I was in effect lost at sea, both my cameras to hand had dead batteries. So I was going to have to wing it. I came down stairs, and the team consisting of about 6, maybe 7?, one single lady carrying a bunch of papers, with some sort of ID dangling around her neck and an untidy guy with her. Outside there was a smart looking lad who looked to be filming things on his tablet.one more, was a customer, obviously a plant, who we realised when inside our place quickly went spying into other rooms to see who was in. We had 3 customers in at the time. Outside on the road 2 or maybe 3, rough looking. The girl was attempting to show us a photocopied official looking licencing breach document. I said it means nothing to me, I cannot read. I asked them to discuss outside as we had customers inside, but very soon the man became aggressive and shouting. My girl was holding her own very effectively, asking to see official ID, and asking for an original copy of the document, not a photocopy and telling them she is not scared of them in the slightest. Mean while, having realised my camera batteries were dead, and clutching at straws advising them that they are being filmed on the internal cctv, but they were not bothered. My girl advised them that the discussion can take place with the police and they were willing. She was also clever enough to ask them to show us the list that says our music requires a licence. nothing. But although it did not phase them, the aggression heightened with my girl, the man was pushing and grabbing her behind her desk,.and when my arm came around his neck he was seriously angry. At that moment, I had 2 options, the favoured one would have landed me in jail for sure; so I didnt go for my machetesthough a taser of some form would be my weapon of choice from now. I decided to try and act nontialantly, remain calm and ask my girl not to wind this jerk up any more. Having embarrassingly ushered out 2 of our 3 customers, the policeman arrived, totally blasé and really couldnt give a toss. He listened to the discussion before arriving at his profound conclusion, which was they dont have any jurisdiction on licencing. I was struggling to cover all bases by now, they were trying to grab her phone, then her computer which I managed to grab, then it was to get my pc, any cds, cameras and my bag and get them upstairs locked away. On my return downstairs we conveyed to the policeman that we would sort this out at the station. And I would go, I had to decoy them, make them feel they were winning but moreover get them away from the building so my girl could lock herself in. we said she would follow in half and hour when final customer gone. I decided to not to carry any money, any cards, passport or anything to the station. Didnt want the risk of getting robbed and I didnt was the threat of a knifepoint trip to the ATM; and before I left I was prepared for a night in the cell because there there was absolutely no way on earth anyone was going to take any money from me. So I said to the policeman, ok lets go, now, the girl wanted me to drive her car? But the last thing I am doing is getting into someones car. So I tailgated the copper on his bike up to Phuping station. Again alarm bells had already rung, I remember this station before as being in on the scam, so to be wary. Got there, only 3 policemen there, busy with people, my tack was to get in first with an assault/trespassing /and spying charge/theft. No one could speak English, neither the police or the girl scammer who came into the station. She tried to ask me to sit down and said when is your girlfriend coming, I said half an hour.so I am going to the tourist police now, where they speak English. I walked outside, got back on the bike and headed out, 2 of the gang were in the car park, they ran across and asked where I was going. I said the tourist police, they were not happy obviously. The tourist police contacted my girl, to check she was ok and everyone had left, but really they also were not interested, as a Thai citizen had to be dealt with by the local police., and I wasnt going to meet her back at that station for sure. My girl in the meantime had already taken legal advice and found the video on You Tube of the self same scammers and assured me I could leave the station. We met up in the city and decided to file an assault charge and really just to make them aware of the incident, but the station on walking street was so busy we decided to leave it until tomorrow. The scammers did steal a few cds which actually we dont use, but on the bright side my girl managed to charged one of the scammers 400bt for his thai massage..and during the big commotion during which I switched the mp3 off; one of our other girls came down and said the music has gone off; and heard nothing of what was happening. .

In the end, happy to say neither of us were injured, but in shock of course, and wondering whether to open tomorrow. We will open, and they may be back having another attemptbut they will get the same runaround from us.. but for sure they will be successful with other businesses who have weaker staff as they can be quite intimidating.

Certainly felt at a disadvantage not understanding a word but I think it became an advantage in the end.

Please be aware, forewarned is forearmed. the you tube video link (if permitted) shows the same guy in the red shirt and the standing guy also. might be an idea just to make a mental image of this guy. if link not work type thai "music" police scam

[chris1dna]

Don't know what say other than HOLY Cr_P! And glad your ok man. WOW!

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[mauGR1]

Thanks for taking the time to tell the story.

Well done, wish you Best of Luck !

[realthaideal]

Wow man ! Alot of pressure and strong-arming of the businesses who can always least afford it. Glad things have worked out alright for you at least for the time being. Keep your wits about you !

[junglechef]

Out of interest may I ask which business is this?

[MESmith]

Well done in dealing with the music mafia.

Watch out for the paragraph mafia

[mesquite]

Glad you are OK and good job.

A gang matching this description hit a massage place I frequent that is just outside of the moat about a week or so ago. It was about 10 PM. Same MO. The Thai manager refused to pay as well. Lots of intimidation of the staff. They have not been back to that shop since.

Edited February 22, 2013 by mesquite

[Puwa]

I'd guess that this scam doesn't kick much money back to the local police, probably not enough for them to really throw their weight behind the scammers. And it's probably a hassle for them to deal with, because business operators have many ways to resist, as the OP's story depicts. Anyway, it's this kind of nonsense--petty thuggery in the name of the law-- that keeps Thailand from evolving.

[Dante99]

Glad you and your receptionist are well.

New weekly calendar item: Check video cam batteries

[lazeeboy]

this same guy in the red shirt came to my bar on sunday ,i have all the correct docs from being done by the copy right police 4 times all ready 1st time western 2nd time thai music 3rd time videos ,each time payed a fine in the police station ranging from 12-18000baht this lowlife scum bag told my other half that he was the original and all the others were scammers don at the police station they back him up and then they fined me 13000 once more ,yesterday this video was making the rounds on facebook and you tube ,i instructed a lawyer to go to the police station to show video to the police and they said basically my wife as a liar and as she had no proof other than the dodgy reciept she sould go and be more careful in future ,ther were 5-6 other people in the police station all paying the same fine ,luckily for me i wasnt in the bar that night as i would now probably be in jail ..my bar is chiang mai cabaret in anusan market if anyone has any details on the scumbag please let me know because i would love to catch up with him ....

[DiamondKing]

this same guy in the red shirt came to my bar on sunday ,i have all the correct docs from being done by the copy right police 4 times all ready 1st time western 2nd time thai music 3rd time videos ,each time payed a fine in the police station ranging from 12-18000baht this lowlife scum bag told my other half that he was the original and all the others were scammers don at the police station they back him up and then they fined me 13000 once more ,yesterday this video was making the rounds on facebook and you tube ,i instructed a lawyer to go to the police station to show video to the police and they said basically my wife as a liar and as she had no proof other than the dodgy reciept she sould go and be more careful in future ,ther were 5-6 other people in the police station all paying the same fine ,luckily for me i wasnt in the bar that night as i would now probably be in jail ..my bar is chiang mai cabaret in anusan market if anyone has any details on the scumbag please let me know because i would love to catch up with him ....

DONT WORRY you have paid these people FIVE times already HE WILL BE BACK for sure because if you have paid them FIVE times your a good bet for a SIXTH time Edited February 22, 2013 by DiamondKing

[daoyai]

This topic is so , over the top ,in your face, malignent scam corruption, it seems to me (nonbusinessowner) that this exceeds a tolerable level of "petty" extortion. Is there any movement to find a "final solution' to the infestation?

[Hugh Jarse]

How about posting some pics. of the gang around town: on lamp posts, phone booths, 7/11's etc with a dire warning "Beware of Crooks". Well done for standing up to these cockroaches.

Glad you are OK and good job.

A gang matching this description hit a massage place I frequent that is just outside of the moat about a week or so ago. It was about 10 PM. Same MO. The Thai manager refused to pay as well. Lots of intimidation of the staff. They have not been back to that shop since.

[CMSteve]

I don't know where your place is located. Are you in the Phuping District? If so, it makes sense, if not, being asked to go there is a dead give away. You may want to consider taking this above all the local's heads. Take a drive over to the District 5 office over on Mahidol Rd. and make your complaint there.

Good Luck!

[eyecatcher]

I don't know where your place is located. Are you in the Phuping District? If so, it makes sense, if not, being asked to go there is a dead give away. You may want to consider taking this above all the local's heads. Take a drive over to the District 5 office over on Mahidol Rd. and make your complaint there.

Good Luck!

good idea; will suggest that now.

After a stressful night, this morning found out that a spa just 200m from us was hit just before they closed at 10pm. That means as I dragged them all off up to phuping and giving them the runaround for half an hour, they came back and blatantly went into our neighbouring spa and took 14,000 bt from them.

they dont have farang on the premises, only young receptionist girls....my guess is that was their days takings straight from the till. They are alright aswell.

this morning we went to phuping station; another waste of time, the desk officer was almost telling my girl not to be so silly, no one wanted to know....you know whatever we say about our own police, at least you get some attention and whilst they may do anything, they take a statement seriously.

Nervous this morning, sitting on the door, keeping it locked, trying to make a reasoned judgement if they are sending in another "plant". cameras at the ready,. 2 came in just 15 mins ago, locking the door behind them; its not the right thing to do I know.

I am not Bruce Willis, nor do I have any martial arts training and I didnt really think waving the knife around with a barrage of my best English verabl threats, would have been understood.

Apologies for the paragraphs, it was written with paragraphs, but didnt want to appear like that, plus I was a little stressed last night.

[thelongshoot]

Good for you mate. You stood your ground and put it back on them..... Absolute dogs!

[Mestizo]

They came to a couple bars in the Loi Kroh Boxing area on Saturday night. The guy pictured above in the video was yelling and acting like he was going to get violent with the bar manager (male). He took a stack of CD's and also grabbed a girl's mobile phone away from her. He didn't have any police with him this time.

I took a couple pictures of him and he got real angry. Started pointing at me and mouthing threats a couple times. I shrugged him off and took a few more pics. He came and tried to intimidate me. I smiled, laughed in his face and shrugged him off again. He backed off and disappeared. (Yes, I know that him and the 5 guys he had with them could have beat my ass.... Didn't really care much at that point.)

Attached are 3 pics of the guy. He's wearing a yellow shirt in the pics. He came and milled around outside the bar for a bit before coming back with all his friends to start his deal with the bar manager.

-Mestizo

[Mestizo]

Also saw this same group + the girl do their thing to another back a couple years back. That time they had a uniformed police officer with them. I also took his pic that time and he was again very upset. The police officer came over and told me to delete the pics. I handed him my *locked* phone (Android at the time, with the connect the dots pattern to unlock) and told him to go ahead and delete whatever he wanted. He looked at the locked screen for a bit and just handed it back to me.

Attached are some super crappy, horrible pics of the same guy and the girl. One of the pics, there is a huge light reflection off one guy. That was the police wearing the reflective motorbike riding vest. Really too bad that the pics came out so horrible. However, I highly recommend that anybody seeing these people take pics of them to help spread the word. It also seems to make them a bit nervous and they want to get out of there once people start taking pics of them. On a previous thread about this, somebody mentioned instructing all the girls working in the bar to all take out their camera phones and take as many pics as possible. I think thats pretty good advise..

-Mestizo

[Mestizo]

Links to previous posts about these guys:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/523106-fake-music-police-back-for-more/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/471886-music-extortian-to-chiang-mai-entertainment-places/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/471425-bar-owners-beware-music-police-scam/

-Mestizo

[eyecatcher]

Thats the one Mestizo, and whilst me too would have been more confident one on one, with 5 waiting in the wings, not worth it; so try to win with intelligence and guile, not too difficult here.

Update: we have a contact now, a lady working as a receptionist at the Phuping and a cousin of one of my girls. Just called to say there are 2 or 3 other victims at the station right now.

my girls have now gone to add their weight, not sure if i should go, dont want to get into any trouble.

but seriously they need taking out as they are a menace.

be on your guard business owners and formulate a contingency plan now, contact phone numbers, your big tattooed mates, the pig snares.

[Barabbas]

Would it be possible for the business owners to cooperate and hire one or several part-time "bouncers" or security, who might arrive upon being phoned? Fight fire with fire...

[DiamondKing]

I would be very careful because there is a VERY GOOD CHANCE they are packing heat.

[realthaideal]

I would be very careful because there is a VERY GOOD CHANCE they are packing heat.

I hate to see or hear of all this banana republic lawless marauding type behavior by these guys. It really is horrible. Makes you think we have no rights.. or that nobody has any rights. Put on a uniform or badge, look official and threatening and go extort. Who are these people ? How do they choose when to come out ? It only happens now and then for a period and then it subsides or goes elsewhere. Who are they really gathering money for ? They bribe some BIB's, but are they really police or are they some government office pretending to be some other enforcement division ? I'm gonna investigate with a Thai bar owner friend of mine. This is quite curious and f*@d up.

[daoyai]

Watch your back RTD, better bring Rene123 with you for protection.

[Beetlejuice]

Also saw this same group + the girl do their thing to another back a couple years back. That time they had a uniformed police officer with them. I also took his pic that time and he was again very upset. The police officer came over and told me to delete the pics. I handed him my *locked* phone (Android at the time, with the connect the dots pattern to unlock) and told him to go ahead and delete whatever he wanted. He looked at the locked screen for a bit and just handed it back to me.

Attached are some super crappy, horrible pics of the same guy and the girl. One of the pics, there is a huge light reflection off one guy. That was the police wearing the reflective motorbike riding vest. Really too bad that the pics came out so horrible. However, I highly recommend that anybody seeing these people take pics of them to help spread the word. It also seems to make them a bit nervous and they want to get out of there once people start taking pics of them. On a previous thread about this, somebody mentioned instructing all the girls working in the bar to all take out their camera phones and take as many pics as possible. I think thats pretty good advise..

-Mestizo

IMAG0101.jpgIMAG0102.jpgIMAG0103.jpg

The guy alleged to be a policeman being glared out by the reflected light in the photograph. Did anyone ask to see his ID or get his name or number? Are you certain he was a real policeman?

Here is some of my advice, for what it`s worth:

For the farang business owners, if you do not have any official paperwork to confirm that you are the owners and your Thai language skills are either extremely limited or non existent, than don`t waste your time visiting a police station, as the police will not be interested and more likely poo poo you hoping that you’re turn your back, walk out of there and then they can continue on with they’re coffee break. Their philosophy is; we’ll wait until there is an incident where someone is either seriously injured or killed, then we will investigate. Anyone who has stayed in Thailand long enough will know what I mean.

So what should you do:

All the businesses that have so far been subjected to intimidation by these thugs and terrorists, whoever is the actual business owners, on paperwork I mean, hire the services of one reputable Thai lawyer or a Thai who knows how to deal with these matters as a spokesperson to represent you all. Try to make this into a whole Thai affair and the farangs should stay back only to give advice.

Ask the spokesperson to make an appointment to see a head or someone high up in the police department. All the Thai owners including the paperwork that pertains to them should accompany the spokesperson. Include any evidence you have. Ensure that all the paperwork is in order, give the police no excuses to dismiss your case. Then basically after stating your case, ask the police what do they intend to do about it? If it is hinted that this may involve a donation to the police poor fund, than this has to be left up to everyone’s discretion.

If no satisfactory results is obtained from the police, then it`s as one poster has already said; have 2 or 3 heavies on the company’s payroll, because sadly, this appears to be the way Thailand is heading these days, thugs aiming themselves at soft targets, similar to the Pattaya jetski scams.

These bastards work by fear and intimidation and if they continue to get away with this, then the problem will escalate, so action is required, like 2 days before yesterday.

Please at least consider my advice, even as a plan B if nothing else works or the problem does not go away and try not to take matters into your own hands. These vermin can be vicious and someone may get killed.

Edited February 22, 2013 by Beetlejuice

[scorecard]

Also saw this same group + the girl do their thing to another back a couple years back. That time they had a uniformed police officer with them. I also took his pic that time and he was again very upset. The police officer came over and told me to delete the pics. I handed him my *locked* phone (Android at the time, with the connect the dots pattern to unlock) and told him to go ahead and delete whatever he wanted. He looked at the locked screen for a bit and just handed it back to me.

Attached are some super crappy, horrible pics of the same guy and the girl. One of the pics, there is a huge light reflection off one guy. That was the police wearing the reflective motorbike riding vest. Really too bad that the pics came out so horrible. However, I highly recommend that anybody seeing these people take pics of them to help spread the word. It also seems to make them a bit nervous and they want to get out of there once people start taking pics of them. On a previous thread about this, somebody mentioned instructing all the girls working in the bar to all take out their camera phones and take as many pics as possible. I think thats pretty good advise..

-Mestizo

IMAG0101.jpgIMAG0102.jpgIMAG0103.jpg

The guy alleged to be a policeman being glared out by the reflected light in the photograph. Did anyone ask to see his ID or get his name or number? Are you certain he was a real policeman?

Here is some of my advice, for what it`s worth:

For the farang business owners, if you do not have any official paperwork to confirm that you are the owners and your Thai language skills are either extremely limited or non existent, than don`t waste your time visiting a police station, as the police will not be interested and more likely poo poo you hoping that you’re turn your back, walk out of there and then they can continue on with they’re coffee break. Their philosophy is; we’ll wait until there is an incident where someone is either seriously injured or killed, then we will investigate. Anyone who has stayed in Thailand long enough will know what I mean.

So what should you do:

All the businesses that have so far been subjected to intimidation by these thugs and terrorists, whoever is the actual business owners, on paperwork I mean, hire the services of one reputable Thai lawyer or a Thai who knows how to deal with these matters as a spokesperson to represent you all. Try to make this into a whole Thai affair and the farangs should stay back only to give advice.

Ask the spokesperson to make an appointment to see a head or someone high up in the police department. All the Thai owners including the paperwork that pertains to them should accompany the spokesperson. Include any evidence you have. Ensure that all the paperwork is in order, give the police no excuses to dismiss your case. Then basically after stating your case, ask the police what do they intend to do about it? If it is hinted that this may involve a donation to the police poor fund, than this has to be left up to everyone’s discretion.

If no satisfactory results is obtained from the police, then it`s as one poster has already said; have 2 or 3 heavies on the company’s payroll, because sadly, this appears to be the way Thailand is heading these days, thugs aiming themselves at soft targets, similar to the Pattaya jetski scams.

These bastards work by fear and intimidation and if they continue to get away with this, then the problem will escalate, so action is required, like 2 days before yesterday.

Please at least consider my advice, even as a plan B if nothing else works or the problem does not go away and try not to take matters into your own hands. These vermin can be vicious and someone may get killed.

Does the Thai Ombudsman have a branch office in Chiang Mai?

They have a branch office in Pattaya and I'm aware that they have taken some 'cases' and their findings passed to senior police, who are basically frightened to ignore the ombudsman.

Edited February 23, 2013 by scorecard

[HaleySabai]

I wonder why these punks don't take the threat a step higher and target farang owned bars by asking for valid 'work-permits'.....oops!

That would really scare the crap out of you guys! - if you don't know by now,doing any kind of business in Thailand is a walk on a very slippery rock.

Oh, a few words of advice; if you fight one, you fight them all.....and you may be buried here.

if you must do some sub-level business in order to exist here,then at least learn to speak Thai, geeze!!

Give your staff a raise.

Think of the world as a 'global village'....work in one part of it (your country) and live in another part of it (Thailand)

You guys need more than "good-Luck"

[Beetlejuice]

scorecard, on 23 Feb 2013 - 08:36, said:

Beetlejuice, on 23 Feb 2013 - 02:56, said:

Mestizo, on 22 Feb 2013 - 13:34, said:

Also saw this same group + the girl do their thing to another back a couple years back. That time they had a uniformed police officer with them. I also took his pic that time and he was again very upset. The police officer came over and told me to delete the pics. I handed him my *locked* phone (Android at the time, with the connect the dots pattern to unlock) and told him to go ahead and delete whatever he wanted. He looked at the locked screen for a bit and just handed it back to me.

Attached are some super crappy, horrible pics of the same guy and the girl. One of the pics, there is a huge light reflection off one guy. That was the police wearing the reflective motorbike riding vest. Really too bad that the pics came out so horrible. However, I highly recommend that anybody seeing these people take pics of them to help spread the word. It also seems to make them a bit nervous and they want to get out of there once people start taking pics of them. On a previous thread about this, somebody mentioned instructing all the girls working in the bar to all take out their camera phones and take as many pics as possible. I think thats pretty good advise..

-Mestizo

IMAG0101.jpgIMAG0102.jpgIMAG0103.jpg

The guy alleged to be a policeman being glared out by the reflected light in the photograph. Did anyone ask to see his ID or get his name or number? Are you certain he was a real policeman?

Here is some of my advice, for what it`s worth:

For the farang business owners, if you do not have any official paperwork to confirm that you are the owners and your Thai language skills are either extremely limited or non existent, than don`t waste your time visiting a police station, as the police will not be interested and more likely poo poo you hoping that you’re turn your back, walk out of there and then they can continue on with they’re coffee break. Their philosophy is; we’ll wait until there is an incident where someone is either seriously injured or killed, then we will investigate. Anyone who has stayed in Thailand long enough will know what I mean.

So what should you do:

All the businesses that have so far been subjected to intimidation by these thugs and terrorists, whoever is the actual business owners, on paperwork I mean, hire the services of one reputable Thai lawyer or a Thai who knows how to deal with these matters as a spokesperson to represent you all. Try to make this into a whole Thai affair and the farangs should stay back only to give advice.

Ask the spokesperson to make an appointment to see a head or someone high up in the police department. All the Thai owners including the paperwork that pertains to them should accompany the spokesperson. Include any evidence you have. Ensure that all the paperwork is in order, give the police no excuses to dismiss your case. Then basically after stating your case, ask the police what do they intend to do about it? If it is hinted that this may involve a donation to the police poor fund, than this has to be left up to everyone’s discretion.

If no satisfactory results is obtained from the police, then it`s as one poster has already said; have 2 or 3 heavies on the company’s payroll, because sadly, this appears to be the way Thailand is heading these days, thugs aiming themselves at soft targets, similar to the Pattaya jetski scams.

These bastards work by fear and intimidation and if they continue to get away with this, then the problem will escalate, so action is required, like 2 days before yesterday.

Please at least consider my advice, even as a plan B if nothing else works or the problem does not go away and try not to take matters into your own hands. These vermin can be vicious and someone may get killed.

Does the Thai Ombudsman have a branch office in Chiang Mai?

They have a branch office in Pattaya and I'm aware that they have taken some 'cases' and their findings passed to senior police, who are basically frightened to ignore the ombudsman.

This has nothing to do with the Ombudsman.

This is Thailand and situations like these have to be dealt with strategically, with the right officials and departments. Attempting to go over they’re heads will only wind them up and could cause greater problems for the business owners, which in the end will not archive anything.

My son is a policeman in Chiang Mai and he helped me with some of the advice given in my first post and it`s good advice.

Firstly, if some farang turns up at a police station crying that some nasty people have been giving him agro, the police are not going to send out the cavalry to the rescue, they simply will not give the farang any credibility or take him seriously, especially if the farang can barely communicate with them. Another point is that this has nothing to do with the tourist police, it is out of they’re jurisdiction and will only refer the matter back to the regular police.

The business owners should form an alliance, a meeting has to be arranged between the business owners and the police, and then a security plan has to be proposed, negotiated, agreed by all parties or a compromise and implemented. This is how it`s done in Thailand. Anyone that knows the score here should understand and this is advice straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.

Business owners maybe pleasantly surprised just how accommodating and helpful the police can be if going via the appropriate channels and the correct procedures are followed.

But and it`s a big BUT, the business owners have to be strictly above board with the authentic documentation to back them up. Work permits, alcohol licenses, evidence of legal ownership and so on. I am sure most of you get my drift here.

Accuse the police and authorities of corruption, not caring or anything else you like, but without any real legal status regarding the businesses, than the business owners/backers have no clout and I guess that the thugs are also fully aware of this, which means these businesses will always be vulnerable.

I am not making any accusations against anyone, only the business owners know whether or not their house is in order.

Either take heed of good common sense advice or tackle this problem using your own methods. It`s as simple as that.

Edited February 23, 2013 by Beetlejuice

[PoodMaiDai]

Bravo!!! Finally!!!

I'm assuming your speakers were safe (perhaps in the wall or ceiling) and you said you are using a MP3 player. Smart. Everyone should outsmart them with technology so they can not take your gear. Go a step further and also lock down your computer like they do in the computer stores or some net cafes. They sell a security cable (some use steel brackets) that unless these scammers come with bolt cutters they should not be able to get the computer once locked.

Lock down EVERYTHING. Let these baboons leave empty handed. Or for fun you can buy a pile of cheap or 2nd hand CDs and keep them in a pile just so they think they got something. Maybe even buy a super cheap broken photo or two and keep it all sitting out for them to grab and think they actually got something of value. Maybe on the CD cover you can print out that monkey's photo and put it on every one of them. While you're at it, print and frame the scammers photos and hang them on your wall next to your register / desk with a note telling your staff they are scammers and who they are, in English and Thai.

Let them scream and shout. As of yet I don't think they have actually assaulted anyone. They just use fear and intimidation to get what they want. Then do what this gent did and give them the police run around. Wear them out and drag it out, this method has worked in Pattaya with the Jet Ski scammers too. It's just time and they have more shops to hit so they won't waste too much on you.

[PoodMaiDai]

Would it be possible for the business owners to cooperate and hire one or several part-time "bouncers" or security, who might arrive upon being phoned? Fight fire with fire...

Don't waste your time with police. Hire off duty Thai military. The military outranks the police and they (the useless police) know it.

A bar in Pattaya did this who was getting extorted almost daily by the local police. Wasn't bothered again. You bar owners get together and hire two of these guys to patrol your bar area during open hours. Anytime crooks or even crooked police show up, get them to your bar and let them deal with it. Everything is about rank and status here. Use your heads and outsmart these dirt bags, beating them at their own game.