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

[richard10365]

There are plenty of internet music stations with awesome music playing 24 hours a day. Stream the music into your shop and these guys can't bug you.

[Loptr]

I am surprised this scam persists and people keep getting stung.

If I owned a bar I would:

1. Hide the MP3 music system

2. Have no PC in view, or at worst a dead PC that contains nothing

3. Have a few blank CD's around the place

4. Have the best CCTV color system, with sound, I could buy

5. Have a panic switch that turned of the music and brought up the lights (better camera footage and sound)

6. Train staff on exactly what to do, ask for and say

7. Have lawyer on speed dial and make sure he knows the game and how to play it

These guys hit the bars late at night so it as inconvenient as possible. No lawyers available and the prospect of a night in a cell. They prey on your Thai staff and intimidate them. The threat of a cell for the night seems to be the worst they can do. No big deal. Just have your lawyer and the Press at the Police Station in the morning.

I'm sure it is not easy when it actually happens, but being as prepared as possible and making it obvious that you know your rights and you won't play ball has got to be worth something.

...or just whack the first guy in the face with a pool cue.

Or find an easier way to make baht. Seems like an awful lot of work and expense just to keep the barbarians from the gate.

[piewarmer]

If they know you are not an easy target they won't come.

They want easy money.

I have a feeling they will hit some lunatic in his shop and that will be the end of them.

make it soon and all over the news

[jackr]

...or just whack the first guy in the face with a pool cue.

Yeh ... right. You will be banged up in jail, after you get released from the hospital.

Though tempting and certainly warranted, it's pretty obvious that last part was said in jest. He makes some good points.

[DLock]

...or just whack the first guy in the face with a pool cue.

Yeh ... right. You will be banged up in jail, after you get released from the hospital.

Though tempting and certainly warranted, it's pretty obvious that last part was said in jest. He makes some good points.

Thanks Jack. You are correct.

The off-handed comment was sarcasm and meant to illustrate that you can either make an effort and do the best you can, OR, if you may as well smack them in the head instead, and do nothing.

I just think there is much more the bars could do to protect themselves, and even if they still get stung, they will have some awesome Youtube videos to help combat these scum.

[rene123]

These scam artists need to be found face down in the moat some day.

[eyecatcher]

Many many ideas guys; but I refer you back to my OP, the answer was there. yet a lot of you seem to think the answer is hiding equipment, finding bouncers to cover a city wide operation,"bumping" them off and paying them off.

I dont want this to sound arrogant, but as I said I am not Bruce Willis, just a regular wimp, who was scared at the time but had the confidence to laugh in their face and say get out. or sit it out and a g/f who kept saying "we are not scared of you"

We were aware of the scammers a year ago so it was not unexpected and thats where the confidence arose.

I hope this publicity is now in the forefront of all business owners. you just have to be ready to say "no" or just ignore them and sit it out with them, they will not do anything with a bib sitting with you also.

do not go to the police station unless like me it is to draw them away from you place, then you can slide off; no one is under arrest so you are free to walk back out.

In hindsight; what would I do different?................only one thing.............I should have taken the girls car keys with me on the bike, "keyed" the length of her car and demanded 25k baht otherwise they were going in the Ping.

dont take that literally of course.

my advice:

Empty your till regularly

dont leave any cds out on view in easy grasp

if possible hide your music players

use memory stick/mp3 for music

try to be calm and ask them to sit down and find out what they want.

ask who they represent and why they dont have offical papers.

ask for a telephone number for their office.

then call the police if you are being intimidated and just sit it out with them.

Most important- keep thinking they are scammers and they are not having 1 bht from me and they have no legal back up to take it.

take me to court for any illegal activity. they will not waste more than an hour.

Regarding the interent streaming; what a few of you dont understand is that music royalties and licences are issued for playing music or performing to the general public. you may aswell have said switch the radio on, its ok for you and your friends but on public premises it is different and legally a royalty licence is required, the cost of which depends on your type of venue whether it be restaurant, bar, coffee shop, dentist waiting room and the number of seats you have.

the 2 sure fire ways around it, are to either compose and record some music yourself or you can buy royalty free cds from the internet. they come with a certificate from the composer giving you the rights to play their music.

In the last 3 weeks we are now all aware of maybe 10 or more places that were hit, how many said no? to my knowledge besides us, I know of a small massage place, one girl genrally sitting alone....but the bigger places with staff and back up just seemed to cave in. Maybe if its not your own place then the staff dont care really, and cannot be relied upon.

good luck all......off to see if i can find bog paper costing 12k

[rene123]

Good post, eyecatcher, but I'd still rather see these guys get what they deserve... some SERIOUS down time.

[piewarmer]

Keep in mind, if you let them look at your computer or laptop they will find something.

Just keep them from touching anything, they have no authority to look at anything including ID's and Licenses.

This story has already made the news in Thailand, apparently a music rep ran a bar owner off the road

and put him/her in hospital. Wasn't in Chiang Mai.... My lady saw it on TV.

[Sao Jiang Mai]

I was appointed to be on the committee to oversee corruption at Phuping Police Station a few years ago, there have only been minior incidents that I have known about (there is no way I can oversee it, I just look into complaints I hear of) but I am happy to help out if anyone wants.

So, I just talked to my contact there about this and he said that he had not heard of this. Initially he asked if it was police from Bangkok, but I said that I didn't belive it to be so. He then said that he will look into this and get back to me. He also said that his precinct, and I presume others too, received a missive from the Natoinal Police in BKK saying that they were not to go after any music license violations without an official complaint lodged at the police station. So, unless Grammy goes to Phuping and says Bar X is in violation, they have absolutely no right to get involved. He will read the thread and get back to me about how to deal with this. If there is anything else in particular you wish me to ask him, eitehr put it here on the thread, he will be reading it soon, or contact me. Pim

[Gonzo the Face]

I was appointed to be on the committee to oversee corruption at Phuping Police Station a few years ago, there have only been minior incidents that I have known about (there is no way I can oversee it, I just look into complaints I hear of) but I am happy to help out if anyone wants.

So, I just talked to my contact there about this and he said that he had not heard of this. Initially he asked if it was police from Bangkok, but I said that I didn't belive it to be so. He then said that he will look into this and get back to me. He also said that his precinct, and I presume others too, received a missive from the Natoinal Police in BKK saying that they were not to go after any music license violations without an official complaint lodged at the police station. So, unless Grammy goes to Phuping and says Bar X is in violation, they have absolutely no right to get involved. He will read the thread and get back to me about how to deal with this. If there is anything else in particular you wish me to ask him, eitehr put it here on the thread, he will be reading it soon, or contact me. Pim

Go gettem girl........ I know that this upsets you a bit, but you are surely one woman on the face of this earth that I hope is never scorned

[arunsakda]

...or just whack the first guy in the face with a pool cue.

Yeh ... right. You will be banged up in jail, after you get released from the hospital.

I received three pieces of advice upon original LOS arrival. from one of those well-meaning grizzled old expats one might chance to meet at Cheap Charlies' in BKK. To be followed in this order of importance, as you just not likely to come out ahead, beginning with this no-brainer.

1) Do not get into a physical altercation with a Thai

2) Do not buy a house to be registered in a a womans name.

3) Do not open a business.

[DLock]

...or just whack the first guy in the face with a pool cue.

Yeh ... right. You will be banged up in jail, after you get released from the hospital.

I received three pieces of advice upon original LOS arrival. from one of those well-meaning grizzled old expats one might chance to meet at Cheap Charlies' in BKK. To be followed in this order of importance, as you just not likely to come out ahead, beginning with this no-brainer.

1) Do not get into a physical altercation with a Thai

2) Do not buy a house to be registered in a a womans name.

3) Do not open a business.

Bugger. I'm batting 666.

[SeaVisionBurma]

Derogatory post containing profanity - and a reply quoting it - removed.

Please note forum rules

8) Not to post extremely negative views of Thailand or derogatory comments directed towards all Thais.

[mesquite]

I received three pieces of advice upon original LOS arrival. from one of those well-meaning grizzled old expats one might chance to meet at Cheap Charlies' in BKK. To be followed in this order of importance, as you just not likely to come out ahead, beginning with this no-brainer.

1) Do not get into a physical altercation with a Thai

2) Do not buy a house to be registered in a a womans name.

3) Do not open a business.

I doubt if any of these grizzled old expats at Cheap Charlie's could buy a woman a house or open a business.

You have to have money to do those things.

[eyecatcher]

The publicity is slowly gaining momemtum now:

chiangmai city news today, now looking to make a story

Do you have experience with what is generally referred to as the 'Music Police'? A team(s) of policemen who bust bars and restaurants saying that the businesses are violating copyright laws? If you do have experience, please either contact us here or write to [email protected] Thanks.

Suggest we reference the ones we know were hit becasue most owners are Thai and obviously not involved on Thai Visa.

Having said that I am not too keen on being identified and open to repercussions by some.

[Greenside]

The only way to cope with the risk of intimidation is to get a really good body of victims on board and not have any identifiable with a leading role.

[arunsakda]

I received three pieces of advice upon original LOS arrival. from one of those well-meaning grizzled old expats one might chance to meet at Cheap Charlies' in BKK. To be followed in this order of importance, as you just not likely to come out ahead, beginning with this no-brainer.

1) Do not get into a physical altercation with a Thai

2) Do not buy a house to be registered in a a womans name.

3) Do not open a business.

I doubt if any of these grizzled old expats at Cheap Charlie's could buy a woman a house or open a business.

You have to have money to do those things.

Touché

Good advice none the less.!

[mesquite]

I received three pieces of advice upon original LOS arrival. from one of those well-meaning grizzled old expats one might chance to meet at Cheap Charlies' in BKK. To be followed in this order of importance, as you just not likely to come out ahead, beginning with this no-brainer.

1) Do not get into a physical altercation with a Thai

2) Do not buy a house to be registered in a a womans name.

3) Do not open a business.

I doubt if any of these grizzled old expats at Cheap Charlie's could buy a woman a house or open a business.

You have to have money to do those things.

Touché

Good advice none the less.!

Well, those are all good advice for me, but I do know guys who have done fine with ignoring 2 and 3. I also know guys who have gotten into major trouble ignoring 2 and 3.

[Greenside]

Mesquite's three pearls of wisdom have been aired on TV 14,672 times (go count them) and diverting this thread away from the main issue of the Scamming Scheming Music Police would be a shame.

[piewarmer]

Lots of Thai massage shops being hit in CM this week, many are closing their doors in fear.

If you make an official complaint you will be told there will be drugs found on your premises.

Its always the same police station involved. Hmm, why would that be.

[Gonzo the Face]

Lots of Thai massage shops being hit in CM this week, many are closing their doors in fear.

If you make an official complaint you will be told there will be drugs found on your premises.

Its always the same police station involved. Hmm, why would that be.

I see that this entire thing upsets you quite a bit, Piewarmer, so a suggestion...... rather than or in addition to posting for all of us, why don't you get in touch with Sao Jiang Mai, by PM or other means and empty all your information to assist her in pursueing this .

[mesquite]

Lots of Thai massage shops being hit in CM this week, many are closing their doors in fear.

If you make an official complaint you will be told there will be drugs found on your premises.

Its always the same police station involved. Hmm, why would that be.

I find it hard to believe many shops have shut down. I am aware of ....zero.

[piewarmer]

Lots of Thai massage shops being hit in CM this week, many are closing their doors in fear.

If you make an official complaint you will be told there will be drugs found on your premises.

Its always the same police station involved. Hmm, why would that be.

I see that this entire thing upsets you quite a bit, Piewarmer, so a suggestion...... rather than or in addition to posting for all of us, why don't you get in touch with Sao Jiang Mai, by PM or other means and empty all your information to assist her in pursueing this .

I done already dude. this forum is only one avenue of attack.

I'm just passing on info which might help others.

Edited March 8, 2013 by piewarmer

[Zoloft]

I am the owner of a restaurant near Tai Pai gate. We just had the same guys here.

I was upstairs but my staff dealt with it. my wife showed them the music licence on the wall, but they still wanted money, so her cousin told them to leave, he is pretty fearless.

Also my wife got on the phone to police straight away, they showed her their fake policeman, but she insisted on the police she knows being here.

They quickly ran off. They had tried it on at the bar next door but they told them to go away too.

I think if I, an Englishman, had tried to sort it out myself things could have been pretty hard.

[PoodMaiDai]

Lots of Thai massage shops being hit in CM this week, many are closing their doors in fear.

If you make an official complaint you will be told there will be drugs found on your premises.

Its always the same police station involved. Hmm, why would that be.

I find it hard to believe many shops have shut down. I am aware of ....zero.

There have been a handful. A few of my usual places are closing very early now (around dusk) and two of them have not opened doors in about a week.

[WhiteCadillac]

I am the owner of a restaurant near Tai Pai gate. We just had the same guys here.

I was upstairs but my staff dealt with it. my wife showed them the music licence on the wall, but they still wanted money, so her cousin told them to leave, he is pretty fearless.

Also my wife got on the phone to police straight away, they showed her their fake policeman, but she insisted on the police she knows being here.

They quickly ran off. They had tried it on at the bar next door but they told them to go away too.

I think if I, an Englishman, had tried to sort it out myself things could have been pretty hard.

Bravo.

[rikki]

My friends massage shop got hit for a lot last night.

She didnt know what to do and they got the money out of her.

10 of them in 2 pickups with 2 female

[LivinLOS]

Regarding the interent streaming; what a few of you dont understand is that music royalties and licences are issued for playing music or performing to the general public. you may aswell have said switch the radio on, its ok for you and your friends but on public premises it is different and legally a royalty licence is required, the cost of which depends on your type of venue whether it be restaurant, bar, coffee shop, dentist waiting room and the number of seats you have.

the 2 sure fire ways around it, are to either compose and record some music yourself or you can buy royalty free cds from the internet. they come with a certificate from the composer giving you the rights to play their music.

However the 'proof' they need to try to push a (scammed) case.. Are the MP3s of artists on your system.

Remove the MP3's.. Or host them on a networked drive that appears online (doesnt need to be but can be made to look that way) and then what will they find to charge you with... No artists in the bar.. Means its down to 'we heard music'..

Just one mroe way to make it hard for them and very easy to do.

[cyprean]

It doesnt matter if you have CDs or dont. They are scam artists and not really repping anyone other than trying to fearmonge people into paying. I kinda hope that this would escalate really fast, and they would be afraid of entering into businesses and they would fear that something would happen to them.