jet ski scams

[phycokiller]

cant find any threads on this but its on going and tourists should know about it. anyway I noticed yesterday that the scammers from Mikes are doing scams down at soi 7 now as well, they have a young bearded guy doing the deals for them, I guess he gets 10%, at least thats what they offered a friend of mine to do the negotiating, and I have seen them scamming opposite the police station as well, also saw one sink a few days ago, in a normal country they would have been refunded but here Im sure it cost the renters at least 50000b. maybe they are finding it more difficult at Mikes with the new viewing platform

[Shurup]

Haven't read about any jet-ski scams recently, I thought the tourists have learnt, guess not if it's still happening...

[wwex]

Haven't read about any jet-ski scams recently, I thought the tourists have learnt, guess not if it's still happening...

I realize most of the regulars here are bored with it but its still going on daily

[aveabeeror2]

I see it, but I dont believe it. Next it will be Calwow again.

[mogandave]

What is the scam?

[petercool]

I will say this one more time despite the expected vitriolic responses .... I once worked at Soi 9 police station volunteer desk (have since stopped doing that) and saw many, many of the disputes that ended up there. A very large proportion of the disputes involved real damage - often considerable - and the issue was always that the renters offered ridiculous compensations like 500 baht and/or no acceptable compromise could be reached. The "scams" on the beach that never reach the station (which is the last place the operators want to be) are not widespread even if regular and they are extremely difficult to judge in terms of whether real damage has been done, what is proper compensation if damage has been done and how to resolve things. It is a City Hall issue and until proper regulation is put in place the issues will remain.

[paddyjenkins]

I will say this one more time despite the expected vitriolic responses .... I once worked at Soi 9 police station volunteer desk (have since stopped doing that) and saw many, many of the disputes that ended up there. A very large proportion of the disputes involved real damage - often considerable - and the issue was always that the renters offered ridiculous compensations like 500 baht and/or no acceptable compromise could be reached. The "scams" on the beach that never reach the station (which is the last place the operators want to be) are not widespread even if regular and they are extremely difficult to judge in terms of whether real damage has been done, what is proper compensation if damage has been done and how to resolve things. It is a City Hall issue and until proper regulation is put in place the issues will remain.

What a load of garbage. All you need to do is hang around Beach Road for a few hours to see scams going down...they are real, the damage is made up and they certainly are widespread...stop talking rubbish or go somewhere else. Also, scams do reach the police station, but the police are part of the scam so it won't help the victims by going to the police station.

[Tolley]

I will say this one more time despite the expected vitriolic responses .... I once worked at Soi 9 police station volunteer desk (have since stopped doing that) and saw many, many of the disputes that ended up there. A very large proportion of the disputes involved real damage - often considerable - and the issue was always that the renters offered ridiculous compensations like 500 baht and/or no acceptable compromise could be reached. The "scams" on the beach that never reach the station (which is the last place the operators want to be) are not widespread even if regular and they are extremely difficult to judge in terms of whether real damage has been done, what is proper compensation if damage has been done and how to resolve things. It is a City Hall issue and until proper regulation is put in place the issues will remain.

That is totally wrong.

I remember being down the beach many times watching the scams being carried out.

In fact I was even sitting on the beach with my gal one day when they scammed a bunch of middle class Thai kids. And believe me it was disgusting the way they surrounded them and intimated a bunch of young girls.

Wake up mate just take a walk along the beach and watch the farce in action.

And of course the police are silent partners with many of these operators as well.

Heck I often see the police chatting with these guys and laughing and carrying on.

It is blatant extortion nothing more nothing less.

Edited January 6, 2014 by Tolley

[wwex]

the scam is certainly real, its more then coincidental that every evening opposite mikes the same jetskis have the same damage in the same places and tourists are being threatened physically if they dont pay a large sum of money to the scammers, and the same police arrive to make sure they do.

[anon8]

I will say this one more time despite the expected vitriolic responses .... I once worked at Soi 9 police station volunteer desk (have since stopped doing that) and saw many, many of the disputes that ended up there. A very large proportion of the disputes involved real damage - often considerable - and the issue was always that the renters offered ridiculous compensations like 500 baht and/or no acceptable compromise could be reached. The "scams" on the beach that never reach the station (which is the last place the operators want to be) are not widespread even if regular and they are extremely difficult to judge in terms of whether real damage has been done, what is proper compensation if damage has been done and how to resolve things. It is a City Hall issue and until proper regulation is put in place the issues will remain.

LOL

So all of us here who have witnessed the scams and extortions with our own eyes daily, have dreamt this up?

Are you kidding?

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[norrona]

I will say this one more time despite the expected vitriolic responses .... I once worked at Soi 9 police station volunteer desk (have since stopped doing that) and saw many, many of the disputes that ended up there. A very large proportion of the disputes involved real damage - often considerable - and the issue was always that the renters offered ridiculous compensations like 500 baht and/or no acceptable compromise could be reached. The "scams" on the beach that never reach the station (which is the last place the operators want to be) are not widespread even if regular and they are extremely difficult to judge in terms of whether real damage has been done, what is proper compensation if damage has been done and how to resolve things. It is a City Hall issue and until proper regulation is put in place the issues will remain.

I am disgusted by your post.....how much are they paying you to write that tripe?

[marinediscoking]

Yes i still see the scams going on a regular basis. Nothing has really changed except they may only try one a day instead of 5. Yes sometimes there are collisions but they are rare.

[Gone]

How could the OP have done a forum search and not have come up with anything? This topic has been beaten to death and had probably one of the longest running threads here ever.

[petercool]

Nice tries by some to discredit the key point. You obviously have never sat in the police station and seen any of these cases come in and how the police deal simply as explainers of the legal options if damage is actually seen on the skis. They are considered as civil cases and in five years I never witnessed any policeman take sides with anyone within the station. No one is denying that scams are occurring but real damage cases do exist and those make up the bulk of all those disputes I ever saw.

[balo]

Peter cool , if you worked as a police volunteer you must have been sleeping .

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[i claudius]

So refreshing to read about a new scam in Pattaya ,who would ever of thought of a jet ski scam ,with any luck this thread will go on and on and on and on and on and on sorry losing the will to live.

[petercool]

Peter cool , if you worked as a police volunteer you must have been sleeping . Sent from my SM-P601 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

And - specifically - just what did you witness inside a police station that contradicts my own observations on these jet ski cases ?

[anon8]

Peter cool , if you worked as a police volunteer you must have been sleeping . Sent from my SM-P601 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

And - specifically - just what did you witness inside a police station that contradicts my own observations on these jet ski cases ?

You really should stop now.

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[phycokiller]

So refreshing to read about a new scam in Pattaya ,who would ever of thought of a jet ski scam ,with any luck this thread will go on and on and on and on and on and on sorry losing the will to live.

How could the OP have done a forum search and not have come up with anything? This topic has been beaten to death and had probably one of the longest running threads here ever.

believe it or not there are new arrivals that read this forum as well, not just the grumpy old mens club

Edited January 6, 2014 by phycokiller

[Marcel1]

was three weeks ago in patts just for some business and a day out with the missus. Guess in one day I saw all what it has to offer, rude russians, loud indians sharing beers and asking for discount, and of course a jet ski scam, I watched these chinese guys enjoying the jet skis for some time and for sure they didnt hit any thing but also the police helped to negotiate on the price of the so called damage. even made a pic. even though all these things we had a nice day as long as you know what not to do

[vtjforyou]

I will say this one more time despite the expected vitriolic responses .... I once worked at Soi 9 police station volunteer desk (have since stopped doing that) and saw many, many of the disputes that ended up there. A very large proportion of the disputes involved real damage - often considerable - and the issue was always that the renters offered ridiculous compensations like 500 baht and/or no acceptable compromise could be reached. The "scams" on the beach that never reach the station (which is the last place the operators want to be) are not widespread even if regular and they are extremely difficult to judge in terms of whether real damage has been done, what is proper compensation if damage has been done and how to resolve things. It is a City Hall issue and until proper regulation is put in place the issues will remain.

You must be working for them. Online lobbying ?

[norrona]

Petercool.... inside the police station you will not witness any type of blackmail unless you are in the rooms out the back and please don't deny it goes on as I have personal experience to it!

Perhaps like most coppers you need to get up off your arse and go walk up and down Pattaya beach and actually take in what has been going on with regards to scams etc....

Yes I dare say there was and will always be genuine cases of damage to jet skis and cretins trying to wriggle out of it and play the dumb tourist but those are few and far between in comparison!

[gmac]

Nice tries by some to discredit the key point. You obviously have never sat in the police station and seen any of these cases come in and how the police deal simply as explainers of the legal options if damage is actually seen on the skis. They are considered as civil cases and in five years I never witnessed any policeman take sides with anyone within the station. No one is denying that scams are occurring but real damage cases do exist and those make up the bulk of all those disputes I ever saw.

Hardly surprising that you only saw the genuine cases as it was undoubtedly the scammers who insisted that the matter be taken to the police station after a real accident. I suspect, however, that you didn't see 5 or more cases each and every day which is probably a low estimate of what is actually occurring, and are the incidents being referred to here. No-one is denying that there are occasional real accidents but to pretend that the majority of claims being made by the operators are legitimate is laughable.

[StealthEnergiser]

Yes i still see the scams going on a regular basis. Nothing has really changed except they may only try one a day instead of 5. Yes sometimes there are collisions but they are rare.

And some times collisions and sinkings are set up by the punks

Edited January 6, 2014 by StealthEnergiser

[moonseeker]

I gave up watching and warning....Senseless... Nothing will ever improve in this town or country. A shame what has become of the exotic and friendly LOS within the short span of 25 yrs. that I have been coming here. Case closed. MS>

[moonseeker]

I will say this one more time despite the expected vitriolic responses .... I once worked at Soi 9 police station volunteer desk (have since stopped doing that) and saw many, many of the disputes that ended up there. A very large proportion of the disputes involved real damage - often considerable - and the issue was always that the renters offered ridiculous compensations like 500 baht and/or no acceptable compromise could be reached. The "scams" on the beach that never reach the station (which is the last place the operators want to be) are not widespread even if regular and they are extremely difficult to judge in terms of whether real damage has been done, what is proper compensation if damage has been done and how to resolve things. It is a City Hall issue and until proper regulation is put in place the issues will remain.

With all respect Petercool, I have spent several months during my late afternoon work-outs on the beach watching these scams going on & was able to warn off dozends of potential victims off. Get a cup of coffee and sit across from Mike Shopping from 17.00 on, bet you will revise your opinion. Guess the regular watchers still hang out there. Have a chat with them. Good night. MS>

[petercool]

There is one main scam group opposite Mike Shopping Mall with most of the other groups rarely causing issues if no damage is done. I know all that. My point was that many ( I never said all) of the general disputes are about real damage and of those the majority are admitted to by the people renting but they cannot agree on what is fair compensation and I was specifically recounting in station cases that were witnessed. But enough, I have said all that I wished to on this.

[paddyjenkins]

Nice tries by some to discredit the key point. You obviously have never sat in the police station and seen any of these cases come in and how the police deal simply as explainers of the legal options if damage is actually seen on the skis. They are considered as civil cases and in five years I never witnessed any policeman take sides with anyone within the station. No one is denying that scams are occurring but real damage cases do exist and those make up the bulk of all those disputes I ever saw.

just ignore this "petercool", he is either a liar or a moron.

obviously there is always actual damage, the point is it is pre-existing 99% of the time and even if it wasn't, the extorted money is grossly disproportionate to the actual cost of repair in all but the most extreme cases.

in addition, physical intimidation is always involved, physical assault is often involved, it is always about extortion/kidnap on some level and the scammers should be arrested and put behind bars. money should be paid as compensation to the victims, not the other way around i.e.. to the scammers and the police.

i have seen many scams and i know exactly how it works and so far i have never seen any damage caused by a jet-ski renter, it is always pre-existing and usually superficial. what i have seen as i said above is intimidation, assault, extortion and kidnap, all with the open and clear cooperation of the police.

maybe if this "petercool" had been observing the actual scams instead of just sitting in the police station he might have learned something but he hasn't learned a dam_n thing and has no idea what he is talking about.

Edited January 6, 2014 by paddyjenkins

[Loptr]

Nice tries by some to discredit the key point. You obviously have never sat in the police station and seen any of these cases come in and how the police deal simply as explainers of the legal options if damage is actually seen on the skis. They are considered as civil cases and in five years I never witnessed any policeman take sides with anyone within the station. No one is denying that scams are occurring but real damage cases do exist and those make up the bulk of all those disputes I ever saw.

They key point is that you are either blind or complicit. How's that?

[phycokiller]

Im sure Petercool is saying it as he sees it, but if you get out a bit you notice the same people day after day doing the same scams and pickpocketing on the beach, and if you were to spend some time observing the police cells just above you may even notice the policeman that delivers the yaba every evening for the inmates as well