One way to avoid a scam like this is to NOT rent a Jet Ski

The second way is to take photos of the Jet Ski before riding it

and getting the renty to agree about what is or is not wrong with the Jet Ski

This should help a bit

Or just lock up the Jet Ski Rental guys

Taking photos doesn't protect you or help you. Many times, they have painted the damaged area with water-washable paint. It looks fine when you rent it , but washed off and later shows the damage...

When will they just ban these operators full stop?

I don't know...

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Surely the thing to do with these people is simply to insist the matter be settled at the police station, and demand that they prove the damage was caused by you. It's only their word against yours. Of perhaps in Thailand there doesn't have to be any proof that a crime has been committed, and it's enough to just say there has.

One way to avoid a scam like this is to NOT rent a Jet Ski

The second way is to take photos of the Jet Ski before riding it

and getting the renty to agree about what is or is not wrong with the Jet Ski

This should help a bit

Or just lock up the Jet Ski Rental guys

Taking photos is part of their scam. Everybody has a camera with them these days. The Thai tells the foreigner to take photos, that way they'll be no misunderstanding. We'll have before and after photos...the camera never lies.

So the foreigner checks the jetski and takes photos...not a mark on it, not a blemish....then half and hour later when he returns to shore - Hey Presto, there's a big scrape on the jetski.

They use water-soluble filler and water-base paint to hide existing damage. After 30 minutes whizzing around the sea the water has softened and dislodged the filler and washed away the paint, revealing the damage.

That's the scam. Been working well for decades at Pattaya & Phuket.

A post using derogatory terms removed

Great post SpiderMike

The jet ski operator is as shocked about being arrested for that as we are!

Since when did the "rules" change?

See what happens when you miss monthly tea money

Surely the thing to do with these people is simply to insist the matter be settled at the police station, and demand that they prove the damage was caused by you. It's only their word against yours. Of perhaps in Thailand there doesn't have to be any proof that a crime has been committed, and it's enough to just say there has.

As i understand the police are in on the scam and maybe owning the jet ski, its a bit of a stretch to describe the bib as police.

Surely the thing to do with these people is simply to insist the matter be settled at the police station, and demand that they prove the damage was caused by you. It's only their word against yours. Of perhaps in Thailand there doesn't have to be any proof that a crime has been committed, and it's enough to just say there has.

As i understand the police are in on the scam and maybe owning the jet ski, its a bit of a stretch to describe the bib as police.

There was an interesting case recently when a farang was caught up in the jetski scam, he didn't phone the bib for help, he phoned the military for help. it all got sorted very fast and the farang walked away.

Surely the thing to do with these people is simply to insist the matter be settled at the police station, and demand that they prove the damage was caused by you. It's only their word against yours. Of perhaps in Thailand there doesn't have to be any proof that a crime has been committed, and it's enough to just say there has.

As i understand the police are in on the scam and maybe owning the jet ski, its a bit of a stretch to describe the bib as police.

There was an interesting case recently when a farang was caught up in the jetski scam, he didn't phone the bib for help, he phoned the military for help. it all got sorted very fast and the farang walked away.

Not that i would rent a jet ski but what number would you use to call the military?

Jet ski scrum

Surely the thing to do with these people is simply to insist the matter be settled at the police station, and demand that they prove the damage was caused by you. It's only their word against yours. Of perhaps in Thailand there doesn't have to be any proof that a crime has been committed, and it's enough to just say there has.

As i understand the police are in on the scam and maybe owning the jet ski, its a bit of a stretch to describe the bib as police.

There was an interesting case recently when a farang was caught up in the jetski scam, he didn't phone the bib for help, he phoned the military for help. it all got sorted very fast and the farang walked away.

Not that i would rent a jet ski but what number would you use to call the military?

Dunno, saw it on Pattaya News TV, he must have gone online with his mobile and got hold of a phone number that way. Makes you wonder why someone that sharp is dumb enough to rent a jetski.

Make the operator have insurance

Make the operator have insurance

It's a scam, a tourist rip off, has virtually zero to do with genuine accidents. Making them have insurance would screw up the scam. TIT.

Make the operator have insurance

It's a scam, a tourist rip off, has virtually zero to do with genuine accidents. Making them have insurance would screw up the scam. TIT.

Cant imagine any reputable broker interested in selling insurance to the scammers.

Also i believe these things require some kind of license which in almost all cases would make the insurance null n void.

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Make the operator have insurance

It's a scam, a tourist rip off, has virtually zero to do with genuine accidents. Making them have insurance would screw up the scam. TIT.

Cant imagine any reputable broker interested in selling insurance to the scammers.

Also i believe these things require some kind of license which in almost all cases would make the insurance null n void.

They would certainly need to get their act cleaned up before any insurance company would give coverage. The authorities need to really be active in this respect

The money made on this scam must be staggering. The Pattaya police who are a part of

this scam, have to put up with a lot of heat and bad publicity from it, yet they keep on

allowing it to happen. So that clearly means they are in it up to their necks. If the police

wanted to , they could stop this scam in one day. Yet they choose not to. So figure it

out yourself what is happening here.....

We are more than likely talking about millions of baht per week. One scam alone nets 10, 20, or 50k baht. Think of all the jet ski operators. This scam is very widespread. What percentage do the RTP get? Probably pretty high. Anyone know? It is surprising more embassies do not warn their citizens about it. Guess they are too afraid of being politically incorrect? If there was not such a fortune being made on this criminal enterprise, the government and the "police" would not allow it to happen.

The money made on this scam must be staggering. The Pattaya police who are a part of

this scam, have to put up with a lot of heat and bad publicity from it, yet they keep on

allowing it to happen. So that clearly means they are in it up to their necks. If the police

wanted to , they could stop this scam in one day. Yet they choose not to. So figure it

out yourself what is happening here.....

We are more than likely talking about millions of baht per week. One scam alone nets 10, 20, or 50k baht. Think of all the jet ski operators. This scam is very widespread. What percentage do the RTP get? Probably pretty high. Anyone know? It is surprising more embassies do not warn their citizens about it. Guess they are too afraid of being politically incorrect? If there was not such a fortune being made on this criminal enterprise, the government and the "police" would not allow it to happen.

Someone posted that one of the jet ski guys in Phuket said the police cut is 20 %.

That seems a bit low to me for something that generates a river of money.

When the Thai chief of police here got the instant boot after Prayut took over

power, I hoped the jet ski scam would come to an end. But apparently not...

Attacks on tourists have been happening in this very same spot for years and years.

<snip>

Thai authorities allow this to go on endlessly. It points out how little Thailand Tourism Minister cares for the welfare of visitors to the Kingdom. I guess the word does not spread from one Farang to another to avoid these criminals. Come to for vacation and get ripped off and assaulted

When will they just ban these operators full stop?

I don't know...

When they decide it is time to reorganize the RTP Corp.

Hopefully the scumbag has to pay a hety fine plus compensation

Attacks on tourists have been happening in this very same spot for years and years.

<snip>

Thai authorities allow this to go on endlessly. It points out how little Thailand Tourism Minister cares for the welfare of visitors to the Kingdom. I guess the word does not spread from one Farang to another to avoid these criminals. Come to for vacation and get ripped off and assaulted

As long as there is an unlimited ( so far ) supply of oblivious "first time " visitors that sustain (so far ) Pattaya tourism the minister of tourism could care less. Even the tourists who do not get ripped off and assaulted most likely will not be coming back. If not for the #1 attraction in Pattaya why in the world would anyone return (put up with being around these people) for more than one visit ?

Do those gobs own them or run them for a local hi so..?

More "lip service" being given to tourists to allay tourism concerns. If there cannot be a crackdown on these scams, then obviously some one is being paid not to do so! Patently obvious to all except those "in charge"?

I suppose if senior police have to pay money to their superiors to buy promotion and position, of 3-5million Baht, then that money has to be refunded somehow. Maybe by the trickle 'up' effect of monies collected in jet ski scams, road blocks, protection money, licenses, music license, bar takings etc etc will go towards alleviating that debt , poor things .

By stopping the jet ski scam(highly improbable), although it would be good for Pattaya but then would mean a shortfall for the MIB, who I am sure would look for another source of income from somewhere else other than tourists! maybe come after expats more!

The only way you may be able to stop it, is by the Army, clamping down on money for promotion, negating the reason for all the scams and money making activities in the first place........some has happened already, like the head of the CIB being removed but there are only so many inactive posts in the country surely....so can not see this happening for a very long time.

It is also true that corruption is endemic in all aspects of daily life and until that is stamped out we will still be complaining about something even if it is not the jet skis.......my 2 pence worth

When i get asked if i want a jetski hire, my answer is sorry i not have 50,000 baht in my pocket, they laugh

One way to avoid a scam like this is to NOT rent a Jet Ski

The second way is to take photos of the Jet Ski before riding it

and getting the renty to agree about what is or is not wrong with the Jet Ski

This should help a bit

Or just lock up the Jet Ski Rental guys

Just lock them up

One way to avoid a scam like this is to NOT rent a Jet Ski

The second way is to take photos of the Jet Ski before riding it

and getting the renty to agree about what is or is not wrong with the Jet Ski

This should help a bit

Or just lock up the Jet Ski Rental guys

naah. The best way is to keep forwarding these videos to every possible contact in the tourist industry,. The various embassies already know and do little to help. Bad press internationally and in social media is the only way to stop it. Make them lose Face again and again and again....

What happened to the compulsory insurance?

Simply that there was no actual damage done.... how would this scam operate if they could not show damage to the insurance company, who would surely investigate?