Beware the scammers.

[berybert]

Tonight as I left the Robin Hood I was approached by two people a man and a woman about 35 yrs old asking me if the stairs to the sky train lead to the sky train.

I just pointed up and said yes. So then I was asked what money the sky train took. I gave the guy pffff. He then asked me to show him some Thai money as he didn't have any. Oh my do I really look that stupid. He opened his wallet as he asked me this and showed a stack of notes that were obviously a bunch of cut up paper.

This is an age old scam. So take care if approached.

My only regret is I didn't slap the <deleted> in the face. But if I see him again.

Sorry must add that sky train is the Phrom Phong station.

And the people are of Arab persuasion.

[kurtramsbottom]

So,what's the scam ?

[berybert]

Give it a try. Have fun.

Edited March 7, 2015 by berybert

[kurtramsbottom]

I don't look like a mug ,so I've never come across this scam.

Tell me the punchline & I'll forgive you!

[berybert]

And yet you come across as a smug mug.

[slightlychilled]

I'm curious too, what is the scam ?

[kurtramsbottom]

And yet you come across as a smug mug.

Just tell me & the readers the scam...Your cryptic OP is hardly helpful to those who haven't a clue what it is.

[chubby]

shocked...

[Diplomatico]

And yet you come across as a smug mug.

Just tell me & the readers the scam...Your cryptic OP is hardly helpful to those who haven't a clue what it is.

The scam is that they will ask to see your money (or ask you for change) and then try to make a switch, giving you back "money" that is either worth much less or is entirely worthless.

Simple google search finds this but I guess that's not as much "fun" as badgering others on the forum who attempt to pass along simple advice.

[FalangBaa]

As you stagger out of the pub at night, barely able to stand, you may not look like a mug, but you do look like a confused drunkard, which amounts to the same thing - an easy mark for these folks. You, my friend, seem to have a drinking problem. You also have a serious anger management problem, going by your comment that you want to punch out someone who's done nothing against you. Or perhaps you're just one of those drunks who thinks he's Steven Seagall as soon as he's got 4 or 5 pints inside him. Learn to turn the other cheek, or you're a heart attack waiting to happen.

[Lucifer]

...so you left Robin Hood and was approched by some poor bugger wanting to releive you of some cash. Oh the irony.

[Songhua]

I'm curious too, what is the scam ?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795740-pattaya-police-search-for-middle-easterners-following-theft-of-money-from-russian/

[jayceenik]

I'm surprised that hardly anybody on this thread seems to have heard about this scam !

It's a classic friendly "curiosity" approach that will pit dexterous hands against your wallet and the wallet will always lose ... That is if you not brush them off right away like the OP did ...

Thanks to the OP to remind us that this sort of people are perennially around doing their well practiced nefarious activity.

[Hugh Jarse]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

As you stagger out of the pub at night, barely able to stand, you may not look like a mug, but you do look like a confused drunkard, which amounts to the same thing - an easy mark for these folks. You, my friend, seem to have a drinking problem. You also have a serious anger management problem, going by your comment that you want to punch out someone who's done nothing against you. Or perhaps you're just one of those drunks who thinks he's Steven Seagall as soon as he's got 4 or 5 pints inside him. Learn to turn the other cheek, or you're a heart attack waiting to happen.

...and when driving/riding on the roads and pavements, Always give way!

[berybert]

I'm surprised that hardly anybody on this thread seems to have heard about this scam !

It's a classic friendly "curiosity" approach that will pit dexterous hands against your wallet and the wallet will always lose ... That is if you not brush them off right away like the OP did ...

Thanks to the OP to remind us that this sort of people are perennially around doing their well practiced nefarious activity.

Thanks for your comment. I will now desist from alerting people of any scams I see going on.

Try to help others and get nothing but abuse. 'Get scammed get &lt;deleted&gt;' will be my motto from now on.

[SantiSuk]

So you can't see that your first post was cryptic, the first response was civilised and your second response was equally cryptic. Yes - please stop posting!

[nidieunimaitre]

As you stagger out of the pub at night, barely able to stand, you may not look like a mug, but you do look like a confused drunkard, which amounts to the same thing - an easy mark for these folks. You, my friend, seem to have a drinking problem. You also have a serious anger management problem, going by your comment that you want to punch out someone who's done nothing against you. Or perhaps you're just one of those drunks who thinks he's Steven Seagall as soon as he's got 4 or 5 pints inside him. Learn to turn the other cheek, or you're a heart attack waiting to happen.

Is your real name "The Profiler"?

[Rogergreybeard]

Happened to me in big c pattaya Arab,Pakistani,looking and voice person approached me in fruit section made chit chat where I came from then showed me his wallet allegedly full of us dollars,and asked me if I could show him some baht notes,i then yelled out security and he took of like a rabbit i later told police maybe check security cameras in big c i was brushed off, lately I see the bib arrested some other family for the same scam and i read there have been another couple also

[kurtramsbottom]

And yet you come across as a smug mug.

Just tell me & the readers the scam...Your cryptic OP is hardly helpful to those who haven't a clue what it is.

The scam is that they will ask to see your money (or ask you for change) and then try to make a switch, giving you back "money" that is either worth much less or is entirely worthless.

Simple google search finds this but I guess that's not as much "fun" as badgering others on the forum who attempt to pass along simple advice.

I googled 'beware the scammers' & it brought me to back here!

Thank you for clearing up the OPs ill written tale & your attempt at badgering me , I hope you had fun typing it!

[Guest jonzboy]

berybert

had the same approach on Suk near Soi 22, looked like a "can you exchange your THB for my USD" scam, probably forgeries, young Arab couple, good English

[davetrout]

berybert thanks for the advise always good to know whats happening out there. don't worry about some idiot replys have faith in the system. only some have nothing better to do than winge and critize

cheers mate

[arunsakda]

Last month had a Babuji approach with the "you have a lucky face" scam, In Hong Kong!!

[TheSpade]

It's a common scam that's been going on for years all over Bangkok and the world. Amazing so few people in this topic seem to have heard of it / understand what was going on. I guess you'd have gotten scammed?

[fey]

It's a common scam that's been going on for years all over Bangkok and the world. Amazing so few people in this topic seem to have heard of it / understand what was going on. I guess you'd have gotten scammed?

Never heard of it. The only thing I would see here is the possibility of them snatching my wallet from my hand, or somebody coming up behind me and grabbing something.

Exchanging your money for pieces of plain paper would be a stretch to even call a scam.

---------------

Had one guy in front of me at the ATM complain the machine was not working, no cash. Walks away. So I proceed to check both the ATM and money slot for boggies, then use the ATM. Works fine. He re-appears and asks more questions like how to use the machine etc. I tell him it works for me, try it again.

Can you figure out the the scam, einstein? (It's not proximity skimming my card electronically using a device in his pocket. No heat sensitive film over ATM keypad).

[lostinisaan]

And yet you come across as a smug mug.

I would say more as a smack on crack smug hug.

[lostinisaan]

Happened to me in big c pattaya Arab,Pakistani,looking and voice person approached me in fruit section made chit chat where I came from then showed me his wallet allegedly full of us dollars,and asked me if I could show him some baht notes,i then yelled out security and he took of like a rabbit i later told police maybe check security cameras in big c i was brushed off, lately I see the bib arrested some other family for the same scam and i read there have been another couple also

ASEAN will certainly top all scams. The "medical and educational hub", foreign woman wear too tiny bikinis and offer sex offenders free sex hub,...aeehh wait the "flood preventing hub" will turn into a rip off hub.

The hub of hubs.

[Laughing Gravy]

Just tell them to Foxtrot Oscar.

[dddave]

There have been several quite smooth Filipino con artists who have worked the Phrom Phung area for years. They speak excellent English and often start things off with innocuous questions similar to what the OP was asked. In my case, asked where a good currency exchange service was and morphed into a discussion probing into details of my life. He was slick, tried to get me to accept an invitation to his house. I declined and left.

I really do not know what his specific scam was...maybe a card game or an invitation to buy gems or gold at a rate "only available on one day each year"

I would see him prowling the area around the BTS and Benjisri Park for several years thereafter, but not lately.

I learned early on not to wear sports jerseys identifying my home city. Both Filipino and Korean scammers would approach me: "Oh my God...You from Boston!! My niece will be going to school there next month..she is very scared...can you please come and talk to her....blah, blah blah"

[arunsakda]

Filipino guys have a card game scam they run all over the world. Friend of mine got suckered into it (through a girl) in Palau.

Once he figured out he needed to flee he managed an escape through a bathroom window, jumped off a balcony and ran away.

[fey]

There have been several quite smooth Filipino con artists who have worked the Phrom Phung area for years. They speak excellent English and often start things off with innocuous questions similar to what the OP was asked. In my case, asked where a good currency exchange service was and morphed into a discussion probing into details of my life. He was slick, tried to get me to accept an invitation to his house. I declined and left.

I really do not know what his specific scam was...maybe a card game or an invitation to buy gems or gold at a rate "only available on one day each year"

I would see him prowling the area around the BTS and Benjisri Park for several years thereafter, but not lately.

I learned early on not to wear sports jerseys identifying my home city. Both Filipino and Korean scammers would approach me: "Oh my God...You from Boston!! My niece will be going to school there next month..she is very scared...can you please come and talk to her....blah, blah blah"

it seems to almost always follow a set formula.

small talk conversation bringing up a relative who lives or studies in your home country. invite to house for a meal with family, followed by an invitation to a card game where they want you to participate in cheating some wealthy players who will be playing. usually several members of extended family will make the offer after the meal while the women clean up.

the guy i dealt with seemed actually pretty wealthy, big house, great thanksgiving type meal with some decent looking daughters there and drinks afterwards. got a ride there and back in his black suv.

i just refused the game and it was not brought up again. was to take place on a later date on a cruise ship.

Edited March 18, 2015 by fey