Pattaya Jet Ski Scam
And an Open Letter to the Mayor of Pattaya
I have to be honest, I never thought my recent post about the Pattaya Jet Ski Scam would garner anywhere near as much attention as it did. In less than 24 hours there were over 8000 page views, 61 comments, 36 tweets, 200 Facebook shares and it even got posted to the Mayor of Pattaya’s Facebook page.
Seems this is a little more important than even I realized and many people are up in arms about the jet ski scam taking place on Pattaya beach.
The Mayor commented to many people that he was looking into the Pattaya jet ski scam and that Pattaya City Hall was looking for a solution. While this is all well and good I made the comment on his Facebook page that he should ban jet ski operators from the beach period and that would take care of everyone’s problem.
Well, today I did what I said I wasn’t going to do for a while, I headed back to the beach with my camera. I didn’t think I would see much action in the Pattaya jest ski scam today as it was overcast and had rained. Indeed most of the jet skis were moored and not many were out on the water unless the operators themselves were riding them.
Then about 100 yards down the beach from Pattaya Beer Garden I spotted 7 Indian tourists just taking 4 jet skis out for an hour spin. So, I sat down and ordered a coke and watched these Indian tourists have a ball for an hour. Not once did I see any of the 4 jet skis come close enough to each other to hit nor did I see any of the 4 jet skis come into contact with anything else. I watched nothing but these four jet skis for an hour, I knew the Jet Ski scam would be in play.
As they came in one by one they were brought onto the beach where as you can see in the above picture damage was found. They didn’t find damage on one jet ski, nor did they find damage on 2 jet skis…they found damage on all four jet skis!
The Pattaya Jet Ski Scam in Action…Again
Before the Indian tourists could get dried off one of the Thai girls involved with the jet ski scam called in the big boss and within minutes he arrived and was surveying the supposed damage. Then more phone calls were made and the estimator showed up to give an estimate on the damage costs.
You’ll love this one Mr. Mayor. Withing 20 minutes another phone call was made to the police and can you guess which officer showed up? You won’t have to his picture is above. Does he look familiar? He should, here he is the other day helping out with the exact same jet ski scam but at a different jet ski operator. Helpful isn’t he.
This police officer shows up at 80% of the jet ski scams and helps to negotiate the price. Apparently he always thinks the estimate is too large and the price should be reduced.
Mr. Mayor why is it that Beach road can be cleared of freelance prostitutes at the drop of a dime but you can’t seem to remove the Pattaya jet ski scam operators for even 2 minutes? Why can’t you just ban the jet ski operators from Pattaya beach period? Today, again, I witnessed and photographed criminals facilitaing a scam on tourists on Pattaya’s beach. I watched as the police were called in and instead of arresting the Thai thugs running the scam the police officer again negotiated a “Fair Price” for the damage that these tourists didn’t do to the jet skis..
Why are the police interfering in a civil matter Mr. Mayor? Why are they doing the job of the Thai court system, this is a civil matter. We all know why, don’t we?
If I were Mayor of Pattaya City and I had numerous complaints on my Facebook page regarding the Pattaya jet ski scam I would immediately have all the jet ski operators on Pattaya beach shut down while I investigated. Why haven’t you done this? Why do tourists and expats have to reveal this problem to everyone?
Are you embarrassed yet Mr. Mayor? You should be. While you and Pattaya city hall look into the jet ski scams to find a solution this scam continues to hurt tourists, Pattaya tourism and Thailand tourism. 7 More tourists today were robbed while in your city on vacation. They were robbed in broad daylight with the assistance of police. They were robbed on Pattaya beach where the tourists are robbed every day by the same jet ski scams. Will more tourists be robbed on Pattaya’s Beach tomorrow Mr. Mayor?
I’m putting myself in danger by writing about these jet ski scams and taking the pictures I have, I’m stupid, but at least I can say I care enough about Pattaya and Thailand to make a stand and put the information out there about the jet ski scam. What are you doing Mr. Mayor?
I’ll make you a deal Mr. Mayor, I’ll keep taking pictures and writing about the ongoing Pattaya jet ski scams and posting them here, to your Facebook page and anywhere else that will accept them until you stand up and rid your town of this criminal activity known as the Pattaya jet ski scam.
Blog Post RSS
Talen….Keep this up my man. Don’t stop giving the assholes a hard time no matter what. It’s way past time the scammers were exposed. If Mt. Mayor won’t do anything…I know this feller with a trusty 12 gauge pump.
Keep on keepin on…
g
Well done Talen excellent work.
Great Job, keep the pressure on. It is unbelievable that the mayor of Pattaya can, even for one second, think he is doing anything more than a horrible job and a huge disservice to his country. What a shame.
Talon I think you are sending it to the wrong facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/PattayaFuture
keep up the good work even if the scam will not be eradicated after all TIT, the more people that are educated about these scum the better
The sikh guy pictured is also in on it i have seen him heaps of times trying to be friendly to fellow indians but he is a scammer and is only there for one reason.
Anon, I was wondering if that was the same Sikh guy you mentioned before. He wasn’t there originally but then he magically appeared. I wondered if he was with them but in the back of my head I was thinking about your mention of him. He did seems very accommodating and very friendly with the Thai jet ski operators.
There are quite a few pictures of him on the secrets site also taken by striderman.
You have also captured one of the russian guys in your previous pics, well done.
that sikh guy is in on it.
i have photos of him at 2 scams and have seen him at many others. he drives a white motorcycle with 490 on the plate. i think his advice is probably telling the indians to pay up as these are nasty guys and u will have big trouble with the police etc etc.
if he was realy interfering on behalf of the tourists he would have had his head kicked in by now.
the cop with the tash must do little other work he is always on the scene.
looking at them examining the ski pics i would guess at SD card removed from camera and photoshopped while they were out on the bay and replaced before their return.
Arch, it could be they had retouched photo’s on the camera, I don’t know as I couldn’t get close enough but the Thai girls was very insistent that they all look at her photos.
There was a letter in pattaya one last issue where they were seen taking the sd card out and heading off on a motorbike while the scammers were out in the water.
So they most likely go to a shop close by and photoshop it.
Mac, I wouldn’t put it past them. I think the only way this will stop is if they ban jet skis from the beach period.
looking at the pics again there are several sikhs. to avoid confusion
the old guy who helps the scammers has a navy headcover light col shirt dark trousers white hair and glasses.
Yes, several Sikhs are involved. They are also involved in Pattaya’s child porn ring, selling the child porn DVDs out of their tailor shops.
Undercover, that’s despicable. I haven’t seen much porn being sold on the streets lately as the police have been cracking down but I had heard there are shops selling child porn.
I’d love to know what shops they were as I would definitely like to name and shame them.
Excellent report!
Camille recently posted..PADI IDC March 2011 on Koh Lanta is half way!
One thing that interests me is the Pattaya media response to this scam. The fact that there are so many different magazines and newspapers in different languages should mean that all tourists are given plenty of warning. The amount of money involved certainly makes it important information for all travellers to the area. I would expect it to be front page of all the printed media and for there to be plenty of coverage on the local TV satiations and radio aimed at tourists. If this isn’t happening then the question need to be asked why not? Surely this isn’t all been left up to an unpaid reporter to make this public.
Paul Garrigan recently posted..Middle Aged Muay Thai – The Martial Arts Solution to Sore Knees from Desk Jobs – Episode 8
Paul, the jet ski scams and violence has been featured in the media here quite a bit. Unfortunately most people on vacation aren’t watching the news or reeading the papers. Just last week I think Pattaya Mail ran a story on the scams.
It is good to know that other people are reporting this. I’d hate to think that you were sticking your neck out alone.
Paul Garrigan recently posted..Why I Stopped Talking to My Thai Wife As If She Were a Moron
Paul, there have been a lot of people over the years taking pictures and writing about the jet ski scams. Hopefully they will be a thing of the past very soon.
Talen not sure if you missed my point before you are aware but your links are not going to this
pagehttp://www.facebook.com/PattayaFuture
the page they are going to is showing no content
Anon, I just had the lionks go to his facebook page but I can change it to the Pattaya Future page.
Great work, good photos.. and yes it is a bit of a danger for you, but excellent of you to be warning people and hopefully the Gov can get this closed down/resolved.
Rob, I’m not so sure they want to close it down or have it resolved. at least it doesn’t seem like they want to do anything.
It was confirmed to me via an off the record conversation by one of the foreign tourist police in Soi 9 station, that the local Thai police are getting 20% of the scam money.
This is why NOTHING is being don’t about this scam. They are raking in the cash day in and day out. Why would anyone stop this cash cow?
Just because someone is a government official or wears a badge, it doesn’t except them from corruption.
Rule #1: FOLLOW THE MONEY
Talen I think it would be better because then can comment and also get to see many more links on the scam.
I saw the same cop come and assist the big Russian guy near the Royal Garden.
When he showed up, the big guy smiled and put his arm around him.
Old pals it seems.
Good job Talen, but please please take care…
Catherine recently posted..Interview- Talen is Getting by With Learning Thai
Cat, Always taking care even when I do stupid stuff
Then let me go on record as saying that this is… yeah…
Catherine recently posted..Interview- Talen is Getting by With Learning Thai
Cat, I feel so Forrest Gumplike now lol.
“My maa says stupid is as stupid does”.
I am looking forward to seeing another installment of this Pattaya Jet Ski Scam saga.
Be careful by the way.
Oneditorial recently posted..Someone thought all Caucasian men have massive tools
One, Hopefully the next installment is about the disappearance of the jet skis from Pattaya Beach.
The Mayor gave the jet ski scammers a surprise visit today check out his facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/PattayaFuture
Mac, I saw that and commented on it. Hopefully the Mayor does the right thing and we will see the last of this scam.
Hi Talen,
It’s great to see and read your stories and articles on Thailand lands of smiles..
I’m so impressed to read what you write on this blog..
You are not only promoting the Tourism in Thailand but helping as well to make aware of the scams and wrong doings by some bad people.
In fact this is something incredible job that you are doing as a person and a blogger … I guess you have that courage and will power to take this challenge , despite of all chances of threats and danger in the other hand..
I’m sure that all Sincere and honest Thai people and the Tourists as well would always appreciate your work…
Best sincere Regards.
Alok Singh
looks like sustained pressure on the mayor has got his attention.
I hope some improvement will follow but at least he has made a start.
Arch, it’s definitely a start. The Mayor is communicating and that’s a good thing.
Talen a big well done to you. I checked the mayor’s Facebook page and there he is on Pattaya beach. I think you may well have irked the boy into action. Maybe, just maybe, something might now be done to stop tourists getting ripped off.
Keep on your guard because the jet ski scammers aren’t going to like having their purse-strings cut.
Martyn recently posted..Thailand Blogs – February 2011 Review
THANK YOU for your service to all visitors to pattaya and humanity. THANK YOU!!
Well done sir. The same problem exists in Phuket but I have to say I would be to afraid to put this kind of thing on my Phuket blog.
Jamie recently posted..Restaurant Tip- Moo Grob Khun Yai
Jamie, It took me a while to hit the publish button. And I have been glancing over my shoulder at times.
I dunno what you are all thinking but this jet-ski scam is one of the many scams going on in Thailand, scams with tourists and with Thai locals. Be Buddhist and just accept it … or fight against it like a year ago in BKK (because yes these scams are that big).
Chang, Buddhism doesn’t teach one to accept criminal activities. If everyone gave up then nothing would ever be accomplished.
The Indian guy, with the blue turban, next to the cop, is also involved in the scam. He is often called out to ‘help” Indians, and he gets his cut like everyone else.
It sounds like perhaps something we should do is to lobby our governments, getting them to issue warning about Thailand scams.
Talen is doing an admirable job here in trying to make people aware of what’s going, but as others have said, not enough people investigate potential problems before they travel to a foreign country. In those cases, I don’t have much sympathy for someone who doesn’t use a bit of time to take advantage of available information that could save him or her much trouble and money, but still we should all think about what we can do to to enlighten poor unsuspecting tourists.
Geogre, I do agree with you that people should do their due diligence researching where they are going. I spent moths reading about Thailand before my first trip. Even though I did a lot of reading there were still things I missed and the average tourist isn’t probably thinking of researching scams and probably doesn’t even realize they want to ride a jet ski until they see one, kind of an impulse buy type of thing.
I commented a while back on this ,and my point is that already tourists have died because of jet skis traveling to fast in designated swimming and diving areas. They should just be banned from beaches or moved to an inland site.
Its not just the scamming its the risk they impose on holiday makers.
I love the way they all wear their Buddhist penants and go to the temples to pray, then think nothing of doing this kind of thing to tourists on a daily basis.
Scum, the lot of them!!
Just before anyone comments.. I’ve nothing against Buddhism, in fact when its principles are followed, it’s one of the most fair-minded of all the world’s religions. What i find incredibly iron, and widespread in Thailand is that everyone would appear to be a devout Buddhist, but the actions of so many are in direct contrast to the ideals of their religion.
Have these criminals no shame whatsoever…??
should have said “ironic”
[...] the reaction, Bull posted a follow-up blog as an open letter to the Mayor, Tik Kunplome, which included an account, with photos, of a scam that occurred whilst he was on the beach that [...]
I wish someone would do the same expose in Phuket/Pat tong, even after many promises by the police it still goes on daily
Hi Talen,
Hope you allow this link to the Phuketwan , who describe a similar experience on Patong beach.
It just shows that the scam just keeps going on, not just only in Pattaya!
Camille recently posted..PADI IE on Koh Lanta for March 2011 successfully completed
Camille, the scam at Patong has been going on for a very long time as well…unfortunately the only way to end them is to ban jet skis period.
SO WHEN ARE THESE GUYS GOING TO BE CHARGED?
[...] Followup to the Pattaya Jet Ski Scam [...]
I think it would be better just to list the scams ,transportaion over charges , moped rental thief by the owners, police scams,real estate scams ,girlfriend scams ect. ect. because the people have been trained to separate you from your money from a young age. Yelling at on scam in one place will show how deep it goes but will not stop it ,the best way is to educate about all the scams. You won’t change Pattays mayor’s mind its a way of life. and I agree this could be very dangerous taking pictures they are making thousands of USD a day a very lot of money for a very lot of people be careful.
Bill, you are right…probably will never change anything especially with the amounts of money involved.
[...] international produziert, dass Thailand schon zum Schutz der Tourismusindustrie etwas tun sollte. Followup to the Pattaya Jet Ski Scam | Thailand Land of Smiles Zitieren + [...]
i think the mayor cannot read or understand english or he is completely stupid or he himself is behind the scam..
[...] http://thailandlandofsmiles.com/2011/03/04/followup-pattaya-jet-ski-scam/ [...]
Your honesty and integrity are an encouragement to me back in the States.
Thank you. You should be Mayor.
Kelly