Please report all your scams while on holiday in Thailand. We will either send our undercover team to investiage or report directly to our contact in the Tourist Police if we think that there is already enough evidence to prosecute. With your help, we can make a difference.
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Written by Tony
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Wednesday, 19 September 2007 |
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While walking alone along the Beach Rd. in Pattaya on Aug. 23rd of this year in the early afternoon between Soi 10 and Soi 11, a tall German man asked politely for a moment of my time, pointed to a strip mall behind him and said his store, a travel agency, was having a grand opening and prize giveaway. At the moment he approached me, there were two other Caucasian men standing with him who discreetly dispersed. He had a scratch off card much like that for adding cell phone credit, but bigger. I scratched and was told I was not a winner but for my cooperation was told he could initial the card and if I went to the business office I could then claim a free t-shirt. Then, he asked whether I had a wife/girlfriend and would I like to scratch off one for my girlfriend. I agreed. There were six possible prizes- a week's stay at the Marriot, a boat cruise, a digital camera, a video camera and 20,000Baht cash. You scratched six squares below the prizes and three of the same figure meant you were the big winner. Of course I was. The terms were you had to claim your prize ASAP at the head office in Jomtien and the little box in the lower right corner had to be scratched off only by the office staff. This would indicate which of the six prizes shown above my girlfriend would win. Participants also had to be tourists, staying in Thailand for a period not to exceed six weeks. And you had to present your passport to confirm this. So, pointing, the guy says, "You must go now. Take this moto here." I said that I would get there myself. At this, the guy got very animated and said it was too far to walk and the prize would be invalid if I did not show up immediately. Again, he indicated the moto driver who inched closer to me. As I declined, he grabbed my arm and motioned to a parked bike, claiming he would take me himself. That was the end of it. I handed back my winnings and walked on.
I submit the story as I imagine some of your readers may have an idea what is in store for the person who jumps on that bike. I can only imagine.
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