There are many scams in Pattaya. Below are listed a few of the more common ones. Please remember that there are others, so keep your wits about yourself. Also, remember that it is not only the Thais who will try to deceive you. Some farangs in Pattaya are just as desperate as the Thais. Like at home, if you think something is wrong, you should listen to your instincts.

However, please remember that it is your holiday. As such, you should not be overly worried about being ripped off. With a bit of knowledge and by keeping your wits about you, many problems can be avoided.

Bill Padding

The most common Pattaya scam (particularly in bars) is bill padding. Most bars in Pattaya operate a check bin system in which bits of paper are placed in a small cup to record your drinks and how much you owe the bar.

Some bars and/or ladies will slip extra drinks into your bin while you are not watching. If it is just the lady doing it, then it may be for lady drinks.

There are a couple of things to do to avoid this. At all times, you should keep close tabs on your bin. From time to time, it is acceptable for you to check the bin’s contents. If possible, do it while those with access to your bin are watching to give them a clear message that you are checking.

If you want to be paranoid about this, you can pay your bin when you order a drink or after a few drinks. This makes it easier to keep tabs on how much you have consumed. The downside of this is that you may end up paying more in tips

1000 Baht becomes 500

Another Pattaya scam is not receiving the correct change. You must at all times count how much you receive back. However, sometimes you may give a 1000 Baht note and only receive change from 500 Baht. The service staff will then say that you only gave them 500 Baht.

This one is hard to defend as what proof do you have that it was 1000 Baht that you gave? It is your word against the bar’s. If this happens to you, ask to speak to the manager. With some luck, it may be a farang manager, and you may have more success.

Something that you can do to make the chances of this occurring less is when you pay is to hold up the 1000 Baht note and get her to acknowledge that it is 1000 Baht and not 500 Baht. An even easier way is to carry smaller notes while drinking.

Long Time become Short Time

Now we get to a Pattaya scam involving ladies you have paid bar for. The scenario is that you have spoken to her in the bar and arranged for her to come with you for long time. You get back to the room and do your business. Sometime later, she says that she has to leave for whatever reason. Usually, this is to check on her child, get her child ready for school or check on a sick friend. Sometimes she may receive a call and then say that she has to leave for some reason. You cannot hold her against her will, so she has to go.

This is very annoying, and there is not much you can do about it. It is more common with the go-go girls than the beer bar girls. You can do one thing to reduce the likelihood of this occurring.

When discussing taking her away from the bar, one of your questions could be what time she will leave the next day. If she says the usual ‘up to you,’ be specific about when you would like her to leave. Make sure that she understands what you mean.

Of course, if the lady does want to leave early, she will want her money. Remember that she has decided only to stay with you short time rather than the arranged long time. You should only pay her for short time. If you agreed on a fee with her before you paid, give her half and send her on her way. She will not be happy, but som nom na (in Thai, that means serves her right.)

Increased BF during busy times

This Pattaya scam is something that you can do nothing about. Whether it is a scam or not is open to debate. Bar owners will tell you that they do it to keep girls in the bar for longer during busy times. A bar without ladies will have few customers. It happens mainly in go-go bars.

I have put this here just so that people are aware of it. An excellent way to ensure that this practice continues (and increasing) is for visitors to pay the sometimes ridiculous prices.

Time Shares

This is no doubt the most common Pattaya scam. As you walk around in the day and early evening, you will get approached by someone with a clipboard. They will ask if you have a minute or where you are from. The pretence is that they are doing a short survey and that you have a chance to win a prize for completing the survey.

What is happening is that they are lining you up to be subjected to a sales pitch for holiday home timeshares. When you win a ‘prize’ (which you will), you will have to go and collect it from somewhere. It is here that you will be subjected to the sales pitch.

The best way to get around this is to not participate in the survey. Just say no thanks. If you want to practice your Thai, say mai ow krap (meaning  I do not want.)

Foreigners on the Scam

You may think that foreigners are safe to associate with in Thailand. While, in general, this is true, you still need to be a little wary as foreigners look for victims in Pattaya. Be particularly careful if somebody contacts you via the internet, e.g. through forums.

One scam I have seen several times involves a foreigner approaching you on the street and asking you where a particular hotel is. They come across as very friendly, but the question will eventually come. Usually, it will be a line about losing his wallet and needing some money to get home. Just smile, and at most, say no thanks and walk away.

Bus station scam

A good and cheap way of getting between Pattaya and Bangkok is by bus. There are many departures in either direction all day. When you get to the bus station, you buy a ticket.

Recently there have been reports of what seems to be an organised scam. When you pay for the ticket, they will short-change you by 100 or so Baht. Just be aware of this and count your change carefully in full view of the ticket seller. People who have done this have got the scammed money back with no arguments.

New Year’s Compulsory Ball Fee

If you are going to be in Pattaya for New Years, check with the hotel if there is a compulsory ball fee. Some of the hotels do this. If your chosen hotel does this, then try to find another.