A 52-year-old German tourist was reportedly defrauded for a staggering 4,000 euros (about 122 million VND) while shopping in central Pattaya, police confirmed. The scam highlights a rising trend of street fraud targeting international visitors in the Thai beach city.
According to local authorities, Nadir Altaf was approached on the street by a foreign vendor selling coconut oil allegedly capable of promoting hair growth and thickness. The vendor quoted a price of “4,000” without specifying the currency. Believing the price was in Thai baht (roughly 3 million VND), Altaf agreed to purchase five bottles.
When the credit card was charged, he discovered the full amount had been billed in euros, roughly thirty times what he expected. Shocked, Altaf reported the incident to Pattaya police on November 12.
Deputy Inspector Phupha Hongyakul of the Pattaya Police noted that scams like this have increased, primarily targeting foreign tourists. He warned that many victims do not report smaller incidents, leaving some offenders at large.
This incident is part of a series of similar scams in the city. Earlier in November, an Australian tourist was overcharged for herbal remedies at a Baywalk Shopping Centre pharmacy, while in September, an Indian visitor was sold overpriced herbal products before being refunded after complaints.
Local residents are calling for stronger enforcement measures to protect tourists and maintain Pattaya’s reputation. Tourism officials note that international visitor numbers have fallen slightly in 2025, with 21.8 million foreign arrivals in the first eight months, down 7.16 percent from last year, reducing revenue by 5.4 percent. Major source markets such as China and Malaysia continue to see weak growth.
Authorities urge travelers to exercise caution when approached by street vendors and verify prices and payment methods before completing purchases.
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