Top 5 Scams In Pattaya To Watch Out For!

How to avoid scams in Pattaya

Planning a trip to Pattaya?

While this Thailand hotpot offers alot of excitement, it also attracts its fair share of scammers. From inflated prices to clever deceptions, falling victim to common Pattaya scams or the broader Thailand scams can ruin your holiday.

Our guide below will show you how to avoid being scammed in Thailand and Pattaya.

Thailand jet ski scam — **Jet Skis and other watersport activities are fun, but be careful with the scams**

1. Pattaya Jet ski Scam ( Watersport Scams)

Enjoying water sports activities in a beautiful seaside destination like Pattaya is on many travelers’ must-do lists.

Unfortunately, there have been many online posts and articles with horror stories about victims falling for the Pattaya Jetski scam and being scammed out of thousands of Baht, making it one of the worst Thailand scams.

On Jet Skis and other water sports equipments, rental operators will try to hide pre-existing damages with paint cover-ups and other methods.

Once the tourists have finished enjoying their ride, and the damages “magically appear”, the scammers will demand an extremely high repair fee for the damages, and if you refuse? They will threaten to call the police on you and more and more of their business members will show up and gang up on already panicking tourists.

How to avoid the Pattaya Jet Ski Scams

Take Evidence: Take photos or videos of the vehicle or equipment before you rent it, especially if there is pre-existing damage. This will show them you know what you are doing and make them think twice before they try to scam you.

Find Reputable rentals: Search online for reputable companies that can offer secure services and equipment.

Don’t Risk Your Passport: Never allow anyone to keep your passport as collateral for rentals!

Seek Help: Call the tourist police on 1155, if at anytime you feel your safety threatened by scammers in Thailand or Pattaya.

2. Pattaya Nightlife Beer Scams

There is a reason why Pattaya is known as “The Sin City of Thailand”, even if you are not a big drinker, there is a fantastic range of nightlife available, from a chilled-relaxing evening to the most unforgettable night of your life ( well if you can remember it the next morning).

After a dozen beers with your fellow adventurers, you are a bit tipsy and ask for the bill.

Unknowingly the bar or club has slipped a couple of “ghost beers” into your bill that were never consumed. Since you are a bit drunk, you ignore that weird tickling feeling you are being ripped off, and pay the overpriced beer bill anyway.

Even if you catch onto the scam, they will just say “Ah, sorry it’s a mistake”, or worse, guards and bouncers will get involved and aggressively double-check if you want to pay or not.

How to avoid the Pattaya nightlife beer scam

Check and Pay For Every Bill: After a new round of beer hits your table, pay for it immediately and never let the beer bill stack up.

Find Good Nightlife Venue: Check Google Maps rating and spend your evening at well-rated nightlife venues.

Pattaya beer scam — **Never let your beer bill stack up, pay for every round that comes to your table**

Important Information

Call the Thailand tourist police on : 1155 if you feel like your safety is being threathened

Local Pattaya Police Station phone number : 082 799 9111

3. Taxi and motorbike scams in Pattaya

Taxi drivers frequently refusing to turn on the Taxi meter is frustrating, and even if you are willing to pay a fixed fee, the absurd price some drivers ask for is insulting, this happens with Motorbike Taxis in Pattaya too.

Sometimes, even after agreeing on a reasonable price, they might demand a higher fare at the final destination.

How to avoid Pattaya Taxi Scams

Double confirm on the fare and location: Make sure to double confirm the agreed-upon price with the driver, and clearly make sure they know where the destination is.

Use Pre-Booking Taxi Apps: Download and use either the Grab or Bolt Taxi applications to book your travels ( Similar to the Uber application ), avoiding confusion with the price and destination, you can pay by cash or credit card.

Use The Fun Local Songtaew: Consider using the Songtaew trucks – they might seem confusing to use at first, but there are many guides online showing you the routes for these local transportations, and the great thing is, they cost 10-20 Baht ( 0.3 USD – 0.6 USD ) per trip, plus they are more fun to ride then a taxi.

4. Motorbike/Scooter rental scams

Pattaya is quite a big city. There are many must-visit attractions and viewpoints that are sometimes hard to reach without a vehicle. Motorbikes or scooters are some of the best and cheapest transportation you can rent in Pattaya.

However, similar to the Jet Ski scam, after renting a motorbike or scooter for a period of time and you want to return the bike for your deposits. You are accused of causing damages to their property that you need to pay for.

How to avoid the motorbike and scooter scam

Find Reputable Online Rentals: There are many larger and more reputable rental shops for motorbikes and scooters, it is safer to look for these shops online or on Google Maps and rent from them.

Take Evidence Before-Hand: Wherever you decide to rent, take a detailed video or many photos of the vehicle and keep them as evidence for future proof.

5. Money Exchange Scam

Compared to the money exchanges in Bangkok, you have to be even more careful in Pattaya, as there are less reputable large money exchanges in the city.

Here are a few things to pay attention to when exchanging money in Thailand :-

Poor Exchange Rates : Money exchange scammers will display a lower exchange rate to try and deceive tourists, even a slightly lower rate compared to the market makes a difference when exchanging a large amount of money

Old or Torn Money : Most places will accept money and notes even if they are old or torn, but the problem arises when you try to exchange the Thai Baht back into your own country’s currency, most money exchanges or banks will not accept damaged money.

How to avoid the money exchange scam in Pattaya

Double check the money: Double check and count the money yourself, if you trust the money counting machines or the calculators that belong to someone else, you leave your fate in their hands.

Trust-Worthy Money Exchanges: There are more reliable money exchange services inside shopping malls in Pattaya, such as the Terminal 21 Pattaya and Central Festival Shopping Malls. The Superrich money exchanges are very reliable.

Where is Pattaya in Thailand?

Pattaya, located on the east side of the gulf of Thailand, is only around 150KMs away from Bangkok and a short 2-3 hours drive away from Bangkok. The perfect seaside destination to relax in after visiting the busy metropolitan Bangkok.

How to get to Pattaya from Bangkok

The main ways to travelling from Bangkok to Pattaya are Taxis, Buses, Minivans and by trains.

Read our full Bangkok to Pattaya Thailand travel guide here, so we can show you the fastest, cheapest or the most adventurous ways to reach the beautiful seaside destination.

FAQ

Why is Pattaya so famous?

Known as the “Sin City of Thailand” Pattaya is known for its incredible nightlife options. It is also known for its many beautiful beaches, water sports activities, an international dining scene, breathtaking sightseeing spots, and entertainment options.

What to do if scammed in Thailand?

File an official report, call the Thai Tourist Police at 1155, or go to the Police Station in person. Collect as much information as you can about the scam, including the date/time, location, amount lost, and other important details.

For online scams, contact the Anti-Online scam center on 1441.

How to avoid Pattaya scams

Whether you are renting jet skis or looking for money exchanges in Pattaya, choose and use reputable services. Most hotels will offer guidance on different services in Pattaya.