PHUKET: An adverse reaction can be expected from tourists in China to the prospect of holidays on Phuket after the second rip-off within days by jet-ski scammers at Patong beach.
The Chinese consul, Qin Jian, today wrote an email to Phuket tourism authorities, the Phuket rescue service and Phuket's Damrungtam complaints office asking for help in one continuing stand-off with the scammers.
Police at Patong's Kathu Police Station are reported to be still holdling the passport of Zhang Zu, 27, after jet-ski operators demanded 250,000 baht at one stage.
It's understood the jet-ski Mr Zhang Zu was riding hit a yacht. According to the consul, the initial demand for damage to the jet-ski was 100,000 baht, which rose to 250,000 baht.
Today's latest number on the table was 170,000 baht, the consul said.
The Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, Colonel Jirapat Palchanaphan, said police were simply in the middle of these kinds of claims and the sum in the latest case was still being negotiated.
He did not answer when asked why police were holding the tourist's passport. Officers are only permitted to hold passports in cases involving personal violence and drugs.
The earlier case mentioned by the consul involved two young Chinese visitors, Wu You, 15, and Wu Lu, 14. The pair were initially asked to pay 90,000 baht on March 12 for an incident that was finally settled for 45,000 baht, the consul said.
''These people [the jet-ski scammers] bad-mouth and intimidate people and seek to extort money from tourists,'' he said.
The consul, based in Songkhla province, is in the process of shifting to Phuket where the number of visitors from China has skyrocketted.
Although Phuket's honorary consuls say the scamming is continuing, officials who oversee the jet-skis say all is well and an insurance system means there are no longer any problems with the system.
The Chinese consul, Qin Jian, today wrote an email to Phuket tourism authorities, the Phuket rescue service and Phuket's Damrungtam complaints office asking for help in one continuing stand-off with the scammers.
Police at Patong's Kathu Police Station are reported to be still holdling the passport of Zhang Zu, 27, after jet-ski operators demanded 250,000 baht at one stage.
It's understood the jet-ski Mr Zhang Zu was riding hit a yacht. According to the consul, the initial demand for damage to the jet-ski was 100,000 baht, which rose to 250,000 baht.
Today's latest number on the table was 170,000 baht, the consul said.
The Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, Colonel Jirapat Palchanaphan, said police were simply in the middle of these kinds of claims and the sum in the latest case was still being negotiated.
He did not answer when asked why police were holding the tourist's passport. Officers are only permitted to hold passports in cases involving personal violence and drugs.
The earlier case mentioned by the consul involved two young Chinese visitors, Wu You, 15, and Wu Lu, 14. The pair were initially asked to pay 90,000 baht on March 12 for an incident that was finally settled for 45,000 baht, the consul said.
''These people [the jet-ski scammers] bad-mouth and intimidate people and seek to extort money from tourists,'' he said.
The consul, based in Songkhla province, is in the process of shifting to Phuket where the number of visitors from China has skyrocketted.
Although Phuket's honorary consuls say the scamming is continuing, officials who oversee the jet-skis say all is well and an insurance system means there are no longer any problems with the system.
There are still many problems with the system since the insurance policy applies only to the registered jet-ski. Most scams come from the ones without registration and the police is also protecting them. I was twice in a situation when there was a try to scam on my hotel guests and I needed to call the police and showing clearly that there was no registration sticker/no. on the jet ski and the police was just looking away until I threatend to call in the embassy. Then they gave up... its a nightmare, really. In case of disputes always tell them:
1) Request to go to the police and file a report
2) Enquire for the jet-ski registration and insurance no.
3) No cash, only through insurance
Also be careful. This guys tend to be very aggressive and start a fight easily. Never turn your back to them even the police is there.
Posted by Jakub on March 13, 2013 16:29