AT LEAST five bars in Patong have been scammed in a variation on a classic Thai con well known to visitors of online dating sites.
Yaowalak Choomtharanukul, 44, who manages the Peesat Keaw Bar in Soi Bangla, went to Kathu Police Station in Patong to tell them about the scam yesterday.
She said she and other bar managers had been contacted by a man named Thanutcha Deatnoo, 30, who came to Patong on a visit from Bangkok with one potential bar worker.
He attracted interest after saying he could send more Bangkok women to Phuket to work as staff in the bars.
Khun Yaowalak told Patong police that she transferred 6500 baht to an account that Khun Thanutcha gave her a number for, to cover the fare for the new worker to travel to Phuket.
Yesterday Khun Yaowalak said that Khun Thanutcha's telephone was not working, and it became plain to her that she and the other bar managers had been fooled.
The online dating site scam involves a young woman encouraging her online suitor to the point where she says words to the effect: ''Just send me the plane fare/bus fare and I will fall into your arms.''
The scamsters usually rely on the victims to be too embarrassed to ever bother going to the police.
A CRACKDOWN on fireworks on Phuket claimed its first two scalps last night when two men were arrested on Soi Bangla as they tried to sell large, noise fireworks to tourists.
The order for the crackdown went out from Phuket's Police Commander, Major General Pekad Tantipong, following complaints made when honorary consuls and embassy representatives met island leaders and Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha last week.
The two men were each fined 1000 baht, said Patong senior officer Colonel Nikorn Chootong.
The 'Phuket Parliament' meeting earlier in the week was told that tourists were alarmed virtually every night from October to April by noise from fireworks in Surin, as well as in Kata and Karon.
Restrictions apply to the sale of fireworks, except for annual festivals.
Phuket Loves Motor Racing: Photo SpecialYaowalak Choomtharanukul, 44, who manages the Peesat Keaw Bar in Soi Bangla, went to Kathu Police Station in Patong to tell them about the scam yesterday.
She said she and other bar managers had been contacted by a man named Thanutcha Deatnoo, 30, who came to Patong on a visit from Bangkok with one potential bar worker.
He attracted interest after saying he could send more Bangkok women to Phuket to work as staff in the bars.
Khun Yaowalak told Patong police that she transferred 6500 baht to an account that Khun Thanutcha gave her a number for, to cover the fare for the new worker to travel to Phuket.
Yesterday Khun Yaowalak said that Khun Thanutcha's telephone was not working, and it became plain to her that she and the other bar managers had been fooled.
The online dating site scam involves a young woman encouraging her online suitor to the point where she says words to the effect: ''Just send me the plane fare/bus fare and I will fall into your arms.''
The scamsters usually rely on the victims to be too embarrassed to ever bother going to the police.
A CRACKDOWN on fireworks on Phuket claimed its first two scalps last night when two men were arrested on Soi Bangla as they tried to sell large, noise fireworks to tourists.
The order for the crackdown went out from Phuket's Police Commander, Major General Pekad Tantipong, following complaints made when honorary consuls and embassy representatives met island leaders and Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha last week.
The two men were each fined 1000 baht, said Patong senior officer Colonel Nikorn Chootong.
The 'Phuket Parliament' meeting earlier in the week was told that tourists were alarmed virtually every night from October to April by noise from fireworks in Surin, as well as in Kata and Karon.
Restrictions apply to the sale of fireworks, except for annual festivals.
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Hopefully Major General Pekad Tantipong will crack down on the 'music licence' scam as well that intimidates people into coughing up up to 100k for bogus licences. Pay up or go to jail.
Posted by Mister Ree on November 28, 2010 14:59
Editor Comment:
Only if someone tells him about it.