Thai Girlfriend Warning Signs: How to Spot Potential Red Flags
Published: March 3, 2018 - Reading time: 10 minutes
» Updated: October 15, 2024
Each year, thousands of foreign men visit Thailand and enter into romantic relationships with Thai women. While many of these relationships can be fulfilling, it is essential to be aware of certain signs and behaviours that may indicate potential issues, particularly if your partner is involved in the sex industry or maintains multiple overseas relationships. Thai culture and societal norms can be markedly different from those in the Western world, so we have compiled a list of the top 10 warning signs that may suggest your partner could be unfaithful or seeking to exploit your affections.
If you find yourself falling for a Thai woman, it is vital to remain vigilant and ensure you are not falling victim to infidelity or a romance scam. Some individuals, particularly those working in the nightlife scene, may seek to take advantage of foreign men. If you notice multiple warning signs listed in this article in your girlfriend, this could indicate that she might not be a suitable partner for a serious relationship.
1. She constantly talks about money or asks you for money
A good Thai woman would never request money from a man she is just starting a relationship with; this is not an appropriate sign when you are still getting to know each other and should act as a red flag. Common excuses for money can include: her parent’s buffalo is sick, she needs money for her family's medical bills, home improvement, debt repayments or even just help paying for rent and food. Many Thai women who have been involved with the sex industry are especially good at crafting believable stories to extract money from foreign men!
However, many Thai women are also aware that asking for cash early on in a relationship can raise suspicions. They may play the long game, slowly building up to a situation where you feel compelled to assist them financially.
2. She spends a lot of time in bars
Alcohol is tolerated in Thai society, but responsibly so. Most people in Thailand wouldn’t consider spending night after night sat on a bar stool getting intoxicated. If you’re seeking a party-loving companion, this could suit you. But if you desire a serious, stable relationship, it may be best to reconsider. If your girlfriend works at a bar in Thailand, this raises further concerns. Many bar girls investigated by us have been found to be unfaithful to their foreign partners. Learn more on our bar girl investigations page.
Many women frequenting nightclubs, bars, or discos in Thailand are, in fact, freelancers. They may spend their nights drinking in search of customers who will pay them for companionship. If your Thai girlfriend is frequently engaging in nightlife, this should be considered a significant red flag.
3. She has tattoos
While tattoos in themselves do not make someone a bad person, they can carry a stigma in Thai society. Tattooed women are often associated with the sex industry, as bar girls and go-go dancers frequently display ink. Outside of nightlife, women with tattoos may be looked upon unfavourably, which should raise concerns regarding your Thai partner's background. Although attitudes towards tattoos in Thailand are slowly evolving, ink on your Thai girlfriend could signal past involvement in the sex industry. For more insights about tattoos, read our blog post Thai women with tattoos.
4. She smokes cigarettes
Women not involved in the nightlife industry typically do not smoke in Thailand. Smoking is often prevalent among those working in less reputable bars, which can indicate a troubled past. If your girlfriend smokes, it might be wise to encourage her to quit for her health and well-being.
5. She wears a large amount of gold
In Thailand, gold is often worn as an investment, given its high purity (usually 23 karat) and distinctive colour. However, it is typically worn in moderation, such as one necklace and a couple of rings. If someone is adorned with multiple thick gold chains or rings worth substantial amounts, they may be flaunting their wealth or signalling that they are accustomed to a lavish lifestyle, possibly due to support from foreign partners. If your Thai girlfriend wears thousands of dollars’ worth of gold, consider how she might have acquired it.
6. Her English is very good but she never attended university
Public schools in Thailand generally do not provide a high level of English instruction. If your girlfriend speaks fluent English but has not attended university or taken English classes, it could indicate she has learned the language through interactions with foreigners in bars and other less reputable venues.
Women who work in nightlife areas often develop what is known as “bar girl English,” which involves speaking enough English to convey simple messages but with poor grammar. This type of English can sometimes be challenging to understand.
7. She swears a lot
A respectable Thai woman would care about her public image and refrain from using profane language, especially in front of her partner or others. You might find it amusing if your girlfriend swears frequently, but this is generally frowned upon in Thai culture. Most Thai women aim to speak as politely as possible and do not adopt coarse language.
8. She says that all Thai men are "no good"
Every group has its good and bad individuals, and Thai men are no exception. While there may be instances of domestic violence or abuse in Thailand, it is inaccurate to claim that all Thai men are problematic. Typically, Thai men show respect towards their girlfriends or wives, akin to expectations in Western relationships. If a woman states that "all Thai men are no good," this may suggest a personal issue, potentially indicating that Thai men have valid reasons for their feelings.
9. She is constantly on her phone texting while spending time with you
It is disrespectful for your girlfriend or the woman you are dating to continuously text while you are together. Such behaviour indicates that she is not fully engaged in your time together. Be particularly cautious if she conceals her phone screen from you or steps away to have private conversations in English. Regardless of the excuses given, these are significant red flags that could suggest she may be involved with another man. If your girlfriend is overly concerned with her phone and hides her screen when you try to look, this is a clear indication that you may not be the only man in her life.
10. She is involved with illegal drugs
This is perhaps the most serious warning sign to watch for in a prospective partner in Thailand. Drug use and dealing are highly taboo in the kingdom. There are numerous crimes that can lead to severe penalties, including the death sentence for drug trafficking. If you encounter anyone involved with illegal drugs in Thailand, the best course of action is to distance yourself. While certain recreational drug use might be tolerated in your home country, Thailand imposes harsh penalties for such behaviour. If your Thai girlfriend is part of the drug scene, this should be regarded as a major warning sign.
Check Your Thai Girlfriend
As a leading detective agency based in Thailand, we have uncovered numerous cases of Thai women who were found to be cheating on their partners. Romance scams can take various forms, including women pretending to be university students or claiming to have regular jobs while actually working in the bar scene.
Here are some of the most common services we provide to check on Thai girlfriends:
1. Background Checks
Background checks are an excellent starting point for assessing your Thai girlfriend and can help you avoid costly mistakes. We can investigate a lady’s marital history, children, employment, education, social media, and various other factors. We offer standard and enhanced background checks depending on our client’s needs. Read more on our background checks page.
2. Personal Surveillance
Personal surveillance is perhaps the most typical service offered by private investigators. We can track, follow, and monitor individuals, gathering images and reporting our findings to our clients. Is she meeting other men late at night? Does she flirt with customers or colleagues while at work? Are men visiting her home? These are the types of questions surveillance typically addresses.
3. Decoy Service
Our decoy service offers a discreet and cost-effective way to check your Thai girlfriend, particularly if she works in bars, go-gos, massage parlours, hotels, or other customer service-oriented jobs. Many of the bar girls we have investigated continue to engage with other men while their boyfriends are abroad. In these cases, our decoy service can provide clear answers to our clients. We offer free quotes for all services. Please feel free to get in touch with us and discover how we can assist you.
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Bar Fine Test: Can Your Girlfriend in Thailand Be Bar Fined?
Published: January 19, 2018 - Reading time: 5 minutes
» Updated: October 16, 2024
“Can you bar fine my girlfriend?” – This is a question we regularly receive from clients who are concerned about their partners' faithfulness. Thousands of men visit places like Pattaya, Patong, and Bangkok every year and become romantically involved with women working in beer bars or go-gos. In the world of private investigation, we call these cases "sting operations" or "Thailand honey trap investigations". Then these are effective tests of loyalty that leave no room for doubt.
What is a Bar Fine Test?
If your girlfriend is working in a bar in Thailand and you're concerned about her faithfulness, a "bar fine test" could be the quickest and most effective way to find answers. A bar fine is essentially the fee paid to the bar, allowing a customer to take one of their staff members (often a bar girl) out for the evening or night. The test involves an investigator posing as a customer to see if your girlfriend is willing to leave with them, effectively revealing her loyalty. These tests are often called a "honeytrap investigation" or a "decoy service".
Signs of Suspicion
Is your girlfriend working at a bar? Does she still accept 'bar fines' from customers? Does she tell customers that she has a boyfriend? Does she even give her phone number out to customers perhaps? If you would like to have these questions answered, then performing a bar fine test might be the simplest route to uncovering the truth.
Key Factors to Consider
Before hiring a private investigator for a bar fine test, there are several factors to consider:
- The age of the investigator/subject: The popularity of bar girls often allows them to be selective. Hiring an older or scruffy investigator might yield different results than using a younger, smartly dressed man. At PattayaPI, we use investigators who are well-presented and polite to ensure the accuracy of the test.
- Evidence gathering: Capturing reliable evidence in dimly lit bars with loud music can be challenging. Hidden cameras can struggle with the lighting and noise, so we use state-of-the-art technology and specialised techniques to provide you with clear and indisputable results.
How a Bar Fine Test Works
The test is simple: our investigator will attempt to bar fine your girlfriend and report back on whether she agrees to leave with him. The test is discreet, and the results are usually clear. If we manage to secure photographic or video evidence, it will provide you with proof that cannot be disputed.
We can also check her lifestyle/activities by placing her under surveillance or performing a background check.
Contact us today for a free quote, and we can discuss the best way to proceed with your specific situation.
What If the Results Aren’t What You Expected?
Whether the results of the bar fine test show that your girlfriend is loyal or not, it’s important to be prepared for any outcome. At PattayaPI, we don’t just leave you with the results – we offer advice and support based on years of experience. We can help guide you on what steps to take next.
Why Choose PattayaPI?
We are the leading private investigators for determining whether your girlfriend or wife is being faithful in Thailand, specialising in bar fine tests and other investigation techniques. Every case is handled with complete discretion, and we provide free, no-obligation quotes. Our services cover Pattaya, Bangkok, Patong, and beyond. Get in touch for confidential advice and assistance today, or visit the PattayaPI homepage for more information about us.
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Thai Women With Tattoos
Published: December 13, 2017 - Reading time: 9 minutes
» Updated: October 15, 2024
On our website we list tattoos as a warning sign when getting involved with a Thai lady. On the face of it this may seem judgmental, but it is not without very good reason. Tattoos are seen differently in Thailand as they are in other parts of the world.
Tattoos in western countries are now firmly a part of pop culture. The days when tattoos were only seen on bikers, sailors and criminals are now long gone. In the west, tattoos are no longer a cause of stigma, they can be found on people from all walks of life and positions in society. Many high-profile celebrities wear tattoos, and it’s not uncommon for those in respected positions to have tattoos in the USA and Europe.
In Thailand the situation is quite different. Traditional Thai culture is reserved and conservative, though we would forgive you for assuming otherwise after spending a few nights drinking in Pattaya or any other night life area of Thailand. Many of the older generations in Thailand frown upon tattoos. The exception to this being sak yant, also known as “magic tattoos”, which are believed to offer the wearer protection and good fortune. These are seen differently than images which have no religious significance.
Sak yant tattoos
Sak yant tattoo: This design represents the The Paed Tidt Yant, which is said to give its wearer protection in any direction which they travel. It is also believed to ward off evil spirits. The text contained on this design is ancient Khmer text known as Khom. Sak yant is believed by many Thai people, and especially those in rural areas, to provide protection and good fortune. After a sak yant tattoo has been completed it is typically blessed by a monk.
Full coverage: This man has an impressive collection of traditional Thai sak yant tattoos.
However, sak yant tattoos are traditionally seen on Thai men. You will struggle to find sak yant, or any type of tattoo on an elderly Thai woman in the massive rural areas of Thailand. The designs are often popular with bar girls working in Pattaya, Phuket, Bangkok, and similar places, and many foreigners also get sak yant tattoos during their time in Thailand.
Thousands of foreigners travel to Thailand every year and get sak yant tattoos themselves. Many people seek out tattoos which are poked by hand using bamboo and blessed by a monk afterwards. Many tattooists prefer to use tattoo machines as it is faster and easier; and some foreigners even get sak yant tattoos from tattoo shops in Thailand, which is a less authentic experience. If you decide to get any tattoo in Thailand we recommend that you examine the hygiene standards and judge for yourself whether they are adequate - specifically, make sure that a fresh needle (or bamboo) is being used.
Fashion tattoos in Thailand
‘Fashionable’ tattoos, or any imagery aside from sak yant, tend to be frowned on by many elderly people in Thailand. If you’re talking about a young Thai girl, this will possibly include her parents, grandparents and extended family. She may have actually isolated members of her family by getting tattooed.
Ordinary tattoos in Thailand are often influenced by Western culture, and many of the designs that you would find in north America or Europe (besides sak yant designs) can be seen on Thai people.
Tattoos worn by 'ladies of the night' in Thailand
Whilst we can’t demonstrate this statistically, we know from experience that a huge bulk of women with ink have previously been involved in the adult entertainment industry. Tattoos and women working in this industry in Thailand tend to go hand in hand. Some people have even described tattoos as being indicative of a Thai lady that has previously worked in bars.
Tattoos on the chest area above the lady’s breasts are common, as well as wrist, arms, and back tattoos. Many bar girls and dancers spend a lot of money and effort on their tattoos, and anyone that spends time in the night life areas of Pattaya is likely to notice this at some point.
While there are no set designs which are associated with the industry, if your Thai girlfriend has tattoos which contain profanity (swear words), or references to sex, this would be a red flag that she may have a background of working in the nightlife scene.
Learn more about bar girl investigations.
If your Thai girlfriend has tattoos of other men’s names, then this would be a clear sign that she has a history of romantic relationships with foreigners.
Thai girl butterfly tattoos
The word “butterfly” in the Thai nightlife scene is often used to describe a man that spends time with multiple different Thai ladies, without committing to any one specifically. A “butterfly” might only spend one night with a Thai lady before moving on to another.
We have seen many people draw a link between this word and Thai women having tattoos of butterflies… We do not believe that most women sporting butterflies have these tattoos for any deeper meaning. “Fashion tattoos” are just that, and usually exist for their design rather than any significant or deep meaning.
Are attitudes changing towards tattoos?
As time goes on, we believe that attitudes towards tattoos in Thai culture are gradually shifting. We are slowly seeing more and more young Thai women (and men) decide to decorate their bodies with tattoos. Whether these Thai people are influenced by Western culture and seeing tattoos on movies or TV, we don’t know, however there is definitely a growing attraction to tattoos for many Thai people, and many Thai people do not regard tattoos with negativity or stigma – some people don’t care. Whether or not this trend will be continued into the future remains to be seen.
Tattoo stigma in Thailand
The sex industry is stigmatized in Thai culture. It is not an acceptable occupation in Thailand and the lowest possible step of the social class ladder. Ask yourself, why would a Thai lady tattoo herself, when in doing so she marks a potential involvement with the sex industry?
The attitude towards non-religious tattoos in Thailand is gradually shifting. Younger generations are becoming more and more tolerant of the practice as they’re exposed to it through western media, the internet, and meeting tattooed foreigners in person. There are Thai ladies with ink out there that have never been involved with the sex trade and simply enjoy this style of art work. However, this type of woman is generally in the minority.
For the time being at least, tattoos are largely stigmatized by older generations of Thais. While we wouldn’t suggest condemning someone based solely on their appearance, the presence of tattoos can be a contributing factor when judging the character of a Thai lady. It may act as a sign that the lady has a history working in nightlife areas or breaking social norms.
If you're starting to get involved with a Thai lady, all is not lost. If you have suspicions that she may be sleeping with other men while you're out of the country, or that she is already in another relationship, get in touch with us. We can put your mind at ease and probably for cheaper than you might think. Simply send us a message with the details of your situation and we'll reply to you with a free, no obligation quote. Please be sure to mention the area where you require us to work and any other relevant details.
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Licensed Private Investigators in Thailand
Published: December 6, 2017 - Reading time: 7 minutes
» Updated: October 19, 2024
Are you searching for an English-speaking private investigator in Thailand? Do you need a professional investigator to gather evidence for your case, and want to ensure you receive the most reliable and expert service?
The reality is that there is no licensing system for private investigators in Thailand. This means that no private investigators in Thailand are officially licensed. If someone claims to be a licensed private investigator in Thailand, they are misleading their clients.
While investigators may become members of associations, there is no official government licensing system for private detectives in Thailand. Anyone, regardless of experience or qualifications, can claim to be a private detective, and this happens frequently.
Just for fun: Private investigators in Thailand are not issued with badges
Many individuals present themselves as experienced detectives without ever having handled a real case. These individuals often create professional-looking websites and use paid search advertising to appear higher than established agencies in Google search results. Over the years, we’ve seen several people in this category come and go. These fly-by-night detectives are typically unregistered and lack genuine experience in Thailand, despite claims on their websites that they’ve been operating in the country for many years or decades.
We advise anyone seeking a private investigator to thoroughly research their PI before making a decision. Examine their claims closely and verify if they have a legitimate, proven track record of conducting investigations in Thailand. If a company is willing to fabricate its experience and credentials, it might also fabricate the results of your investigation. While you are free to proceed on this basis, we strongly recommend performing due diligence to ensure you make an informed choice when hiring a private detective in Thailand.
Private investigators not based in Thailand
What about hiring a private investigator in Thailand who isn’t based here? Some people prefer to work with companies in their home country, including law firms that may feel more comfortable using local agencies. In cases funded through legal aid, a law firm may decide it’s more beneficial to hire an agency from the same country.
However, when this happens, your case might end up being outsourced to us. We don’t offer discounts when working for overseas detective agencies or law firms, so your costs will likely be higher than if you had hired us directly.
When work is outsourced to us, the quality of the investigation can vary depending on the level of communication we receive. The more details and communication provided, the easier it is for us to carry out a successful investigation.
While we are happy to take on outsourced cases from overseas, please let us know clearly if this applies when you contact us.
Private investigator associations in Thailand
At present, there are no private investigator associations in Thailand. Companies operate independently of one another, and this seems to suit most agencies. Our company also works independently and is not affiliated with any competitors in the field of investigation.
Qualifications for detectives
There are various qualifications available for private detectives, though their value and relevance often vary. When it comes to working as a private detective in Thailand, however, cultural understanding of the country is key and cannot be gained through a simple course—it is generally learned over many years or even decades. We believe that for a detective agency to succeed in Thailand, it must be built on the knowledge and experience of local Thai people from the ground up.
It’s easy for mistakes to occur during private investigations, and these can alert the subject to the fact that they’re being watched. To ensure the best chances of success, we believe it’s crucial to hire an agency with substantial experience and a deep understanding of Thai culture. The risks of mistakes are too significant to overlook.
We believe that our extensive experience in conducting private investigations throughout Thailand sets us apart and provides us with the expertise to assist in a wide variety of cases.
Certificates displayed by some Thai firms are often related to qualifications in security and close protection, as many companies also work in the security industry. Our agency, however, does not offer security services or any other services besides private investigation.
Since private investigators are not licensed in Thailand, you will need to rely on your own research and judgment when selecting a reputable agency. Make sure to conduct sufficient due diligence before making your choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are private investigators in Thailand licensed?
No, Thailand does not have a government licensing system for private investigators. Any investigator claiming to be licensed in Thailand is misleading clients.
Can I hire an English-speaking private investigator in Thailand?
Yes, you can hire an English-speaking private investigator in Thailand. Our team at Pattaya Private Investigators offers professional services with fluent English speakers to ensure clear communication.
What types of cases can a private investigator in Thailand handle?
Our services cover a wide range of cases, including infidelity investigations, background checks, missing persons, and business investigations.
How can I verify a private investigator’s credentials in Thailand?
It is important to research the track record of the investigator or agency. Look for established agencies with verifiable experience and positive client reviews.
About Pattaya Private Investigators
We are leading private investigators based in Thailand, covering most areas from Bangkok to Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Isan, and beyond. We specialise exclusively in private investigations and have amassed extensive, verifiable experience across all aspects of our work. To learn more about us and the services we provide, please visit our home page, or if you require our services, feel free to contact us for a free quote.
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