Published: April 28, 2019 - Reading time: 12 minutes
» Updated: June 17, 2024

The Thai girl pregnancy scam is one of the more sinister scams that can occur in Thailand. Put simply, it works by spinning a web of deceit and playing on your emotions. If you are spending time with women in Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket, or any touristy areas of Thailand, then you may find yourself falling victim to the Thai girl pregnancy scam.

When reading this article, you will probably think to yourself “this could never happen to me”. Since we first published this article, we know that it has been read by unfortunate guys who did find themselves falling victim to this trick, and they also thought that it could never happen to them when reading the article.

How does the pregnancy scam work?

How does the pregnancy scam work? It is really quite simple. You’re spending some romantic time with a Thai bar girl, dancer, or even a ‘non-working’ girl that you met while in Thailand. Maybe the condom breaks or you didn’t use one. You head off back home and think nothing more of it until you get a message which reads "My period is late... I think I’m pregnant".

From here the story can take many different paths. If the man believes that he has made a Thai woman pregnant, he might fly back to Thailand to spend more time with her. He may start to reconsider his relationship with the woman and start to make long term plans to live with her in Thailand, or to get her (and the baby) a passport/visa for his home country. He may consider sending the lady money to start up some form of business, or prepare/furnish her home for a new-born baby.

Most guys will have no problem sending money for check-ups in a private clinic or hospital.

Whether or not he discovers that she is not truly pregnant before he makes long term commitments to the woman will depend. In some cases, if a guy makes big financial commitments to a Thai woman, and she is able to take a good amount of money from him, then that will leave her better off even if the relationship abruptly ends when he discovers that she is not actually pregnant.

Of course, many guys will not end a relationship when they discover that the lady was not truly pregnant. She may claim to have miscarried and present herself in floods of tears – most foreign guys will not walk away from a woman that appears highly upset, crying, and claiming to have lost his baby.

In other cases the lady might try to become pregnant while her boyfriend believes that she already is. If the lady cannot get pregnant, or doesn’t want to get pregnant, then she might use friends, or corrupt medical staff, to create the illusion that she is truly pregnant. Cases which run on for several months tend to include details which make it seem extremely convincing that a woman is pregnant while she is not. For example, a lady might visit the hospital many times and take photos of herself there, but she was in the hospital visiting friends or just passing by it. She might pay a clinician to speak with her boyfriend in English about the fake pregnancy, which is usually very convincing.

Fake pregnancy tests in Thailand

Fake pregnancy tests can be purchased all-over the world, and this is also true in Thailand. Fake pregnancy tests are cheap and readily available; sometimes tests with positive indications are sold online or behind the counter in stores. Other times women that are actually pregnant will make money by selling pregnancy tests which show a positive indication. A lady that is expecting a baby can help to provide any style of pregnancy test with the result "positive". She might provide multiple different positive pregnancy tests made by different manufacturers to make an even more convincing story.

Seeing a photo of a positive pregnancy test can help men to fall for the Thai girlfriend pregnancy scam hook line and sinker. We have even seen examples where Thai ladies have used photos of positive pregnancy tests that were found to have been downloaded from Google!

Why would a Thai girl lie about being pregnant?

Why would a Thai girl lie about being pregnant? Well, any man with a conscience is much less likely to walk away from a woman that could be carrying his child. The lady might demand money to pay for an abortion; but more often they will use the claim of being pregnant to lure the man back to Thailand, or to extract more money from him so that she can stop working around alcohol while pregnant. Perhaps the lady is deep in debt and feels that she can earn extra cash by convincing her boyfriend that she is pregnant. Maybe she does need money for medical treatment or to build a house… There could be thousands of different reasons that would drive a woman into making a false claim of pregnancy.

Whatever the motive behind this scam, the same principle applies each time. It is a form of emotional blackmail which gives the Thai woman a sense of security that the man will not walk away from her. And it usually causes her boyfriend to do things which he would not otherwise do if he did not believe that she was pregnant. How each man reacts to the belief that their Thai girlfriend is pregnant will of course vary in each case.

Often ladies involved with this type of scam will have used it on many different men over a number of years. Over time they can hone their abilities and make their claims seem very believable. They learn exactly the things to say which makes their lies to seem convincing, and they learn the best methods to extract money from their boyfriends.

Ladies that are involved with this scam typically understand enough about Western men to know what drives them and how they think. Trying to outsmart a professional fraudster using the information contained in this article will be extremely difficult in most cases. This makes our work during Thai lady investigations all the more vital to the wellbeing of our clients.

Pregnancy in Thailand

Pregnancy is a big deal in Thailand. Unlike in Europe or North America there is very little government welfare available, if you can’t afford to feed and clothe your baby there are few safety nets. With this being the case, it would be unwise for a Thai woman to fall pregnant with a man she barely knows.

If your Thai girlfriend is from a poor family (typically from rural farming areas in Isan), then supporting a child without help from the father, or any other means of income, will prove very hard indeed. Many of the ladies working in bars and nightlife areas are in fact there to support their parents and any children from previous relationships. Surviving on Thai minimum wage, and supporting a family of people, can be very hard in many cases.

Because there is no real safety net in the form of government aid, getting pregnant and having enough money to raise a child is a big deal. The cost to buy things like baby formula and diapers in Thailand is comparable to the prices in Western countries, and raising a baby does take a lot of money.

Child support in Thailand

In Thailand, a man can only be held liable for child support if he was legally married to the baby’s mother at the time of birth. Otherwise, a court would need to rule that the man is indeed the father of the child. He could then be held liable for child support.

Child support is fairly uncommon in Thailand, and while many Thai people will have lavish wedding ceremonies, they do not always legally marry each other, which can hinder claims for child support. Thai women usually do not pursue child support against the father of their children after the relationship has ended… Of course, there are exceptions to this, but the attitude of many Thai women is not to seek out money from their partner after a relationship has ended.

This is one of the reasons which mean that Thai women usually will not get pregnant as thoughtlessly as some ladies in Western countries. Women from north America or Europe may be eligible to numerous government support programs, welfare programs, and child support payments, when they have new-born babies. In Thailand this is not usually the case.

Don’t be fooled

It can often prove very difficult to outsmart a woman that is practiced in romance fraud, as they’ve heard and seen it all before. Positive pregnancy tests can be ordered online or obtained from pregnant friends. There are even reports of some ladies allegedly taking drugs which bloat out their stomachs and help to make their foreign boyfriends believe that they’re really pregnant.

By the time the man has found out his lady was lying, he will have spent more time with her and formed an emotional attachment to her which will be hard to break. We have often seen women that claim to be pregnant conveniently miscarry shortly before they're due for an ultrasound examination. Others can be more creative and string out their claims even longer.

How the lady decides to play the scam, and how her boyfriend will react, can be very different depending on the individuals involved. However, the outcome is rarely positive.

If a Thai woman that you barely know is suddenly claiming to be pregnant with your child, then maybe take those claims with a pinch of salt. Is she being serious? Could she be exaggerating the truth? These are questions which you should ask yourself.

We can help

If you think that you might be falling victim to a romance scam then there are things which we can do to help you... While it is usually not possible for us to determine whether or not someone is in fact pregnant, we can find out if they’re lying to you about other things before you make emotional or financial commitments to them. We could place the lady under surveillance, for example, which could seek to find out if your girlfriend is cheating on you while you’re out of the country; or try to see if she is continuing to consume alcohol while claiming to be pregnant.

We also offer a romantic background check service which can help to check and verify certain factors relating to your girlfriend. 

Checking your Thai girlfriend in this way has the potential to help you avoid romance scams, and protect yourself from financial loss and heartbreak.

We are a leading detective agency working across Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. Get in touch with us if you think that you could use our help. We offer free quotes for all work and are glad to offer help and support to our clients.

Please note that due to large volumes of traffic received through our website we are unable to offer free relationship advice. If you would like to receive advice from us on your situation without instructing us to perform any form of investigation then a consultation fee will apply.

Learn more about Pattaya private investigators.

Published: March 24, 2019 - Reading time: 5 minutes
» Updated: October 16, 2024

So, your husband is visiting Pattaya for “golf”, but what’s really going on? Every man we’ve ever investigated who has claimed to visit Pattaya for golf was also seeking something else entirely. While he may have invested in an expensive golfing holiday and is on the course by day, what about the evening and late-night hours? Many men, unfortunately, spend this time picking up women.

Pattaya is not just known for its golf courses. It’s often referred to as the world’s largest hub for sex tourism. In fact, an estimated 27,000 active prostitutes operate in the city at any given time (*source: Huffpost). Men from all walks of life, many of them married, come here with the intent to pay for sex. This includes some men who convince their wives or girlfriends that they’re simply on a golf holiday.

What happens in Pattaya?

Most men that visit Pattaya with the intent to cheat will hire at least one different woman every night during their stay. Our experience shows that this behaviour is common and easy to detect. Some men will even “hire” a woman to stay with them for the entirety of their holiday, essentially paying for a temporary girlfriend. While the golf courses might be real, the promise of fidelity is often not.

There are certainly legitimate golf courses in and around Pattaya. Still, the city’s nightlife — its beer bars, go-go bars, and discos — is its primary attraction for many male tourists. Search for information on Pattaya, and it becomes abundantly clear: this city is designed to cater to men seeking paid companionship. Some might say the golf courses are simply there to provide an alibi.

The reality of sex tourism in Thailand

If your husband is spending time in Pattaya, it’s natural to worry. Thailand is a leading destination for sex tourism, with 150,000–200,000 sex workers working across the country (source: Wikipedia). While many of these women earn a living from local men, foreign tourists make up a significant portion of their clientele.

As a private investigation agency with experience across Thailand, we have seen countless cases where men cheat while they’re here. Even if a man claims to be in Thailand for golf or business, the temptation of Pattaya’s nightlife is often too strong. Some men believe that what happens in Thailand stays in Thailand, especially when their wives or girlfriends are far away.

But this isn’t always the case. With discreet surveillance and photographic evidence, we’ve helped many women uncover the truth about their partners' infidelity. The camera doesn’t lie, and excuses are hard to make when confronted with solid proof.

We can help

If your husband or partner is visiting Thailand on his own, and you suspect something is off, get in touch with us for a free consultation. Our private investigators operate in Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and across the country, ensuring you get the answers you need.

FAQ

• What are the signs my husband is cheating in Pattaya?
  Common signs include excessive secrecy, unusually long stays, or vague explanations for late nights. Frequenting areas known for their nightlife and bars is also a red flag (this covers almost the entire area of Pattaya City and much of Jomtien).
• How can I get proof of my husband’s activities in Thailand?
  Our private investigation agency specialises in discreet surveillance. We capture high-quality images or videos that provide clear evidence of infidelity.
• Is cheating common among tourists in Thailand?
  Unfortunately, yes. Many tourists, including married men, engage in Thailand’s sex industry. The country’s relaxed laws and the anonymity of being abroad make it a tempting environment for infidelity.
• How prevalent is sex work in Pattaya?
  Pattaya is one of the most notorious hubs for sex tourism globally, with estimates placing the number of sex workers at around 27,000*.

If you're concerned about your partner's trip to Thailand, don’t hesitate to reach out. We have successfully helped hundreds of women discover the truth about their partners.

Learn more about infidelity investigations.

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• Husband Cheating in Thailand: Private Investigator Insights

Published: February 20, 2019 - Reading time: 10 minutes
» Updated: September 2, 2024

Are you involved with a Thai lady that doesn't ask you to send her money? Some men see this as a positive trait in their girlfriends, however, many Thai ladies understand that asking for money from their foreign boyfriend could be seen as a red flag. Whether or not your Thai girlfriend even needs you to send her money will of course depend on her individual circumstances.

Does your Thai girlfriend need money from you?

Without a university degree, or the capital to start a business, it can be very difficult to earn more than the minimum wage in Thailand. If your Thai girlfriend has a good education then she might be able to enter a decent career and earn a good salary.

Does your Thai girlfriend need money from you? The answer to this question will depend on how much money she earns, her lifestyle, whether she has debts or other financial problems, and how many dependants rely on her for support... If a Thai lady has a good education and career, or simply a low-cost lifestyle, then she might not need financial support from you.

At the time of writing, the Thai minimum wage is around 330 THB per day. It can be a struggle to live on such a small amount of money, and especially without support from a spouse. Think about it... Could you live on just 10,000 THB per month (approx.) in a major city? For most of us it would be a real struggle to survive.

Thai women are usually expected to provide for their families, and especially so if they have children that are being raised by their parents. If the lady is earning minimum wage or not much more than minimum wage, it will be difficult to sustain a life for herself, as well as her parents and children.

Of course, many Thai ladies are university educated or entrepreneurial and able to earn excellent salaries. In our experience, it is generally less common for financially well off or 'middle class' ladies to form romantic relationships with foreign men, though it can happen. Some of the Thai ladies most keen to find foreign boyfriends might not be doing so well financially and could benefit from extra support.

My Thai girlfriend doesn’t ask for money

Ladies in Thailand aren't stupid, and many of them understand that asking their newly minted Western boyfriend for money will be seen as a red flag by them. If she is not asking you for money, you need to deeply examine her circumstances and question how she is able to support herself, rather than assume that she will never need support from you. After all, one of the major perks of being with a foreign guy is their ability to help out with money... This is, of course, why a lot of Thai ladies seek out Western men.

If your Thai girlfriend earns enough money to support herself and her family, then there is no reason that she should ask you to help out. However, you will need to really examine your girlfriend’s finances in order to understand exactly how much money she takes home and how much it costs to support herself as well as any of her dependants.

If your Thai girlfriend lives in a city such as Pattaya, Bangkok, Patong, etc, then there is the danger that she could be earning cash on the side through work in the adult entertainment industry. Many women that have regular jobs also “freelance” during the weekends and evenings in order to earn more money. This turns out to be true for many of the Thai women in Pattaya which we investigate for our clients. Without hiring a detective to check the movements of your girlfriend it can be extremely difficult, or impossible in most cases, to find out what she is truly doing when you are not around.

Supporting a Thai girlfriend long term

If your Thai girlfriend is able to get a good education and achieve a university degree for example, then she will have the potential to earn more money than with a basic high school education. Many white-collar jobs in Thailand will require the candidate to have a university degree, or relevant training.

If your Thai partner does not have a career or an education which could lead them to a career, then you might choose to support them through education with the hopes that they can earn more money later on down the line.

A popular alternative amongst foreigners is to help their Thai girlfriends setup a business, with the hope that this could lead to them making more money. Whether or not this path is likely to be successful will depend on the type of business that you decide to pursue, and whether your partner is hard working and skilled enough to get a business of the ground. There are indeed many horror stories which you can find online, but there are also plenty examples of Thai ladies setting up successful businesses with their boyfriends or husband’s support and backing.

Thai girlfriend working in a bar

If your girlfriend works at a bar and you're not sending her money, then it's almost certain she is leaving the bar with customers in order to support herself. Don't kid yourself on this... A bargirl's wage is designed to be propped up by accepting bar fines and regularly leaving the bar with customers. In fact, many bars require a minimum amount of 'bar fines' in order for the lady to receive a base salary.

Most of the time when we are asked to check bar girls in this way for our clients, we discover that the lady is keen to leave the bar and earn money. During other investigations we will observe the lady and find out how many customers she is leaving the bar with during an average night or week. The results are often shocking.

Whether or not you are sending your girlfriend money; if she works at a beer bar in Thailand then she is most certainly still accepting ‘bar fines’, and still going with customers to their hotel rooms. Please, don’t delude yourself into believing that she is different. We have been conducting this type of investigation for many years and can say from experience that the vast majority of ladies who work in beer bars continue their activity despite having boyfriends.

This also applies to women working in go-gos, massage parlours in Thailand, night clubs, karaoke bars, and other roles dealing with the public... However, if your girlfriend works a different job, don't think that you're safe either.

Many women in Pattaya who work regular jobs often turn to freelancing in nightclubs to meet with customers in the evening or night time. Other ladies prefer to meet men using hookup apps or online dating, to earn more money and subsidise their incomes from regular jobs. Other women might already be receiving plenty of money from other boyfriends abroad.

Photo: If your girlfriend works at an a go-go bar or a beer bar then you aren't the only gentleman enjoying her company!

Sending money to a Thai bar girl is not a good idea as you may find yourself falling victim to the classic bar girl scam, where a lady has several men sending her cash on a regular basis… Each of the guys will believe that they are the only man in her life, but the reality is very different. You may read about this scam and think that it could never happen to you – this is exactly what everyone thinks when they are falling victim to a romance scam.

If you decide to support a bar girl, then you should make sure that she stops working in the bar immediately. The claim that "I will work in the bar but not leave with customers" is almost always false.

Ladies perpetrating romance scams might also convince their overseas boyfriend that they are a university student, while in reality they are working in a beer bar or getting wasted every night in a nightclub. Because fraudsters are excellent liars, most victims of the romance scam will never find out what is going on unless they decide to investigate the lady's activities.

Essentially, it should be a cause for concern if your girlfriend doesn't ask for money, unless her finances truly add up. (I.e. she has no dependants, or is able to support her dependents by earning a decent wage). It would be wise to deeply examine your partner's income and cost of living before declaring this to be a positive trait, as she may be concealing other income streams from you. You will need to check whether her story adds up (literally).

Want to learn more about your partner's circumstances and history? We can help to check your Thai girlfriend by running a background check or checking her claims through personal surveillance or our decoy service. Please contact us for a free quote, or continue browsing our website for more free information and insights.

Learn more about Pattaya Private Investigators on our homepage.

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• 8 reasons NOT to date or marry a Thai bar girl
• 10 things to consider before marrying a Thai lady
• Are Thai girlfriends expensive?

Published: January 3, 2019 - Reading time: 3 minutes
» Updated: June 17, 2024

We frequently provide background checks in Thailand for our clients. Please feel free to get in touch with one of our experienced team members for more information and a free quote.

Thai girlfriend background checks

Spousal checks and especially Thai girlfriend background checks are a common service provided by us. We offer standardized checks and also standalone checks depending on the requirements of our client. These checks typically include marital status (and marital history), identity checks and household checks. By checking the residents of a given household we are able to understand more about an individual’s circumstances; for example, if the lady has separated from the father of her children, it would be a red flag if he is registered as living in the same property with her.

Running a background check on your Thai partner can often be a wise move, especially before deciding to pay a dowry (or sin sod) during a wedding, or when a relationship starts to become more serious. We may be able to offer you other methods of detecting and investigating infidelity depending on your circumstances. Please feel free to get in touch with us for a free consultation.

Employee background checks

Pre-hire background screening is another area that we are keen to help with. These checks can be more or less thorough than spousal checks depending on your requirements and the nature of the subject’s role at your company.

Employee background checks typically consist of checking the subject’s criminal background, as well as checks to verify the individual’s identity and the information provided by them. We can also verify education and employment history where needed and cross check references provided by the subject.

Criminal record checks

Checking criminal records in Thailand often form a component of either spousal or pre-hire checks. In addition to checking criminal records, we can also check for active arrest warrants related to cases which might be ongoing and would otherwise not be detected. If you suspect that an individual may have criminal cases ongoing which they are hiding from you, we are often able to check and see whether this is the case.

Thai company background checks

For business due diligence, we can check the status and health of companies registered in Thailand in order to give you a better insight into the organization before you decide to conduct business with them. These checks can take a number of different forms depending on the nature of the business and your requirements.

Having dealt with numerous cases after fraud has taken place, we always prefer to start an investigation before agreements have been made. For more information please see our business due diligence page.

How to proceed

For more details about background checks please see our background checks page or our homepage for more information about us. Feel free to get in touch with us for a free quote, please include as much information as possible when contacting us so that we are able to offer help and advice on your situation.