Top Scams to Avoid in Pattaya, Thailand

Published: July 19, 2023 - Reading time: 21 minutes
» Updated: August 14, 2026

Pattaya is generally a safe destination for tourists and foreign residents, but like any major tourist city, there are people who make money by taking advantage of visitors who do not know how things normally work.

Most people who visit Pattaya will never experience a serious problem. However, alcohol, nightlife, unfamiliar prices, language barriers and the fact that many visitors are carrying relatively large amounts of money can create opportunities for scams and disputes.

We have put together this guide based on our experiences in Pattaya. It covers some of the most common scams, tricks and situations that foreigners should be aware of, along with some simple ways to protect yourself.

1. Pattaya Bar Girl and Romance Scams

One of the most common problems that foreigners encounter in Pattaya involves relationships and so called ‘bar girl scams’. Whether you meet a lady working in a beer bar, massage parlour, go go bar, nightclub or through internet dating, we often see similar scenarios play out time and time again.

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Let’s say you spend time with a lady working at a bar in Pattaya. You decide to form a relationship with her. At the end of your vacation, you return to your country and she promises that she will no longer leave the bar with customers.

In our experience, this is where many foreigners get themselves into trouble. A lady may continue working in exactly the same way after her boyfriend has returned home, while telling him that she is simply sitting in the bar, serving drinks or waiting for him to come back to Thailand.

Regular phone calls and video calls do not necessarily prove otherwise. If somebody knows that you call every evening at 9pm, it is not difficult for them to make sure they are somewhere suitable at 9pm.

Multiple Boyfriends and Sponsors

Another common situation is for one lady to have several different boyfriends or financial sponsors at the same time. Each man may genuinely believe that he is the only person in her life.

It may seem farfetched to somebody who has never encountered this before, but we have seen cases where a lady receives money from several men in different countries, with each boyfriend believing that he is supporting an exclusive relationship.

The stories told to different sponsors can be remarkably similar. Money may be requested for rent, family expenses, medical problems, debts, a sick buffalo, a business idea or some other emergency.

Fake Employment Stories

Some ladies tell their foreign boyfriends that they have stopped working in the nightlife industry and now have a normal job.

We have encountered situations where a lady has taken photographs at a supposed workplace specifically so that she can send those photographs to her boyfriend later. A few photographs of somebody sitting in an office, restaurant or shop do not necessarily establish that she actually works there.

If your girlfriend is working in a Pattaya bar, massage parlour or go go bar and you want to know whether she is being faithful while you are outside Thailand, this is something that can usually be checked discreetly.

2. Bar and Go Go Bill Scams in Pattaya

Pattaya has thousands of bars, pubs, nightclubs and entertainment venues. The overwhelming majority of customers pay their bills and leave without any problem, but disputes over bar bills do happen.

A common complaint involves drinks or lady drinks appearing on a bill that the customer does not remember ordering. In other cases, the customer may not have checked the price before ordering and is surprised by the final amount.

This does not mean that every incorrect bill is an intentional scam. Busy bars make mistakes too. However, there are a few simple precautions that can prevent most arguments.

Check the price of drinks before ordering, particularly in venues where prices are not clearly displayed. If the bar uses individual paper slips or a check bin, glance at it from time to time rather than waiting until the end of a long night to examine everything.

If you are buying lady drinks, ask what they cost first. Do not assume that a lady drink costs the same as the beer you are drinking.

If something on the bill appears wrong, point it out calmly before paying. It is considerably easier to resolve a disagreement while everybody is calm than after voices have been raised.

Most importantly, do not become so intoxicated that you have no idea what you ordered or how much money you spent. A great many supposed Pattaya scams begin with somebody drinking far more than they intended.

3. Taxi, Motorbike Taxi and Baht Bus Scams

Transport is plentiful in Pattaya. Taxis, motorbike taxis, ride hailing apps and baht buses are available throughout most tourist areas.

Problems usually occur when a passenger gets into a vehicle without establishing how the fare will be calculated.

If you are taking a privately hired taxi or motorbike taxi and there is no app or meter establishing the fare, ask the price before starting the journey. Once the price has been agreed, there is much less room for an argument when you arrive.

Ride hailing apps can be useful because the journey and expected price are recorded in the application before the trip starts.

Baht Buses in Pattaya

If you spend any length of time in Pattaya, you will notice blue pickup trucks carrying passengers around the city. These are usually referred to by foreigners as baht buses and are known in Thai as songthaews.

Photo: A baht bus carries passengers through Pattaya city.

One important distinction is the difference between using a baht bus as a shared route service and privately hiring the vehicle.

If the truck is already travelling along its route and you simply get on and get off further along that route, you are using it as shared public transport. If you approach the driver and ask him to take you specifically to a particular hotel, restaurant or other destination, you may effectively be negotiating a private journey instead.

This is one reason tourists sometimes report being quoted a much higher price than expected. Make sure you understand whether you are joining the normal shared route or asking the driver to take you somewhere privately.

If you are unsure which direction you need to travel, Google Maps on your phone makes navigating Pattaya considerably easier.

4. Jet Ski, Motorbike and Car Rental Scams in Pattaya

The classic jet ski damage scam has been discussed by travellers in Thailand for many years.

The basic allegation is simple. A tourist rents a jet ski and returns it later. The operator then points to damage and claims that the customer caused it. The customer says the damage was already there, but has no photographs or video showing the condition of the jet ski before it was hired.

The same basic dispute can happen when renting motorbikes and cars.

If you rent any vehicle in Pattaya, spend a few minutes recording its condition before you leave. Take a clear video around the entire vehicle and photograph existing scratches, dents and other obvious damage.

Do not rush through the inspection because somebody is standing beside you waiting. Ten minutes spent documenting the vehicle can save a considerable argument later.

Read the rental terms before signing anything and establish what deposit is required. Where an alternative is available, avoid leaving your original passport as security for a rental.

It is also worth checking independent reviews of the rental company before handing over money.

There is another issue which has nothing to do with scams but can cost considerably more than a disputed rental deposit: accidents.

Thailand's roads can be difficult for visitors who are unfamiliar with local driving conditions. Before hiring a motorbike or car, make sure you have the correct licence or permit and confirm that your insurance actually covers the vehicle you intend to drive.

5. Fake Hotel and Accommodation Booking Scams

Not every accommodation scam takes place after you arrive in Pattaya. Some begin before you have even boarded the aircraft.

Scammers can create fake websites, social media pages or advertisements that imitate genuine hotels and accommodation providers. Photos can easily be copied from a real hotel, which can make a fake page look convincing.

A traveller may contact what appears to be the hotel, receive an attractive room price and then be instructed to transfer a deposit. After payment has been made, the supposed hotel disappears or the real property has no record of the booking.

Be particularly cautious if somebody pressures you to transfer money quickly, communicates only through social media or messaging apps, or offers a price that seems dramatically cheaper than everywhere else.

Check that the contact information you are using genuinely belongs to the hotel before transferring money.

If you find a hotel through social media, it takes very little time to independently search for the hotel's official website, telephone number and map listing rather than relying entirely on the contact details supplied in an advertisement.

6. Fake Police Scams in Pattaya

There have been cases in Thailand where criminals have impersonated police officers or other officials.

This is obviously a more serious situation than somebody attempting to overcharge you for a taxi.

A person claiming to be a police officer may accuse a tourist of committing an offence and then demand money or attempt to pressure the tourist into making an immediate payment.

It is important not to assume that every police fine or police interaction is fraudulent. Genuine Thai police officers do enforce the law and tourists can legitimately be fined or arrested.

However, if somebody claiming to be a police officer approaches you in unusual circumstances and immediately starts demanding cash or a bank transfer, remain calm.

Do not start a physical confrontation. Ask to resolve the matter at a police station and, if you remain uncertain, contact the Tourist Police hotline on 1155.

Calling an official number yourself is considerably safer than relying on a telephone number supplied by the person demanding money.

7. Hotel Room Valuables and Theft

Theft from hotel rooms is not technically a scam, but it is worth including because tourists frequently ask about protecting cash, jewellery, passports and electronics while staying in Pattaya.

Do not assume that a small hotel room safe provides the same level of security as a bank safety deposit box. Hotel safes vary greatly in quality and security.

A sensible approach is not to travel with more cash or expensive jewellery than necessary in the first place.

If you are travelling with items of significant value, ask your hotel whether it offers a more secure safety deposit facility at reception.

You should also think carefully about who you allow into your hotel room. If you invite somebody you have only just met back to your room, do not leave cash, expensive watches, jewellery, phones or wallets sitting openly on a table while you are asleep or in the bathroom.

If something does disappear, establish the facts before making accusations. Speak with hotel management and report serious theft to the police.

8. Pickpocketing in Pattaya

Pickpocketing is another crime rather than a scam, but it can occasionally occur in crowded tourist areas.

Basic precautions are normally sufficient. Do not carry your entire holiday budget around with you every evening. Consider leaving a backup bank card somewhere secure rather than carrying every card you own in the same wallet.

Crowded markets, nightlife areas and busy public events are obvious places to pay additional attention to your phone and wallet.

If you are carrying a shoulder bag or small handbag in a crowded area, keep it closed and positioned where you can see it.

And there is very little reason to walk around Pattaya wearing enormous quantities of visible gold jewellery. You are on holiday, not auditioning to become the fourth member of the A Team.

What Should You Do if You Have a Dispute in Pattaya?

One of the most useful things to remember in Thailand is that losing your temper usually makes a difficult situation worse.

A disputed bar bill, taxi fare or rental charge can become a much larger problem if somebody immediately begins shouting, threatening people or becoming physical.

Stay calm and establish exactly what the other person is claiming.

If a bar bill appears wrong, ask them to show you the individual charges. If a rental company alleges damage, ask them to show you precisely where the damage is and compare it with the photographs or video you took before the rental.

If there is a language barrier, translation can often resolve a disagreement which initially appears much more serious than it really is.

Do not allow embarrassment or anger to turn a relatively small financial disagreement into a police matter.

At the same time, staying calm does not mean handing over unlimited amounts of money because somebody is applying pressure. If you genuinely believe that you are being threatened or scammed, ask for official assistance.

What Should You Do if You Are Scammed in Pattaya?

If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, preserve whatever evidence you have.

Keep receipts, screenshots, messages, bank transfer information, photographs, videos, vehicle registration numbers and the name or location of the business involved. Do not start deleting conversations simply because you are angry.

If money was transferred electronically, contact your bank or payment provider as quickly as possible.

For police assistance involving tourists in Thailand, the Tourist Police hotline is 1155.

How to Avoid Scams in Pattaya

Most scams become considerably harder to carry out if you follow a few simple rules.

• Agree prices before using services where there is no displayed or app based fare.
• Check your bar bill periodically rather than waiting until the end of a long drinking session.
• Photograph or video rental vehicles before using them.
• Do not transfer money to an accommodation provider until you have independently verified who you are dealing with.
• Do not carry more cash than you need.
• Keep copies of important documents and transaction records.
• Be cautious when somebody creates an unexpected emergency that requires you to send money immediately.
• Do not assume that regular video calls prove what a long distance partner is doing during the rest of the day.
• Stay calm during disputes and seek official help if the situation cannot be resolved.

Perhaps most importantly, use the same judgement in Pattaya that you would use anywhere else. An attractive woman, cheap holiday mood and several bottles of beer do not make an obviously questionable story more believable.

Related articles

• Guide to Thai Bar Girls: What Tourists Need to Know
• 15 Lies That Thai Bar Girls Tell Foreigners
• How much money do go go dancers earn in Thailand?
• The Pattaya Go Go Bar Investigation: A Cautionary Tale
• 8 reasons NOT to date or marry a Thai bar girl