Australian tourists file police report over herbal coffee scam in Thailand
Two Australian tourists filed a police report over an overpriced herbal coffee scam in Thailand.
Henry, 56, and Sam, 29, were allegedly tricked by foreign sellers operating a herbal shop at a local market in coastal town Pattaya.
The pair said one of the suspects struck up a friendly conversation on June 18, before leading them into the shop and promoting a 'special' herbal coffee that supposedly delivered rapid weight-loss results.
The coffee was initially offered for 4,600 baht, but the sellers allegedly used 'persuasive sales tactics' to raise the price further to a staggering 14,600 baht for two bags.
The Aussies became suspicious after speaking with their taxi driver, who warned them they may have fallen victim to a common herbal product scam targeting holidaymakers in the 'Sin City'.
Police later visited the shop with reporters but found no staff present. They advised the tourists to file a formal report so police can take action.
Thai taxi driver Nopparat, 29, said he had been driving the tourists around Pattaya while they searched for condominiums.
One of the men stopped to buy medicine for stomach pain before being approached by several foreigners and ushered into the herbal shop.
He said: 'I noticed something wasn't right, so I asked the victims' friend in the taxi if they knew those people. When they said they didn't, I immediately warned them to be careful because I'd seen news reports and social media videos about similar scams involving herbal products.'
The Aussies have submitted photos and videos of the alleged suspects as evidence.
They said they were not overly concerned about recovering the money, but wanted authorities to take decisive action to prevent other tourists from falling victim to the same scheme.
In a similar case, immigration officials arrested six Pakistanis for allegedly operating an herbal scam shop in the same city without permits.
The group allegedly targeted overweight and balding Indian tourists, claiming their miracle remedies - which sell for tens of thousands of baht - could melt away belly fat and stimulate hair regrowth within just a few weeks.
Officers deployed an Indian undercover agent to pose as a tourist near the shop before the Pakistanis approached with their aggressive sales tactics as the victims have reported.
Police then swooped in as the agent was taken to the shop in question.
Authorities said the scam shops have begun recruiting Thai staff to evade detection. They added that further investigations into similar scams are underway.
