Scam in Thailand: He thinks he's paying 4,000 baht… he's actually charged €4,000

A German tourist was scammed out of €4,000 instead of 4,000 baht for coconut oil supposed to make hair grow back in Pattaya.

Scams involving miracle products made from medicinal plants are becoming increasingly common in tourist areas of the country.

They are often committed by foreign nationals.

4,000 euros for plant-based coconut oil

Mr. Nadir filed a complaint with the Pattaya Municipal Police after being tricked into paying in euros instead of Thai baht when purchasing goods on November 12, 2025.

A German tourist filed a complaint with the Pattaya police station on Wednesday evening after being tricked into paying €4,000 (not 4,000 baht) for herbal coconut oil from a foreigner of unknown origin.

Mr. Nadir Altaf, 52, a German national, told police that he was walking in Pattaya on November 12, 2025, when he was approached by a foreign man who appeared to be of Middle Eastern origin.

The individual offered to sell her herbal-infused coconut oil, which was supposed to have miraculous properties for hair growth.

Interested in the product, Nadir followed the seller to a nearby store and agreed to buy five bottles.

The seller indicated a price of "4,000" without clearly specifying the currency.

Nadir assumed it was 4,000 baht (approximately €107) and proceeded with the purchase.

However, when he swiped his credit card, he was charged €4,000, or 150,424 baht.

That works out to over €800 per bottle.

After discovering the scam, he immediately reported the incident to the Pattaya municipal police.

Police Sub-Lieutenant Phupha Hongyakul, Assistant Inspector in charge of investigations at the Pattaya Police Station, registered the complaint and coordinated the review of the case with the investigators.

He noted that such incidents occur regularly in the region, with some victims not filing complaints.

When complaints are filed, the authorities usually take action with the stores to obtain refunds.

Lieutenant Phupha stated:

"We have conducted several raids and made several arrests, but these scammers continue to operate, damaging Pattaya's reputation."

It's the same pattern as in the famous gemstone scam: rather than closing the stores, the police often just get a refund when customers file a complaint.

See: Scams in Thailand: Know them and protect yourself

These practices raise questions about possible arrangements between certain stores and unscrupulous agents.

See also:

Booking.com Scam: Family's Thailand Vacation Turns into a Nightmare

Bangkok ranked among world's worst cities for tourist scams

Thailand: Swiss man scammed while buying villa in Pattaya

Tourist scammed out of 9,617 euros by Thai girlfriend and assaulted by her husband

Tourists tired of being ripped off by taxis and tuk tuks in Thailand

Source: Khaosod English