Foreign scammer uses confusion trick to steal cash from Phuket restaurants

At least three restaurant owners in Phuket were targeted in a scam on May 4 in which a foreign man allegedly used rapid order changes to confuse staff and take cash. One victim, Benz Paitoon, said the suspect entered his restaurant, bought a bottle of water priced at 10 baht with a 1,000-baht note, and left with 980 baht in change without paying.

Benz shared details of the Phuket scam on Facebook on May 4 and posted CCTV footage from his shop. He said the suspect’s nationality was unknown.

CCTV account shows how the suspect created confusion

Benz said he checked the 1,000-baht banknote with a verification device because he was concerned it might be counterfeit. After confirming it was genuine, he prepared 990 baht in change.

He said the man then asked for a larger bottle of water, cancelled that purchase, took back the 1,000-baht note, and changed the order again to two bottles of water. Benz said the sequence left him believing he still held the original note, so he handed over 980 baht even though no payment remained with the shop.

After the man left, Benz reviewed CCTV and concluded he had been deceived.

Other owners report similar losses and police complaint filed

Benz said he later found similar reports from other business owners in the area. A food vendor commented that she lost money to the same man on the same day.

Another restaurant owner warned others that she lost 960 baht through a similar method. She said the man arrived with two other foreigners but acted alone during the incident.

Benz filed a complaint with Mueang Phuket Police Station and urged other victims to report the cases. In a separate case on May 1, a Thai woman was arrested after police said she distracted convenience store staff, hid change under her armpit and then claimed she had been given the wrong amount to get more money.

Source: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/foreign-scammer-cheats-phuket-restaurants-out-of-cash