Farang Scam Artist?

[Irish Alan]

First of all sorry this is in 2 parts. I started writing it Friday night but got distracted by... Okay we wont go there, so I saved it in Word and today there is an update.

I was just wondering if any of you have met this guy. IF he is sincere I really feel sorry for him but my gut instinct is he is running a scam. I will not reveal his nationality, as maybe it is slightly irrelevant. If he approaches you, you will know his story. Okay 2 clues: His country won the world cup in 1974 and invaded Poland in 1939.

Ok here is the story. I was sitting in Black Canyon on Friday afternoon and there is a fahlang guy sitting in the food court. He looks at me a few times and then comes into Black Canyon and crouches down beside me.

"You speak English?" he asks... "Yes," I say and he asks me if I know if there is a church nearby, as he wants to see a priest.

He proceeds to tell me his tale of woe and he lost his wallet, atm/credit cards and all his money. Call me a cynical xxxxxx but I'm looking in his eyes and when I asked him where he was staying he glanced sideways (body language no no alert) and said he was lucky that he had already paid his hotel up to Sunday.

ANYWAY... I met similar in Pattaya a few years back (an American, same story, lost his wallet - When I said sorry can't help he said, "F**k you!" and went on his way).

I wasn't buying it. I'm telling him oh that is terrible blah blah blah then I told him where to go to find a priest (I thought) and best of luck and I'll pray for you and my mother will light a candle for you in St. Agnes church on Sunday but my hand is not going into my pocket and he bids farewell and legs it.

I feel sorry for the guy if he was genuine but my gut feeling was he was running a scam.

Update:

Was in Tesco/Lotus again today and I seen the same guy walking out with bags of stuff. Groceries and household goods (looked like a mop.) Only a few minutes later he reappeared without his bags. For someone down on his luck he had an immaculate laundered shirt, clean-shaven and made me feel like a hobo. So where did the bags go to? Looks like he found a church, found the lord, found his wallet and found a car.

I think my gut feeling was right.

[westerby]

I seem to remember someone else reporting a similar thing a couple of years ago. A chap was hanging around outside the Complex peddling a sob story about not having any dosh. The Ex-Pats on the ground in UTH raised it on this forum and he soon disappeared. I think he was a Brit, though.

[beer monkey]

By George i think you is correct westers...i do recall that one now you mention it, and a con for sure Irish Alan, should of took a sneaky photo of the 'cupid stunt', must be limited options for a trick in Udon as i can't see a Thai handing over any cash, so that leaves farangs as targets....ok own up who coughed up a few baht so he could buy a new mop..?????
always wise to alert readers of episodes like this.

[westerby]

By George i think you is correct westers

I would venture to say that I have the memory of an Elephnat but posters on this site would put 2 and 2 together to make 5 and accuse me of being the Mighty Chang....again.

[saint]

By George i think you is correct westers

I would venture to say that I have the memory of an Elephnat but posters on this site would put 2 and 2 together to make 5 and accuse me of being the Mighty Chang....again.

so your still a bit sore about being acussed ah westers, not nice is it , when you know its not true ? same thing happened to me a while back , some idiot put 2 and 2 together and came up with 5 !!!!!! . what goes round , comes round . chock dee .

[pompui]

Seeing that you saw das bastarden deutschlanden,can u describe him for us.late forties,early eighties,hairbrushover,mohican,glasses,eye patch etc etc.

[Guns482]

Well this story is not un usual, amny farangs he over the past years tried the scam of no wallets, passports etc in order to elicit funds. Sorry when asked I always say no, followed one discreetly and he h opped into a better car than mine and drove off.

Moral give only to friends and then sparingly.

[bumper]

Believe me it can go a lot further then that. Any large amounts of money I have lost here was in trusting farrrangs not Thai's. You find good friends cherrish them. Thai or farrang

[Geordie]

Scam artist GF recognized him outside Tesco Friday about 3-30 pm ,he says he is from Rayong she says he trys it on in Pattaya all over the town.Recognized him as the bloke who stole wallet-mobile phone & other items from the bar her sister used to have in Pattaya German about 5ft 9ins medium build short blond hair blond moustache wears glasses speaks English quite well.--Watch out guys & gals

[Zidane]

I've heard this story as well on Friday from an American guy who encountered him in Big C.the day before.
Only thing was he thought this guy was British but if he speaks english quite well maybe the American couldnt relate to the german accent.
But same story....asking about churches,priests,tale of woe etc.
The American gave him 100 baht so if this guy was seen in Tescos the next day,well groomed,there could well be a few who have taken pity on him.

[Guns482]

German about 5ft 9ins medium build short blond hair blond moustache wears glasses speaks English quite well.--

ALL NOTED THANKS

[Geordie]

Missed out in my post -----age 50to 55ish

[Irish Alan]

Scam artist GF recognized him outside Tesco Friday about 3-30 pm ,he says he is from Rayong she says he trys it on in Pattaya all over the town.Recognized him as the bloke who stole wallet-mobile phone & other items from the bar her sister used to have in Pattaya German about 5ft 9ins medium build short blond hair blond moustache wears glasses speaks English quite well.--Watch out guys & gals

That's him Geordie, spot on.

[westerby]

so your still a bit sore about being acussed ah westers, not nice is it , when you know its not true ? same thing happened to me a while back , some idiot put 2 and 2 together and came up with 5 !!!!!! . what goes round , comes round . chock dee .

No, not sore, just amused. This is only a forum after all...

[panick]

I've heard various stories about Germans and the Thais think they are keeneow No.! (please exclude Nobi from this post)

[wazza]

Worth ring the Tourist Police on this ??

Let them know we are on his case etc....

[beer monkey]

Hmmm think i seen him before...is this the man.

[wazza]

Looks like the German waitress at Casonova's

[Geordie]

BM, I wrote short blond hair &blond tache [50-55] go back to the drawing board

[bigsnake]

Why don't you report him to Immigration and maybe get this Scum bag a good switch kick out of the country. I understand you need a permit to beg now. It read a story recently in BP about Thais needing a permit and no more farangs beggers.