The embassy stated it had already lodged a complaint with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs yet was still receiving reports of even more scams. Although the statement did not explicitly forbid Indians from hiring jet-skis while holidaying in Thailand, it did say they needed to bear in mind what could happen.
In the letter submitted to the ministry last month, the embassy noted there had also been reports of cases where people who looked like Indians had assisted with the extortion. The scam has long been a problem in Pattaya and the Phuket town of Patong.
The trouble for hirers usually begins when they return the jet-skis. The owner points out damage which in most cases was already there. Then comes a demand for a minimum of THB10,000 and often three to four times this amount.
The demand is invariably backed up by threats and the arrival of other jet-ski operators to add to the intimidation. Hirers often pay up straight away to avoid problems. The Pattaya Business & Tourism Association said last month that if owners don’t stop the scams then there should be a total ban on jet-skis in Pattaya.
Indian embassy advises against jet ski hire in Thailand
News in Asia
The Indian Embassy has issued a travel advisory cautioning its nationals about the scams that often accompany hiring a jet-ski at Thai seaside resorts. The Bangkok embassy noted that jet-ski owners in resorts, particularly Pattaya, threatened hirers with physical harm if they did not pay for damage which in many cases pre-existed.