A scam targeting a popular Pattaya restaurant was uncovered after a customer falsely claimed to have suffered food poisoning . The incident occurred at “Rod Rang Café & Slow Bar,” located behind the Four Regions Market in Pattaya.
According to the restaurant’s owner, Singhanat Rulpak, the scam unfolded when the restaurant’s admin received a call from a customer who alleged they had eaten at the restaurant the previous day. The customer claimed that after consuming the restaurant’s signature black ink squid dish, they developed severe stomach issues the following morning. The caller demanded a refund of 800 Baht for the meal.
However, the restaurant had been closed the night before due to heavy rainfall and had not served any food. Sensing a potential scam, the staff became suspicious and asked the caller for additional details, including the table number and bank account information. The customer provided a TrueMoney Wallet account, prompting the staff to transfer 1 Baht to verify the name linked to the account. Upon researching the name, “Ms. Jiranuch Limcheoy,” online, staff discovered it had been flagged in multiple scam alerts.
Singhanat explained that they were fortunate the restaurant was closed the night in question, which made the scam immediately apparent. Had the restaurant been open, they might have unknowingly refunded the scammer. He urged other restaurant owners to be vigilant and to carefully verify any claims before processing refunds.
This incident serves as a cautionary tale for businesses in Pattaya, warning them about fraudsters who may use fake food complaints to extort money.
