Thailand arrests 3 for running fake Pattaya hotel pages to scam $21,300 from tourists

In coordinated raids across Chanthaburi, Bangkok and Ayutthaya on May 21, officers from Thailand's Tourist Police Bureau detained the suspects accused of running a fraudulent operation that impersonated well-known Pattaya hotels online, according to The Straits Times.

The scammers reportedly created convincing Facebook pages to lure unsuspecting tourists into making advance payments for non-existent reservations.

Authorities say the group swindled at least ฿700,000 ($21,330) through this scheme, The Nation reported.

Police are urging travelers to verify the authenticity of hotel pages and avoid transferring money without confirmation, especially when using social media platforms.