ATM scams

Dear Editor;

I wonder if your readers all know how widespread ATM scams are. One friend recently lost bt40,000 - the thieves (mainly foreign gangs, we were told) used some sophisticated software to read his card & waited for his monthly payment before stealing it. Sadly, Thai banks are not interested, nor are the police here - when he reported his loss, the police officer pointed to a pile of similar complaints.

I feel sorry for the tourists who are being scammed every day. Many farang residents are aware of the problem & take steps to avoid falling for the thieves’ trap.

The advice one is given is to avoid using ATMs if possible, and certainly to avoid isolated ones - banks are, we hope, more likely to spot tampering of machines on their premises.

I personally have for years transferred funds to my bank here & use my bank book for withdrawals.

Signed,
Concerned Farang

Hazard of Smoke

Sir,

In reply to ‘Walker’ (7th Jan) who asks if smoke from tree bark is toxic, it can be said that all smoke is toxic and cancer producing. Smoke from plastic and tyres is certainly far more dangerous than that from wood and leaves.

His story reminds me of an incident some thirty years ago in Sri Lanka when the neighbour of my colleague Dr. Jayasuriya lit a bonfire. Jayasuriya called the fire brigade and two fire engines sped to the scene. The irate firemen had no choice but to douse the bonfire!

The most ubiquitous and dangerous of all smoke is that of modern cigarettes followed, probably, by vehicle exhaust. That people actually pay money to breathe smoke is as incomprehensible and mind-boggling as a black hole.
Dr. Michael Nightingale

Jet Ski rip offs

Editor;

I have been coming to Pattaya three times a year for the last 15 years. During my stay, I have been horrified at the escalating problem on Pattaya Beach.

Fact 1. I walk on this beach for about 2 hours daily in the afternoon.

Fact 2. I see 2-3 altercations between jet ski operators and farang during this walk.

Fact 3. Police are invariably called to this dispute.

Fact 4. Jet skis are designed to operate across waves and this means paint will flake off in time and mouldings will loosen.

Fact 5. This is regarded by everyone as normal wear and tear, except it seems, local jet ski operators and police.

Fact 6. Owners are commercial operators who charge big money for a service. (I estimate they earn more in one day than a supermarket employee makes in a month.)

Fact 7. None of the situations I witnessed involved the jet ski hitting any solid object like another jet ski, boat, hard plastic buoy, etc.

One can confidently predict that the average per month at even just one every hour I was on the beach would exceed 300. Can you imagine the waste of police personnel and resources to manage these stupid complaints? Owners should be chastised by the police if the jet ski has not hit any object and refuse to participate in such nonsense. I surmise that the bias of any resolution is not in favour of the tourist.

This scam if neglected will seriously damage the tourist industry. It will soon end up on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. I intend taking some phone footage of the histrionics I see when farang rightly refuse to pay compensation. I witnessed one angry young lady demanding 10,000B from some Middle Eastern chap only the other day.

Concerned tourist,
Pasha T

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton voted “Person of the Year”

Dear Editor:

What’s this? People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) voted former U.S President Bill Clinton “Person of the Year”? How did Clinton, who has been a hunter and a friend of the poultry industry, suddenly become a hero of the animal rights movement?

What happened is that because of his heart problem Clinton went on a plant based, near vegan diet and is now promoting the benefits of his diet. He says his metabolism has improved and he now weighs what he weighed in high school.

PETA estimates that because of his dietary changes nearly 200 fewer animals will be killed. More importantly he can influence many other people to change their dietary habits.

I once had a letter on vegetarianism published in a Bangkok newspaper on the same day Clinton was in Bangkok and I figure he might have read my letter. I’m not saying that he went on a plant based diet because of me, but it goes to show that you just never know who might read your letter. And that’s why I keep at it.
Eric Bahrt

ATM scams

Hazard of Smoke

Jet Ski rip offs

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton voted “Person of the Year”