Question 1

What is the "Crypto Romance Pig Butchering Scam" scam in Phuket?

Accepted Answer

Scammers on dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble establish a romantic connection with tourists or expats in Phuket before introducing a guaranteed cryptocurrency investment platform. The platform shows rising profits and allows small early withdrawals to build trust. When victims invest larger sums the platform locks their account and demands fees to release funds. In April 2026 Thai police arrested an FBI-wanted syndicate leader at a Phuket luxury resort whose network had stolen over 10 million USD from victims internationally. Never mix romance with unsolicited investment advice. Legitimate investment platforms are not introduced through dating apps. If someone you met online pushes cryptocurrency opportunities, treat it as a scam regardless of how credible their profile appears.

Question 2

What is the "Credit Card Double-Swipe Fraud" scam in Phuket?

Accepted Answer

At bars, restaurants, and shops in Patong, cashiers run a customer card through a secondary skimming device before or after the legitimate terminal, capturing card data for fraudulent charges later. Victims typically notice unexplained charges on their statements days or weeks after leaving Phuket. The scam is documented at venues along Bangla Road and Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Road in Patong. Keep your card in sight at all times during payment. Use tap-to-pay or a dedicated travel card with instant transaction notifications enabled. Review your bank statement daily during your stay and report unfamiliar charges immediately.

Online Scams in Phuket

Crypto Romance Pig Butchering Scam

Credit Card Double-Swipe Fraud

Experienced a scam here?