Vol. 8 No. 8 ! 1 - 15 January 2009
Volume 8, Issue 8
PATTAYA TODAY 1
1 - 15 January 2009
Fake banknotes in town Alertness needed over New Year THE Bank of Thailand and science department said that a local police have warned real banknote bears the waterthat counterfeit, high denomi- mark of His Majesty the King nation banknotes have been which can be seen only when spotted in Pattaya and other Thai cities. Nopporn Pramojaney, assistant governor of the Bank of Thailand, urged consumers and businesses to watch out for slightly odd looking notes, especially 500 and 1,000 baht types, over the new year period. He explained that counterfeit currency had increased by 80% this year, perhaps as a consequence of hard economic times. A money dealer displays a wad of Already, nearly 20,000 genuine Thai banknotes fake notes had been confiscated, about two thirds of held up to the light. The picture of the King, the them 1,000 baht denomination with a total face value of over letters and the digits showing 12 million baht. Pattaya police the value on the real note have are warning tourists not to buy an embossed feel. Notes of Thai currency at unauthorised 1,000 baht, 500 baht and 100 dealers or on street corners. baht value have reflective and “Having a wad of fake notes holographic metallic strips. can lead to a lot of problems Banknotes of smaller denomiand a lengthy investigation,” a nations are unlikely to attract the attention of counterfeiters. spokesman said. Police say that forged notes Officers at the forensic
are most likely to be used deliberately at night, particularly in bars and night clubs, petrol stations and convenience stores when staff may be less vigilant. The cruder versions of the fake notes are simply copied with cut edges on a laser printer, but the more sophisticated forgeries are more difficult to spot. The tell tale signs are the paper feeling slightly slippery or the lack of a holographic strip. John Curtis, a south Pattaya bar owner, said a Japanese customer had tried to pay his bill with a fake note that vigilant staff noticed in time. Police were called and it transpired that the foreign tourist had innocently bought a bundle of fake money near the
Cambodian-Thai border post at Pong Nam Ron. The visitor, who was not charged but had to surrender 40,000 fake baht, had already used some of the illegal cash in restaurants without anyone noticing. Much of the fake currency, according to police, originates in Cambodia and some of it is used in drugs transactions and money laundering bypassing all bank transactions. The user of fake banknotes could face a lengthy jail sentence, although police say they are fully aware that some holders are the victims of a scam. Incidentally, it is no defence to say that your fake currency was used to pay for counterfeit goods such as non-copyright clothes, watches or DVDs commonly on sale
Pattaya tourism up and down ALTHOUGH the Tourism Council of Thailand estimates that 3 million tourists won’t be coming to the country this year, the local Pattaya scene has mixed signals. Many bars, hotels and restaurants report income is at least 20% down on
last year and many owners attribute this state of affairs to the airport siege which ended in early December. Several restaurants approached by Pattaya Today said the numbers booking for Christmas and New Year dinners
25 BAHT
in Pattaya. Two wrongs don’t make a right in this particular context! were down markedly on last year. Many entrepreneurs say in particular the Russian tourist boom of recent years has come to a shuddering halt. The Russian stock market has lost half its value this year and Moscow based property shares have fallen as much as 90%. Continued on page 2