PATTAYA — An Indian entrepreneur has reported the disappearance of a luxury rental car in Pattaya, alleging a sophisticated scam by a Thai renter who vanished after hiring the vehicle last month. The case has raised concerns about organized crime targeting the city’s car rental industry.

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P.K., 54, filed a complaint with Pattaya City Police on August 19, stating that a white-and-black Toyota with Chon Buri license plate JPH 9160 was rented on July 28 and due for return on August 11. The renter, a Thai man, severed contact and disabled the car’s GPS tracker before disappearing.

“This was deliberate deception,” P.K. told police through an interpreter. “If the intentions were honest, they would have communicated or returned the car.” He estimates the vehicle’s value at 1.5 million baht and fears the loss could cripple his small business.

P.K. urged authorities to expand the investigation, noting similar incidents among other rental operators. Pattaya police confirmed they are tracing the vehicle and pursuing fraud charges, acknowledging that rental scams often involve vehicles being dismantled for parts or sold with forged documents.

The case underscores vulnerabilities in Pattaya’s rental market, where transient tourists and short-term agreements enable sophisticated fraud. P.K. hopes recovery efforts will deter future crimes and restore confidence in local businesses.

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Police advise rental companies to enhance security protocols, including real-time GPS monitoring and verified customer identification, to prevent similar losses.

-Thailand News (TN)