Most of you have read many articles or have heard many stories of Scams or ways of emptying your pockets here in Thailand. Everything I have read deals with Thai ladies eating away at your money until it is gone. The usuall stuff, like buying her a motor bike, a car, even better; a house! Now let's send Money home to her Village and to Mama. Of course we have all seen and heard this.
Then comes the Scams at the beach or on walking street. We know about these as well. The young children attempting to sell you trinkets or gum in the beer bars, we all know to watch our pockets, telephones, and wallets, These little dariings are expert pick-pockets. Once again we know this.
Now for the part that is not written or talked about very often. The farang that meets you and since he lives here he wants to show you where to go. He is extremely helpful, and even better he is a fellow countryman. Many of these people look at you as "fresh off the boat". You only know what the first 2 paragraphs states.
Well welcome to the Pattaya farang that figured out he has come here to young and cannot collect any retirement income for another 10 years or more. His funds won't last him another year without working, and he hasn't gone to khao san road in Bangkok to purchase a University diploma. Well, this guy will show you where to invest your money. Bring you to Condo's and act like he has a real estate business. He does, in his own mind. He will try to get the biggest bang for your dollar, pound or Euro.
You may find yourself with a property, in your name. But most likely you have paid way too much. I'm not saying you won't end up with nothing just over charged for what you are getting. You will be better stopping at someones real estate office or going direct. You may save yourself 7% of that asking price for the 3rd party involved, the 3rd party is your new friend of course. Remember he still needs money to stay here.
As a wise person that you are, "this won't happen to me". You can find yourself getting absorbed in many different ways here in Pattaya. As you have heard since you where a child, watch who you choose as friends. There are many great people here in Pattaya and I would like some of them to add "what to watch for" before being taken... to this topic.