Thailand’s Pattaya among world’s worst cities for pickpockets and scams
Samira Vishwas October 30, 2025 10:24 AM

By Hoang Vu  &nbspOctober 29, 2025 | 03:03 pm PT

A boat cruises along a river in Pattaya, Thailand. Photo by Shutterstock

Thailand’s Pattaya, which has one of the world’s largest red light districts, ranked 8th in a list of 10 worst cities globally for pickpockets and scams, a report found.

The city scored 44.43 out of 100 points, with around 3.1 scam mentions recorded in every 1,000 reviews by visitors, according to the report from the U.K.-based insurance price comparison website Compare the Market.

“Pattaya’s lively party scene also attracts opportunists,” the site wrote.

Street vendors and nightlife districts are where travelers need to keep an extra eye on their belongings, it added.

Around a two-hour drive from Bangkok, Pattaya is famous for long, sandy beaches, Buddhist pagodas and nightlife entertainment.

Compare the Market’s study assessed over 75 cities worldwide based on perceived risks of theft or scams, using the number of scams and pickpocketing mentions per 1,000 visitor reviews.

It also evaluated how often visitors expressed concerns about being robbed or mugged at specific locations.

Bangkok was named the world’s worst city for pickpockets and scams.

Phuket, a popular beach destination in Thailand, also appeared on the list, ranking at 9th.

Thailand’s foreign tourist arrivals from Jan. 1 to Oct. 12 dropped 7.54% from the same period a year earlier to 25.1 million, the Tourism Ministry said.


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