Jet ski operator before driving his ski up onto the beach
Jet ski operator giving instructions to the unlucky first timers.
I witnessed a jet ski scam in the making at Laemg sing beach - the jet ski was damaged a tiny bit and the guy wanted 5 times what it would cost to fix/loss of earnings. Tourist police were called and several hrs later the tourist was paying the real cost and not the inflated scam one!!
So, if you are getting scammed call the tourist police who are usually very fair and helpful! Thanks to the team at luxury-phuket.com for their tips.
Personally, we have also witnessed the jet ski scam in operation, one jet ski operator at Patong Beach launched his ski up onto the beach, just missing beach chairs and trailers parked on the beach. About an hour later a japanese couple took the jet ski out and on their return were questioned about supposed damages to the ski.
If you do hire a jet ski, make sure you look over the ski before taking it out and if you have any concerns take pictures or simply just don't hire the ski.
You will also find many stories reported of Jet ski operators claiming damages reported by the local online newspaper the Phuket Wan. This story was reported on the 11th October. Go to phuket-tourists-irked-jet-ski-extra-payment
This young tourists managed to record his experience how the jet ski operators claim for damages. Dont say you haven't been warned.
Beware the Jet ski scam is not just isolated to Phuket beaches, this video was shot on another popular Thailand beaches, Pattaya.