Police in Phuket have arrested three foreign nationals after they allegedly attempted to settle a bill at an entertainment venue on Bangla Road using toy banknotes.
Staff at the venue alerted police on April 1 after becoming suspicious of the currency handed over by the group, whose nationalities have not been disclosed. The suspects reportedly used three US$100 notes to pay for food and drinks.
Upon closer inspection, staff discovered the notes were fake and prevented the group from leaving before contacting authorities.
Images shared by local media showed the notes printed on standard paper rather than official currency material, with a clearly different texture and appearance. The notes also carried markings such as “Copy” and “For Toy Only,” indicating they were likely props from a toy or game set.
Under Thai law, the suspects could face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 200,000 baht (approximately RM26,000) if convicted.
The incident follows a similar case in Pattaya last week, where two foreign tourists allegedly distributed fake US dollar notes at Runway Market, initially misleading members of the public, including children.
In another separate case, authorities in Phuket previously reported a foreign man exchanging counterfeit British pound notes, resulting in losses of nearly 40,000 baht (around RM5,100). These incidents have raised ongoing concerns about counterfeit currency circulation targeting tourist-heavy areas in Thailand.
