19-3-2024 (BANGKOK) A Thai man in Pattaya has taken it upon himself to aid a distressed Russian woman in reuniting with her family. The woman, who reportedly suffers from a mental illness, had become isolated and distrustful after falling victim to a scam that left her without any travel funds.
The Thai man, identified as Payu Phochai, embarked on a mission to locate the woman’s family and enlisted the help of social media to spread the word. On March 18, Payu posted photographs and videos of the Russian woman on Facebook, urging his followers to contact him if they had any information regarding her whereabouts. Despite having limited visual documentation, Payu emphasized a distinct snake tattoo on her arm as a distinguishing feature.
According to Payu’s account, the Russian woman had traveled to Pattaya alone and had been targeted by scammers who swindled her out of all her money. Initially, Payu had come across her during his daily routines but dismissed her as a foreign tourist coping with mental health challenges.
However, everything changed when Payu’s brother shared a selfie that inadvertently captured the Russian woman in the background. Recognizing the significance of the image, the woman’s family implored Payu and his brother to locate her and ensure her safety.
Numerous Thai netizens came forward in the comment section of Payu’s posts, sharing sightings of the woman at various locations in Pattaya, including Pattaya Beach, Central Pattaya shopping mall, Pattaya Walking Street, and local restaurants. Witnesses reported her reluctance to engage in conversation and her apparent mistrust, particularly towards Thai individuals. Although she attempted to seek assistance from foreign tourists, her limited command of the English language hindered effective communication.
Grateful for the community’s support, Payu diligently followed up on the leads provided by the online community. On March 19, he finally encountered the Russian woman at Central Pattaya. Despite his best efforts to persuade her to wait for her family, she adamantly refused. Nevertheless, Payu reassured his followers that the woman’s family had arrived in Pattaya to retrieve her. While it remains undisclosed whether the Russian woman has been reunited with her family, Payu pledged his continued assistance to facilitate the emotional reunion.
