Jagat players stand to gain as much as $8,000 for a coin that they find. -- PHOTO: THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Thai teenagers playing the Jagat coin hunt game have trespassed on Pattaya Water Space, a prominent Thai traditional show venue, and other private properties while searching for Jagat coins that can be redeemed for cash.
Pattaya Water Space announced on its Facebook page on Jan 23 that it has no affiliation with the Jagat game app, which originates from Indonesia, and barred the game players from entering its premises to search for coins.
Pattaya Water Space features a large stage for showcasing Thai traditional performances and offers year-round water-splashing activities similar to those enjoyed during the Songkran festival.
The company revealed in its Facebook post that the operator of the Jagat game in Thailand had reportedly sent staff to sneak onto its property to hide Jagat coins. The locations were then marked on the app’s map, encouraging players to trespass on the premises.
Pattaya Water Space also reported that several players had caused damage to its property, including prying open fixtures in their quest to find the coins.
Much like the once-popular Pokemon Go game, the Jagat coin hunt game uses GPS mapping to indicate general locations where coins are hidden, prompting players to visit these areas to collect them.
However, unlike Pokemon Go, where players capture virtual creatures, Jagat involves staff physically hiding coins at specific locations.
The app advertises that gold coins can be exchanged for 200,000 baht (S$8,000), silver coins for 20,000 baht, and bronze coins for amounts ranging from 500 baht to 2,000 baht.
It became available for download in Thailand on Jan 15, and has launched coin-hunting activities in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
Besides Pattaya Water Space, Jagat players have reportedly caused disturbances at various tourist attractions where coins were allegedly hidden. They have entered private properties without seeking permission and have sometimes damaged property in their searches.
Reports also surfaced of game players digging frantically on Pattaya Beach, causing chaos and alarming foreign tourists.
Previously in Chiang Mai, teenage players were accused of breaking into a residential property while searching for a coin, causing damage by stepping on plants, digging the soil, climbing a fence, and breaking into a locked fire extinguisher cabinet.
The Chiang Mai police issued a warning on Jan 20 that players could face trespassing charges if they enter private homes or properties.
A shopping mall in the province also issued a ban to stop Jagat players from entering its premises.
The Thai police warned players that they might be tricked into subscribing to certain online services while using the app, which could result in weekly, monthly, or yearly charges.
Also, by sharing their location through the app, players could be exposed to potential criminal activity, including robbery, the police cautioned. -- THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
