Scams in Thailand: know them and protect yourself

Thailand is one of the safest countries in the world (except on the road), the people are friendly and robberies and assaults are extremely rare.

However, in very touristy areas, there are frequent scams that you should be aware of in order to avoid them.

Remember to contact the tourist police

In cases of serious scams that require calling the police, never call the local police unless you have no choice (outside tourist areas).

It is better to call the tourist police (tel: 1155) which was created to defend the interests of foreigners:

See in this regard:
Theft, scams or assault in Thailand, should you contact the police?

What to do if the Thai police stop you and try to extort money from you?

Jewellery scams in Bangkok

Fake ruby scam

During my first trip to Thailand (in 92/93), I had the opportunity to discover the jewellery scam, which claims so many victims every year.

At that time, fortunately, the scheme was not well thought out and I did not fall for it.

This scam consists in making you buy jewels (Sapphire, Ruby...) which in fact have defects and are not worth much, but they sell them to you at a good price by making you believe that you will be able to resell them twice as much when you return to France.

The scenario is often the same: I wanted to visit a temple and a guy told me it was closed, he then invited me to visit other places and put me in the hands of a tuk-tuk who took me to visit a stonecutter's shop.

There, after a quick visit to the workshop, I was offered to buy a stone with the guarantee that I could then sell it for a much higher price on my return to France.

At the time I was young and stupid and it was my first trip to Asia, but to convince me to buy, they showed me photocopies of foreign passports, some of them French, and the spelling of the names was really strange.

Like Enry Latourrre, Pier Duppon, Matieu Richar, that's what got me going and I just walked away, while being called stupid for missing an opportunity to get rich.

Today, the scheme is much more advanced, they even use French swindlers to convince you that you can sell the jewellery back.

If you are still in the area and have been tricked, you can contact the tourist police: their number is: 11 55

Some people have been cheated, but were later reimbursed after calling the tourist police.

Scams in Thailand: the taxi meter

The taxi-meter is always cheaper than the driver's pre-set fare.

Always make sure when you get into a taxi in BangkokThe meter is used well.

Several times I have come across a taxi that offers to take me where I want to go for a pre-determined amount rather than using the meter.

Like, he offers me to go to such and such a place for 200 baht when with the meter it costs 50 baht!

They are often drivers who come and catch you when you get off the bus.

One day I said to one of the drivers in Thai:

"Why should I pay you more when with the meter it's much cheaper?" and he replied: "But because I speak English.

That's the only difference, if you want to make sure that you can make yourself understood by your driver in English, then it might be worthwhile, as many taxi drivers don't speak English.

There is also now a new scam with tampered meters.

See : Passengers victimised by taxi with fake meter in Thailand

Scams in Thailand: drugs

Photo: hd.co.th/

Personally, I have never heard a story of a tourist who was put drugs in their bag "on their own" and then got arrested, as they tell us in the main guidebooks.

But it's worth following the advice to check your belongings before you pass through an airport or border and to protect the locks on your bags.

On the other hand, I was often approached by policemen who wanted to sell me drugs and I saw Thai acquaintances stop at a checkpoint of the traffic police to buy Yaa baa (meta-amphetamine).

But just because drugs are sold to you by a policeman doesn't mean you are safe!

Thai prisons are not known for their comfort and this can cost you a lot of money!

It's not worth it, so it's better not to!

Scams in Thailand: drugs in the glass

Photo: Engin Akyurt

I have heard many stories of travellers or expats who have been drugged, often in gogos bars.

Similarly, I heard stories of girls being drugged by men who wanted to sleep with them.

There are different drugs used, such as GHB, known as the "date-rape drug" and another drug (I don't know the name) that makes the woman unable to control her sexual impulses.

This is no joke, I even have a friend who tried it on his wife with her consent and she was mad with desire, but the next day said it wasn't that bad (about the relationship that followed).

For example, I was told the story of a very pretty Western woman who did not understand how she came to sleep with a French pensioner after a not very drunken evening...

Or, on GHB, a friend who just remembers having a beer and wakes up penniless with no memory of his evening, it's very common!

In any case, always watch your drink when drinking with strangers and finish it if you have to go to the toilet.

And if you feel strange, if you are a woman and you have a very sudden urge to have sex with strange people, change places quickly!

It is also a good idea to carry activated carbon capsules in your bag.

It is a poison and drug repellent, used in liquid form by the US police when dealing with people under the influence of drugs, and activated charcoal can also save you from food poisoning or snake bites!

To ask for activated charcoal in a Thai pharmacy (one tablet costs 20 baht.): activated charcoal capsule : carbon footprint

It is not always understood, there must be a more accurate translation.

See : Drugs in glass: Australian woman speaks out after Thailand trip

Scam, the desperate tourist's trick

Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more common for expatriates to use the "solidarity instinct" of their compatriots to make money.

The technique is simple, the stories multiple, he has had all his belongings and passport stolen, his family has been unjustly arrested by the police, and so they need money to get by.

The sad thing is that these crooks are now making everyone suspicious, even those who are really in trouble!

If you happen to come across such a case, and want to be generous, don't give more than 200 baht, which is enough for eating, phoning or sending emails.

Also ask the person if you can take a photo of them, to raise an alert on the forums about their case, if they refuse the photo it could mean they are a professional scammer or someone who wants to remain anonymous...

The Indian who says "you are a lucky man

I once came across an Indian man who called me out on it, but I didn't stay to argue with him, afterwards I met a Thai woman who had been cheated out of money by him and was very angry.

In fact, they talk about it on English forums, the man is very convincing, will offer to read your future for free and in the end will rip you off for a few hundred baht, or more if you are a good sucker.

So move on if you see one!

Scam in Thailand: higher prices for tourists

Sign with dual pricing, prices for Thai people are marked in Thai characters. Photo: Caitlin Ashworth

I love Thailand and the Thai people, but this is one of the things that really annoys me.

In parks and museums, there is a price for Thais and a price for foreigners, which is understandable, as a tourist generally has a travel budget.

But in some shops, the sellers tend to charge more for foreigners than for Thais and when you have lived in the country for years, this can be tiring.

I could have put it in the topic "Are Thai people racist?" but it's more a stupid and old belief that all "farangs" (foreigners) are immensely rich and don't know what to do with their money.

I often explain to Thais that the standard of living of foreigners from the West has gone down and theirs has gone up, and they are always happy to hear this.

As there are many stories of Thai women who got together with Westerners, girls who were convinced that when they saw them spending money in the country, they had fallen in with a millionaire and who, after the marriage and the departure to the country of their darling, discover with horror that he was rich in Thailand, but that he lives poorly in his country!

Sometimes I use special arguments to avoid being the customer who pays more when I see Thai people richer than me paying the normal price.

As in a boui-boui, I just explained, without accusing anyone, that in France in honest shops the Thais paid the same price as the French, but that there were, as in all countries, places where crooks made foreigners pay more, but that in general, in Thailand, the shopkeepers were honest, because it was a Buddhist duty.

Immediately after I said this, the woman told her husband that I was right and he never charged me again.

Love scam

One of the most common scams, which ruins many foreigners in Thailand every year, is the love scam.

Bar girls are too often seen as victims, which is also true for some, but you have to look at the number of guys who come to have fun and fall into a well prepared trap.

In some bars, the girls learn the psychology of the farang, all the weaknesses of Westerners and how to make them fall in love, and there are many victims, who start sending money every month for a girl who often has several "sponsor" lovers.

In Isan, in the north-east of the country, I met a Thai woman who was with her young English boyfriend, they told me that she had a foreign husband and several other lovers who sent her money every month, and that she explained to them that she had gone to see her family in the countryside!

If you fall in love, I advise you to learn Thai to better understand it, to know the things Do's and don'ts in Thailand to avoid arguments due to cultural misunderstandings and what would also be good, to keep your head on your shoulders, and which can prevent you from doing a lot of stupid things, is tolearning to meditate.

And as a bonus: The words to flirt, love and break up in Thai

Currency scam

When you pay a bill and get change, make sure you count it again, there are too many mistakes.

This may be due to a dishonest person or to the fact that many Thais are bad at maths, unable to do small operations (except for the chinos who often have a calculator in their brain).

So, it happened to me several times to pay, for example, an article of 12 bahts with a 20 bahts note and to see the cashier taking out the calculator.

Beware of counterfeits!

It's not really a scam, as you know, in general, that branded clothes sold on the markets, and even in some department stores, are counterfeit.

If, like me, you're not interested in big brands, make sure you don't have any on you when you return.

You can buy a sports jacket without knowing that it is a copy of a well-known brand and then get caught by customs on your return!

Scams when hiring a scooter or other vehicle

In fact, I'm adding this above the article on jet-ski hire.

Whenever you rent a vehicle, take general and larger photos of scratches and other existing problems.

In general, there will be no problems, but you may run into scammers who will try to charge you for problems that already exist and it is best to take precautions.

Similarly, if you break something, it is usually better to have it repaired by yourself at a garage, as it is usually cheaper, as a normal garage will not charge you the 'tourist' price.

Jet ski rental scam

I've never rented a jet ski, but I've often heard about this scam, so I share the words of an Australian who has lived in Thailand for years:

Mr Smith said tourists should stay away from jet-ski renters.

"I would like to be able to put this phrase in every tourist's passport when they enter the Kingdom," he said.

"Jet ski renters are often swindlers.

Places like Pattaya and Phuket are constantly seeing jet ski companies ripping off tourists.

It does not seem to matter whether the police are brought in or not.

In jet-ski scams, tourists rent a jet-ski and take it for a ride, and when they return it, the owner claims that it has been damaged, charging huge sums, sometimes more than 1,000 $, even though the tourist has done nothing.

"Thais are aware of this scam and are staying well away," said Mr Smith. "I strongly suggest that tourists reading this do the same."

Source: news.com.au

Scams from Thailand to Cambodia: the fake consulate

I've never heard of this scam, but it's good to know, it's explained in the rest of the article quoted above.

This scam targets some tourists who cross the Thai-Cambodian border by taxi or tuk-tuk.

Travellers often pass a large sign saying "Cambodian Consulate" and the driver may stop in front of a large house with enthusiastic staff offering visas for a high price.

These visas are fake and of no use to you, so don't even bother getting out of the car!

Real estate scam in Thailand

You have to read this, I've come across several people who are in trouble because of buying land, sometimes on credit at huge rates just to satisfy their girlfriends:

"There are many ways to get fleeced in Thailand, including by a woman or by a real estate agency.

Sometimes the two go hand in hand when it comes to buying a house.

You have to be Thai to buy land.

This is an unavoidable rule that is recalled in the national anthem.

So how do you go about buying the villa of your dreams?

1 - You are in love with the girl you have been living with for several days, weeks, months ... sometimes years.

You trust her, she is not like the others... According to you.

And then you consider marriage, children ...

Nothing is too good to prove your love.

You decide to buy her a house.

She refuses in order to save her reputation. You insist.

She eventually went to the Land Office, which registered the land in her name.

You will soon realise that you have lost everything... your girlfriend and your house...

2 - An agency will show you a house that matches your budget and expectations.

A wonderful place to spend a happy retirement, as the saying goes!

How do I buy it?

Very simple: you rent the land for a period of thirty years.

At your age, what do you risk? Losing everything beyond the deadline.

You are reassured that you have a clause that allows you to renew the lease for the same period, without being told that this has no legal value.

Needless to say, it will be almost impossible to resell your "long-term lease" if you want to change your life after a few years, or if you have to leave Thailand.

We will tell you the opposite, with evidence and a law to back it up.

Wind :

- two Thai courts found that the 'secured' lease was 'void' in law. - A contract that is declared void is deemed never to have existed.
If other courts uphold the opinion of these two courts, not only will the renewal term of the "guaranteed" leases be invalid, but also the current lease terms.

3 - You decide to create a company, of which you will be the corporate officer, to buy the land and house of your dreams.

This is the most commonly used solution.

It is not without risks, as you will necessarily be in the minority, but these seem limited.

In conclusion, buying a house only makes sense if you want to leave a legacy to your wife and children after your death.

In any other case, at the current rate of the euro and given the dilapidated property market, this is a mistake that should be avoided, especially if you want to have a happy retirement.

There are other ways to throw money away, especially in Thailand.

They are often more pleasant, as long as you are healthy.

Source: Thailand Daily

Scams in Thailand: victims can now claim compensation!

Good news for travellers and bad news for crooks:

Foreign tourists who have been scammed in Thailand can now file a claim with the Thai government.

The Director General of the Department of Tourism, Anant Wongbenjarat, has announced that foreign tourists can file claims with the department if they have been defrauded by registered travel agencies that have failed to provide the services advertised.

The compensation will be paid by the Tourist Business Protection Fund.

The fund requires tour operators with a valid licence to deposit between 10,000 and 200,000 baht depending on the size of their organisation and whether they offer tours from abroad, to abroad or within Thailand.

The fund will then be used to speed up the payment of compensation to tourists who have been cheated by unscrupulous tourism companies.

Once the compensation has been paid to the applicant, the Tourism Department will then collect the money from the tour operator.

If the company does not comply, it will lose its deposit and its licence may be suspended.

However, a claim for compensation can only be made against a registered tour operator.

No claim can be made against an unregistered travel company.

For this reason, Mr Wongbenjarat urged all tourists to first check whether their travel agency is registered with the Department of Tourism.

Visitors can check if a travel agency is legitimate by visiting: tourism.go.th

Tourists who have been scammed by a tourist agency in Thailand can file a claim in person at the Department of Tourism office located at this address:

Department of Tourism (National Stadium) Building 2, 5th Floor, Academic and Tourism Business Protection Fund, Travel and Tour Guide Division, Rama 1 Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Telephone: 0-2219-4010-7 Ext. 717 or 0-2214-1385 Email: [email protected]

Double charging: Thai woman mistaken for Chinese woman scammed in restaurant

I've already mentioned it above, but here is an example of double pricing, fortunately many honest Thais don't practice this shameful scam.

"The affair has been going on for two days and has set the Thai social networks ablaze.

A "Chinese-looking" Thai woman was charged 150 baht for a basil fried pork with a fried egg that costs 80 baht for Thais (the high price, even for Thais, is explained by the fact that the "street restaurant" is in Pratunam).

Pork sautéed with basil leaves

The pork sautéed with basil and a fried egg costs about 50 baths in a normal small restaurant outside the tourist area.

The shopkeeper was interviewed by TV stations.

She said that when she realised her mistake (mistaking a Thai woman for a Chinese woman) she immediately offered to lower the price, but it was too late, the Thai woman had already posted and set the social networks on fire.

TNews found that the shop - Bangkok Street Seafood in Neon Market, Pratunam - displayed photos that did not show prices, but prices were visible on the menus.

Thus, if you order from the photos displayed, the price is up to you, but if you order from the menu, the price is respected.

Thais believe that prices should be the same for everyone (in restaurants) and the authorities might be interested in this case.

Double pricing is easier with the Chinese than with Westerners (especially the French) who are suspicious and ready with their money.

Video on the case :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1mOX48Utls

See also :

Recognise Thai dishes so that you can order them in restaurants

Electricity scam

This is a scam that mainly concerns expatriates or tourists who rent for a long period.

If you are renting a house or flat for any length of time, ask to check the electricity meter and make a note of the consumption, otherwise you could end up paying a lot of money.

Usually, just requiring to see the meter and note the consumption before renting will ensure that they don't try to rip you off on that, but it's not safe either.

If you are renting a house and the cost of electricity or water seems unbelievably high, it is probably because someone from the water or electricity company has arranged to rip you off.

Ask your neighbours or friends to show you their bills to compare, you may be in for a surprise!

What about you? Have you been a victim of a scam in Thailand?

If the answer is yes, you can tell your story in the comments below, it will be useful to other travellers.