Bangkok Scams
KC: Bangkok is a veritable quagmire of scams, tricks and deceit operated by organised gangs, individuals, companies and establishments and I would like to open up discussion on scamming on this website. I have been contacted by a reader regarding the ‘tourist mafia’ scams operated by unscrupulous wide-boys in the tourist hot-spots such as Central World and the Erawan Shrine. These scams usually involve a well-dressed Thai spinning lies to tourists about site closures in order to lure them to their own pits of extortion, such as gem shops. Other rip-offs include entrapment, discriminatory pricing and airport extortion (see this recent article in the Times). These scams are famous and have been well documented. The key issues are the involvement of police and other officials in the scams and the lack of effort to disrupt the scamming and warn tourists by the Tourist Authority of Thailand, the authorities are not simply ignoring this vast web of deceit, they are complicit in it. Trickery and scamming is of course not unique to Thailand and exists the world over, but it is endemic here and exists at almost every level, from overcharging in clubs, bars and restaurants (always check your bills people) to the obvious fleecing of unsuspecting tourists who return home with tales of Thai smiles unaware the proboscis of criminality has sucked at their every satang.
This website covers Bangkok scams in more detail: http://www.bangkokscams.com/
I encourage readers to air their own experiences of scams, corruption, dirty tricks and dodgy venues by commenting on this post.
July 4th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Hi there,
I found you on twitter. There is no doubt that Bangkok has it’s scams but it is also one of the safest cities in the world.
There is little or no street crime and the ‘over charging’ in bars etc is a thing of the past. I have never seen it and as a regular in the darker sides of the city then I am sure that I would have head of it.
July 4th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
While scams are undoubtedly an issue in Thailand, if people visiting take care, educate themselves on the common scams and, well, generally use their common sense, they’re unlikely to have any problems. I wrote a story to this point earlier this week - perhaps of interest: http://www.travelfish.org/feature/144 basically picking up on the fact that while for sure some people have problems, the vast vast vast majority of people have no problems.
July 4th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I ran a Bangkok Tour Co for several years. The scamming of our visitors is really out of control.
The biggest, most profitable scams have been taken over by the Police and every lowlife in town seems to have a free pass to defraud visitors.
If you want to have an idea of what tourist are up against these day, take a look at the below photos.
Here is the gang of professional tourist scammers at the Grand Palace, Bangkok’s #1 tourist site..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29324583@N05/sets/72157616768273247/detail/
Erawan Shrine Tourist Mafia:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21533131@N06/sets/72157616786296908/detail/
Silom Rd Tourist mafia:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29324583@N05/sets/72157616886160455/detail/
This gang intercepts tourists staying on Soi 18 & 20:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29324583@N05/sets/72157618019269526/detail/
Thai Officials fleecing visitors:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29324583@N05/sets/72157617714418287/detail/
Taxi scammers lurking outside every hotel;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29324583@N05/3508593571/in/set-72157617806940302/
July 5th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Stuart,
I agreed, if you are a seasoned traveler, the scams can be minimized. Nobody gets out of here without being defrauded at least once.
That’s why they always ask “first time to Thailand?” If you have been here a few days, you most likely have been scammed or are un-scammable.
It sure leaves a bad impression to our visitors though. You leave a hotel and they pounce on you. ..and it’s relentless. You have to swat these smiling bastards away like flies.
After a few days, tourists are under the impression that everybody is out to get them.
I think the TAT owes it to their guests to warn them.
They could have it included in their “welcome to Thailand” video I have seen on International flights or a notice in hotels. Something for guests to read before taking their first stroll around town with their map and camera.
This would put many of the scammers out of business.
Is someone at TAT deliberately ignoring this?
The video I saw actually encourage gem shopping!
By the way, I have seen this guy has been defrauding tourists at the Erawan Shrine for years:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21533131@N06/3655794935/in/set-72157616786296908/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21533131@N06/2728001538/in/set-72157616786296908/
Interesting, he sits on a Police Motorbike, no?
July 5th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Has anyone experienced over-charging at Mojos (Sukhumvit 33)? I have been overcharged three times there now and each time I complain the waitress has simply returned the bill to the cashier and come back with the correct bill. The third time this happened I asked to speak to the manager and she totally over-reacted, claiming that I was drunk and had lost track of the drinks I had ordered. She also lined up the waitresses and asked me to name the ones that had returned incorrect bills (which I refused to do). The manager had guilt written all over her face and I believe Mojos may be running a scam operation and ripping customers off as a matter of practice. A friend of mine has also been over-charged at Mojos on more than one occasion. Has anyone else had this problem at Mojos or any other BKK establishments?
July 5th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I think they gem thing is blown way out. I am in the gem business and don’t sell in Thailand. Here in Thailand anyone who buys on a tourist visa has a 1 year 100% cash back enforceable by law.
People only get scammed when they think they are gems sellers. They believe they can sell gems which they generally buy for 50% less than in a shop in the West but when they get home they find out they are shop workers not gem dealers. Yes they are sold to by the unscrupulous scum bag but the reality is they generally are motivated by their own greed and pay far less than they would in the UK.
Now in the UK they do the gem scam everyday in the jewellery shops with no comebacks. You buy gold you walk out you lose 90% of it’s value. Not so here in Thailand.
Thailand is one of the best places to buy gems in the world in a shop but of course the best bargains are from online dealers such as myself
I am in now way a Asianphile but compared to Bali or Jakarta, you will almost certainly only rarely get scammed and only then if you a careless or greedy.
July 5th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
@Gary. I too have had similar problems at Mojos. I have been overcharged, twice to my knowledge but possibly more. There are loads of rich guys drinking in there and buying ladies drinks, I doubt they ever check their bills. Not sure if it’s a matter of practice or if the owners are in on it. From your account sounds like the manager knows the score. Shame, because it is a fantastic place otherwise.
July 6th, 2009 at 6:46 am
MORE AIRPORT EXTORTION REPORTS. Foreign Doctor extorted & terrorized by Thai Authorities
“I spent all day at the police station and prosecutor’s office. My understanding from both the police chief and the prosecutor is that there is no case to answer. They said that my passport would be returned and Immigration Police would stamp me out of the country”.
But when she went to Immigration Police Headquarters on Friday she said she was arrested again.
Close to tears she said: “We do not know what is going on. We do not trust anybody.
“I have only been to Bangkok once before, twenty years ago, after I left University.
“Then my friends and I fell for the local jewellery scam. By the time we reached Australia we had virtually no money left”
Dr Norris.
FULL STORY HERE:
http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2009/07/05/irish-scientist-escapes-thai-airport-shoplifting-charge-in-flight-to-freedom/
July 6th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I am afraid that the overcharging is a thing of the past is not quite correct and that it is now worse than ever. There is total corruption in Bangkok and it is not a safe place at all. You have to be aware of this when you come here and you can then have a good holiday. I am fluent in Thai after 26 years here and I am appalled at the state of things here now. The latest airport shoplifting scam has been going on for years. It happened to me 11 years ago in a major Bangkok shopping mall in town. I was framed by security guards and a drunken off duty cop. I did not pay them I fought for 2 years and won. I suggest others do the same and never pay a bribe as they will always want more after. The cars parked at most police stations and government building should say enough. They could never afford them with their salaries. It’s like a BMW or Benz showroom in many of such places. People who live in a fantasy world thinking it is normal here or “getting better” should do a reality check at once.
July 7th, 2009 at 4:53 am
Police shaking down small business owners.
“I heard from a friend who’s wife owned an internet cafe that they got shaken down for a hefty fine for having “copied” Thai music on one of the computers.
One day a couple of guys came in and dropped some files on a machine. They were followed in about an hour or two later by some “officials” from the copyright police along with some real coppers who confisated the computer and served them a summons. At first he thought he would have to drop someone a couple of grand but it ended up costing him nearer 25 if I recall.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:34 am
I managed to run into one of the typical scams the first time here.
‘closed due to holiday’
And while I am a seasoned traveller (as was the man) we still managed to get routed to a different destination via tuk tuk. We’ve lived and travelled all over the world, but the Thais take scamming to a totally different level.
And even though we warned them, friends visiting us in BKK experienced their own version of the same. They were going to the Palace when their taxi driver dropped them off at the side instead of the front entrance. On purpose.
Our friends ended up being taken to tailor and came home quite happily with extra clothes being delivered later.
They had no complaints. They said that they already knew that Thailand is a ‘land of dishonesty’ so totally expected to take that experience home along with their new clothes.
What worries me the most is the airport scam. I’m not quite sure how I’d react if I got into that muddle as I’m not exactly a diplomatic person at times. It could possibly be a toss up.
The only thing I have going for me is the Thais I know. I’ve been instructed as who to call in these situations and that I should keep quiet and just make that call. We’ll see…
July 7th, 2009 at 10:08 am
@Catherine
I remember on my first trip here being told that Siam Square was closed which I found hard to believe. I did get taken to a ‘gem shop’ by a Tuk Tuk who I had asked to take me to Wat Pho. It was an unnerving experience and I certainly wasn’t inclined to make a purchase. Interesting that your friends had already described Thailand as a “land of dishonesty”, shows the negative impact of the quagmire of scams operated in Thailand.
I agree that the airport extortion is worrying, especially for tourists without contacts here.
@Club Siam
Small business owners being targeted is also worrying and shows that it is not just unsuspecting tourists that are victims of scammers. Are we seeing an upsurge of scamming recently?
It is difficult to ascertain the level of overcharging in pubs and bars as most probably go undetected. I don’t think it has been relegated to history just yet and is not limited to the seedier bars.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
We weren’t headed towards any place in particular. We were at the Narai Hotel and just walked down the street to see what was around. Some guy walked up and said he was a policeman (he probably was), waved his arms in the direction we were headed and said that it was closed. And while we thought it was curious, we were just wandering around anyway so went with the flow.
What they might not have been prepared for was a hard bargainer who could make a Morrocan merchant cry
July 10th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
King Power have released a video of the British couple “falsely accused” of stealing at the airport (see Times article linked to in above post which claims: “An official release order from the local Thai prosecutor’s office subsequently conceded there was no evidence against them.”) Well, the evidence looks pretty clear to me: http://www.kingpower.com/2009/popup/pop_case2.html
In the video we can clearly see Xi Lin putting an item into her bag and hurrying out of the shop.
July 11th, 2009 at 4:26 am
I think the issue here is how the authorities handled the situation.
Threatened with a year in jail.
Set up with a fake lawyer.
Kept in a short time room.
This story stinks to high heaven.
According to the Sri Lanka guy, he has pulled this scam 160 times.
What other games are they playing out there and how far will it escalate.
They are using the excuse of a petty theft to kidnap and demand ransom.
This is going on at Thailand’s brand new International Airport.
Go thru this thread and decide if Thailand deserves your tourist dollars.
http://www.bangkokscams.com/scams-in-bangk…#jc_allComments
20 year extortion racket run on tourists at one of Thailand’s main tourist attractions.
Dozens of people a day are threatened, attacked, intimidated here.
July 11th, 2009 at 4:38 am
Better link
http://www.bangkokscams.com/scams-in-bangkok/patpong-sex-show-scam.html#jc_allComments
July 20th, 2009 at 9:02 am
BBC NEWS and Thai Airport Scams
This is bad, very bad news.
BBC is doing follow ups on the Airport Extortion story.
This will cost million and millions to the Thai tourism industry.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8154497.stm