Cheating activities and daily scams in Pattaya and Thailand.
A warning for those who stay here a long time, living here or want to visit a holiday to this beautiful country. You have scams everywhere in the world, specially in the tourist area's of the many nice holiday destinations, so Thailand have them also. Be careful, it can happened to you as well, just be aware for the many scam activities on different levels here. Nobody want to be scammed when you enjoyed your paradise holiday destination at "The land of the Smile". Try to save yourself, don't be a victim and watch out for all those scams.
It's a nightmare when it will happened to you, and don't think it: "It will not happened to me, i am not that stupid". It happen here every day and you will be not the first One and for sure also not the last. There are really many nightmare stories from people who visited Thailand and came home with a strange feeling about this great country. The only thing what you can do is to try to protect yourself and always think that it can be happen, every where where i am and what i do. It can destroy your holiday and nobody wants that.
Scam warnings.
There are so many scams and you have them on all different levels, For the beginning, the system here have a Two priced system. What means that Thailand handle a two prices system; One for the Thai national and One for the foreigner, also know as the "Farang". As example, the national parks in Thailand, in the most parks here you pay more then the Thai people. The Fee for Thai's is 40 Baht and don't be surprised that you as foreigner, expat or tourist have to pay 400 Baht. It is what it is and the only way is to accept it and don't make it to difficult for you, just accept it.
At some places it is possible to pay the same fee if you can show your Thai driver license, but the last years also that license will not help you all the time. The authorities don't care, you still a foreigner and you still have to pay more, and again, just accept it, avoid problems and don't lose your temper, before you know you have big problems, it's not worth at all.
About the cheating activities.
There are scams, there are nightmare stories of scamming the farang, the foreigner on holiday, the expat with a small pension who live here, business people who have to stay here for a few day's. Scam the foreigner, sounds like a nice Thai game, It's there, we hear about, we see it, but there is little what you can do about it and till now so little have done to this illegal practices. Myself, my mates, my friends, nearly everybody i know have a story about this what can happened in this amazing country, in all cases and stories the Thai try to cheat them or them friends.
It's a very easy way for the Thai to get her of his money from you, mostly with help from others aas witnesses and/or the police, who most are involved in the scam. But, anyway; aalways reporting to the police and meke it publicity, it's the only way what you can do. Say it again; an easy way to scam the people on vacation, it's for them a game, a way to survive, a way to live, but for you it can be a very hard nightmare on your dream holiday. There are many "Scam Artists" at work.
Examples about the activities of the scams.
You rent a motorbike or a scooter.
For One day, for a few day's for a week or more. First of all try to rent from reputable companies, it's not easy, the most just are near the street to rent out. Firts of all; Check your insurance, make a lot pictures of it, and when you see some damaged, tell them and add it on the contract paper. Many are stolen just after One day, because you rent, you drive away, another will follow you, know where you stay, they have the key's and take the bike away in the night. The only way what you can do is change the locker, it cost a few Baht, but it's not easy to open it. Always lock it, everywhere where you park it. If the renter steal the bike back, you have a problem and have to pay, and also in those cases, the police is mostly involved in this scam.
Look out for pickpockets.
They are everywhere on the busy places. In the busy Baht buses, when you walking in busy area's as shopping malls, markets, events, festivals or just on the busy streets. Also on the motorbike, if you carry a handbag, be very carefull, beter wear it in front of you and don't wear it over your shoulder, before you know, they grapped it from you and dissapear fast, and you have to be lucky that you not fall down on the street.
Do you like to sit down somewhere at as example an outside bar, look out for the pick pockets and the bar hawkers. You are enjoying your drink and relaxing at a tropical evening, you are in a holiday mood, but be careful when the hawkers come near to you. Specially the very young, mostly Cambodian/Myanmar girls who working for groups and try to sell some chewing gum, roses or other small items. Take care, you can lose easy your telephone or your wallet, and when you not lucky maybe both.
Internet Cafe's.
You have internet places where you can sit down behind a computer for 30 or 40 Baht a hour. Before you have a lot from those shops, but with the modern mobile phones this time, it's going down fast with those places. But, if you are using a place to as example to check your accounts, be carefully with your passwords at the internet cafes, the most are riddled with many different kind of keystrokes and spy ware to get any account names and passwords, they can steal when you log in. Don't be naive and be aware on those computers.
If you buy something, ask for the price, you know for sure what you have to pay, always show your money and tell to the seller "This is a 500 Baht note" or "This is a 1000 Baht note. When you get your change money, count it always when you buy something. If you order in a restaurant and you want to pay, check the bill, be sure there is only a bill for what you had order, and also here, always check your change money, Alway's and everywhere.
ATM fraud and the gangs.
Those scammers are in the most cases other foreigners and working in groups. They try to steal or copy your ATM card information. When you need a bank or an ATM machine go to a big bank and if it is possible, a bank in a shopping center. If you are doing your activity and your transaction, don't teleephone and don'd speak with some one. Concentration on what you do, on your transaction, and remember; every week people are arrested for fraud and skimming in Thailand.
Jet Ski.
The well know "Jet Ski Scam", every day tourists are scammed on a beach somewhere in Thailand. In Pattaya, Phuket or at a beautiful tropical island. Also here before you rent, have a good look at the Jet Ski and make photo's. Renting a Jet Ski is a risk, when you finished your running time, the vendors will complaining you about a damage Jet Ski. At this moment you have a serious problem, because the vendors working in the most cases together with the local authorities and that makes you very weak here. One good advice: Don't rent and don't have problems, is that simple, Don't rent a Jet Ski.
Drugged and robbed.
Many are coming alone to this nice country and you will not the first One that be being robbed after being drugged. Try to think simple to protect yourself; Never accept a drink, an open bottle, food, a piece or fruit from people you don't know. It sounds weird, but it can protect you for sure. There are daily cases that people are be drugged and be robbed, be aware of this and be sure that it can be happened here. If you don't know the person, don't take the "unknow people" to your room. Don't be naive, it can be happened to every one; wake up on a beach in only your underwear and for the rest you lose completely all and you don't know what happened before.
Most of those "Drugged and robbed" activities made by working girls, we can call it the "Short time scam". You met some one, you like her/him, so beautiful and cute, and you decide it to take them to your place where you stay. Believe it or not, those ones smell it, they know excactly that you like them and before you know, you wake up late afternoon and you be alone, really alone. You be drugged, safety box is empty, your visa cards and/or credit cards are gone, mobile phone, computer, passport and all your cash is gone. You don't want have that terrible feeling, try to protect yourself.
The Thai scam artists, very bad "Mama San's", the "Boss of the girls" of the entertainment venues, bad working scamming employees, taxi drivers, lawyers in Bangkok and much more. Take care, that's not all, there are a lot scams activities around.
More ripp offs and tricks.
The gem scam.
Many people involved with this classical Thai scam. Remarkle is the effort from all those Thai people who are involved. You met some strangers and they tell you that you for a bargain can buy some nice expensive gems. After whe you agree, is the game on, and before you know you have paid a lot of money for some cheap peaces of glass, be careful and 'SAY NO' when a stranger approaches you and invites yo to a jewelry shop.
Fake baht scam.
Normally this happens with a 1000 Baht bill. The store owner takes the bill to examine whether it is genuine, however, out of sight from you, he exchanges the bill for a fake one and comes back, he says it is a fake bill, you put it away again and you take another bill. So you have paid twice and you have a counterfeit bill with you. Always keep an eye on your money.
Tuk tuk driver scams.
Most people who want to rip you off rely on the gullibility of foreigners, some friendly tuk tuk drivers work with store owners, and earn a lot of money when they drop you off in front of the store. The tuk tuk drivers will find out what you want to buy, what you want to visit and will tell you that the store is too expensive and that he knows another place that is cheaper. They will also tell you that the tourist place you want to visit happens to be closed today, but the driver will know another nice tourist attraction, mainly temples and Buddhas. Everything is a lie and the man is paid for it, by the store owner and by the people selling the tickets.
Bird seed or bracelet scam.
A Thai comes up to you and puts an unsolicited bracelet on your wrist and says it is a gift, or the friendly man gives you a bag of birdseed for free, he then says that you can give it to the birds. Then you are told to pay it and when you say that you not pay they make a lot of noise and screaming to get attention, it's a scene you didn't ask for. Don't accept a gift from strangers on the street, Don't let them push you, just refuse it. Be polite, just say no "Mai aow" (I don't want to) and walk on quietly with a smile.
Scam is around the world, it happened any where, think about that before you called the kingdom of Thailand the "Land of Scams". It's a great and beautiful place, with an easy going life style and Thailand is a great country to live and spend your time.
Pattaya, like any tourist destination, can have its share of scams aimed at tourists. Some common scams in Pattaya include overcharging for goods and services, such as inflated prices for taxi rides or inflated prices for goods at markets. Other scams include fake gems or counterfeit products, and "friendly" locals who offer to show tourists around the city but then take them to shops where they receive commissions for bringing in customers.
Another common scam in Pattaya and other tourist areas in Thailand is the "gem scam," where a person is approached by someone claiming to be a gem dealer and is offered a "once in a lifetime" deal on gems. The gems are often fake or overpriced, and the person may be pressured into buying them.
It is also common for tourists to be approached by street vendors or tuk-tuk drivers who offer to take them to see a "ping-pong show" or other adult entertainment, but then take them to a location where they are pressured to pay exorbitant fees or threatened.
It is important to be aware of these scams and to exercise caution when interacting with strangers in Pattaya or other tourist areas in Thailand. It is always good to be skeptical of unsolicited offers and to do research on prices and gems before buying anything.