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              Thailand Scams & things to watch

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Bangkok

Bangkok is a fun city and most of the tyime one can enjoy them selves but underneath you still must be careful. Heres a few hints on what can happen and what to beware of.

PASSPORTS IN BANGKOK:

If can be a nightmare if you lose your passport. Try to remember your number as this is important and keep copies in your baggage as well back in your home so you can call your folks. In Cambodia and Laos this can lead to a nightmare as many countries do not have embassies there??? Travelers are advised to immediately report to the police and their respective embassy or consulate. By law even motorcycle renters should not keep your passport as collateral so always have copies on you and pay the money rather than leave your passport. Have on your mobile Tourist Police number & your Embassy logged in. It may just help you.

TRAVEL LIGHT:

Travelling light in Thailand is recommended and pack your belongings in a way that any loss will be minimal and would not hinder your trip. Don't keep all your pingers in your wallet just in case you lose it. It is a good idea to rent a safety deposit box at a bank to keep your valuables if you plan to be in Thailand for a while and even a dairy of who you meet and where youre going. There are lockups at the airport but these are dear and make sure you have locks on your bags as they have lost many items in the past. The railway also has a good lock up so carry just what you need for your travelling upstate.

CREDIT CARDS IN BANGKOK:

In Bangkok there are organized gangs specializing in credit card fraud from foreign gangs to Thais. Often the Police catch foreigners with multiple credit cards & machines. But also some shop oweners will take advantage of you. As protection, always use your credit cards at known or established businesses, and keep an eye on your card at all times as they will zip zap it and use again. Unscrupulous merchants are known to run credit card through the card machine several times for just one purchase. Those extra copies of receipt will then be used for future “clean swipe” purchases with forged signature by the gang. If you are suspicious do not use the card again but check on your CC base because if used in the country where you think it might have been zapped you are then liable. Also don't leave in Guesthouse safe depsoits in Khao San RD. Tourism Authority of Thailand or the Tourist Police. Tel. 1155/694 14 60/678 68 00-9"

PROSTITUTION:
Tourists must be aware that THE Prostitution Prevention and Suppression Act enacted in 1996 includes punishment for procurers, brothel operators, as well as clients. Anyone caught having sex with prostitutes under 15 years of age can be jailed for two to 20 years and/or fined up to 400,000B. Anyone caught having sex with a child under 13 can receive life imprisonment. You find many moonlight in the sex trade even those with other jobs during the day to supplement the income.

BEING RIPPED OFF ON YOUR BILL :

Prices for merchandise, service, and entertainment vary from place to place. Always bargain or negotiate but be careful when you have a meal and itemize as you go especially at seafood restaurants. They tend to hike the bills especially when a Tuk Tuk takes you. This year alone some tourists have been charged up to 45,000 baht for a seafood meal for 6 people so take care & remember what you order write the prices down and inspect the bill. If a problem call the TAT (Thailand Tourism Authority). Most notorious overcharges usually occur in the red-light district of major cities, especially in Bangkok (Patpong) and Soi Cowboy but moreso in the upstairs go gos in Patpong. Tourists are lured into these establishments with the promise that they can view sex shows for free with cheap drinks available --(they carry signs outside). Once inside, they must order drinks (sometimes unknowingly offered) that may cost hundreds to thousands of baht. Unless they settle the bill with the establishment, they will have a bunch of thugs and be coerced into paying the bill. Not nice and do not pay in 1000 baht notes as chances are the waitress will say no it was only 500 baht??? Best of all keep away from those upstairs Patpong joints. Other places are seafood restaurants like in Chiangmais Anusarn Market night bazaar as we were caught some years back. If prices are not on the menu ask and write down each one so at least you know. Tourism Authority of Thailand or the Tourist Police. Tel. 1155/694 14 60/678 68 00-9"

 

TREKKING UP COUNTRY :

Always use licensed, reliable guides for any treks. Trekking on your own can be a valuable experience but should not be done without prior research with knowledgeable people. Trekking alone, especially if traveler is a female, is discouraged because of the safety risks and this year in 2007 there has already been a lot of robberies on tourists so the situation is not good. Book when you get to Chiangmai etc not in Bangkok as you find the trek and prices a lot different. Every Hotel and Guesthouse you stay in will have a local trek and info so use them. They get a cut (commission) but you can usually read their guestbook of what others thought of their treks &. make sure you read the Lonely Planet for places to stay.

Rental Car Scam

Some unscrupulous rental car agencies make money by staging accident on your rental car and have you pay exuberantly for the damages. They threaten arrest if you refuse to pay so only use reputable rental companies like Avis and Hertz etc. To secure a rental car, these rental agencies will request that you release your passport and sign a rental contract (you will not get a copy of this contract). While driving the car, someone on a vehicle (usually a motorcycle) will run into you on the side or from behind. Immediately, police will be on the scene to issue you a citation for failure to yield to other vehicle and causing injury. In most cases, the police may try to talk you into paying for “injuries” of the person(s) on the motorcycle and damages to the motorcycle on the spot to settle the case before you can be let go. The police may not issue any police report of the accident. The rental contract may now be altered and the rental agency will make you pay unreasonably high repair fees. Again, you will be threatened with arrest and your passport will not be returned to you unless you pay for accident you allegedly caused. Tourism Authority of Thailand or the Tourist Police. Tel. 1155/694 14 60/678 68 00-9"

Job Scams

Watch out for Thais offerign you jobs then taking you to a house and waiting for the agent. They try to get you to play cards then scam you.

Tuk Tuks and Taxis outside Hotels

Avoid them like the plague and if no meter then walk down the road. most Hotels are run by mafia types who have a set number of cars & tuktuks and only they can pick up tourists from your Hotel. Tuktuks get a cut if they take you to a seafood restaurant where you will be ripped off. Avoid them like the plague. They also get a cut from tailors etc and lets face it theres many places in walking distance so who needs a tuktuk. ASK THE PRICE BEFORE YOU GO. If they say 20baht which is cheap then watch out??

Bowl of fruit or peanuts in Karaoke Bars

Some bars will bring you all sorts of delights. Ask the price first as you will find the cost is out of this world. Just refuse them. Remember nothing is free and these joints love you guys.

YOUR EMBASSY:

If staying in Bangkok make sure you list your Embassy tel number into your mobile phone. It may help you

NOT JUST BANGKOK ---- - - - CAMBODIA:

Going to Cambodia: With the Government not wanting to sign any anti corruptiuon laws as at 2007 its understandable that this is a cowboy town still so watch out as plenty of scams here. Using a moto like tuktuk hold on to your bags. An ex Aus cop friend of ours went there and had all his money, passport in a small bag beside him in the moto. After arriving at Phnom Penh he was being driven into town in a moto and 2 guys on a Honda bike came alonside and stole his bag. No possessions, no money, no passport and what to do –One hell of a headache he told us one hour after he arrived. Lucky there was an Aus Embassy there but if you think about the headache to reapply for non immigrant visa etc, get another CC and money etc ---- who wants it? you said it.

Poipet on the border be careful as many touts who want to take you to the buses. They wait while the driver is having a snooze or not there then allow you to climb on board take your money –no ticket and then the driver comes along and wants you to pay again. It’s a racket so don’t use touts for shortcuts.

Keep up with news in Thailand and safety aspects; what to beware of and the top stories concerning tourists. Thailand can be safe but there are many Thais who want your valuables the easy way. In hot spot tourist towns like Pattaya the crime on tourists is bad so do not wear or display jewelry and valuables as you may be the next target. A recent case where an elderly 63 yr old lady was robbed by 2 girls in daylight in front of Thai vendors and noone helped. Email for our monthly newsletter or read below

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