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Thailand
47 scams
Also known as the land of smiles, Thailand has always been a top tourist destination with its stunning coastlines, majestic temples and colorful markets.
However, there are some infamous tourist targeted scams around temples, transport, nightlife as well as petty crime to watch out for.
Note: vast majority of trips are trouble free and there is no need to be paranoid. That said, it always pays to be aware, careful, and prepared.
Emergency numbers
- Tourist police: 1155
- Police: 191
- Ambulance: 1554; medical: 1669
- Fire: 199
Travel resources
Hotel scams in Thailand
2 5How it works: Situation: vast majority of hotels are fine and do note that incidents reported by users below are usually isolated ones and not generalizable. Version 1: tricks could…
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Currency switcheroo in Thailand
2 2How it works: There have been reports of tourists handing over a 1,000 THB bill, only for the cashier to swap it to a 100 THB bill via sleight of…
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Black henna scam in Thailand
2 1How it works: Black henna is not made from the henna plant like regular henna, but is made of a chemical paraphenylenediamine (PPD), which is used to dye hair. It…
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Khao San Road drugs set-up in Thailand
1 0How it works: There are tuk-tuk drivers who offer you weed. Once he drops you off however, he rats you out to police officers nearby (who are also in on…
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Longneck Karen Village scam in Thailand
1 0How it works: The “villagers” here are not technically “authentic” – they are actually refugees from Myanmar. Places to beware: Chiang Rai What to do: Go with the right expectations.
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Travel freebies to meth smuggling in Thailand
1 0How it works: Opening: in 2018, a Japanese man fell for a free tour that promised to bring him to Thailand, Shanghai and Frankfurt and with money to boot. At…
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Temple bird release scam in Thailand
1 0How it works: At temples/shrines, someone offers you the chance to release a bird for good fortune. In most cases, the birds are weak and will be caught again or…
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Sukhumvit massage touts in Thailand
1 0How it works: Opening: touts posing as massage shop managers out the streets will offer you a special price. They claim this is because business has not been good recently….
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Temple flower, offering scams in Thailand
1 0How it works: Version 1: outside religious sites, touts will offer you flowers and offerings at a few times the fair price. Version 2: touts pass you offerings to use…
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Corrupt police officers in Thailand
1 1How it works: Version 1: officers hang around at the Soi Cowboy area in Bangkok catching tourists or motorists who look high/drunk. They ask if you have had drugs/drinks and…
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Temple sarong scam in Thailand
1 0How it works: At temples, you have to cover certain body parts (e.g. shoulders, above knees) before you can enter. Generally, sarongs/scarves are loaned out at no fee. However, some…
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Connect four scam in Thailand
1 0How it works: Opening: at bars in Thailand, bar girls will challenge you to a game of Connect Four for money. Set-up: It is not technically a scam, but the…
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Bangkok boxing ticket scam in Thailand
1 1How it works: Outside stadiums, touts may lie to get you to buy the most expensive tickets. For instance, they claim that the cheaper tickets are sold out, or that…
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Counterfeit baht in Thailand
1 0How it works: With sleight of hand, the shopkeeper swaps your notes to counterfeit ones. Next, he claims that your notes are counterfeits, passes them to you and demand real…
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Asiatique scams in Thailand
1 0How it works: Scam 1: at the taxi rank, you have to pay an additional 20 Baht and will likely be quoted an inflated fare. Scam 2: there is a…
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