Taxi scams in Thailand

Had meters concealed

This happens everywhere. Taxi drivers didn’t even inform us if they had any meters. They had them concealed and used to ask whatever price they felt like. Me n hubby was left by a signal side mid journey cuz the taxi driver wanted to take us to a specific harbor to take a boat while we used Google Maps and told him exactly where we wanted to go so he threw us off completely offended.

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Almost robbed and kidnapped on the way to Phuket Airport

Almost robbed and kidnapped on the way to Phuket Airport- DO NOT TRAVEL TO THIS COUNTRY

My girlfriend/domestic partner and I travelled to Phuket and Bangkok during the 2019 Lunar New Year. Being from New York, the scams (though quite numerable and tiresome) at first seemed manageable: taxi fare haggling, hotel staff in cahoots with travel and taxi services charging inflated prices, questionable arithmetic on dining and tourist service bills, etc.

However, the taxi ride to Phuket Airport for our flight back to Bangkok almost turned dangerous. We agreed with a Chinese taxi driver located outside the Novotel Phuket in Patong to pick us up for our flight. His van (Thai License plate 30-6063, Taxi Medallion 2565) seemed safe enough. After leaving the hotel, he then started with some BS story about having to stop on the way to airport to pay a taxi medallion tax.

About halfway through the ride, he picked up a Ukrainian woman dressed in running gear and a green-yellow skullcap who was “hitchhiking” for a ride. At first it appeared the driver was going to charge her for her ride as well, which was common, but their conversation was staged and it became clear they were acting together. The driver told the hitchhiker “I no charge you, you have no money. They American, they have lots of money”.

The driver then made a turn into an official looking building to pay his “tax” while we waited. After he exited, he came to our passenger side entrance and gestured for us to get out, meaning he expected us to get out of the van and leave our luggage inside while he took off with the van as part of his sham story. Then all hell broke loose.

The hitchhiker exited and tried to eject us from our seats. Fortunately, it was just her and the driver pitted against us and size-wise they were not physically intimidating, though if other accomplices showed up that would have changed quickly.

We pushed the hitchhiker away from the van, screamed at both of them so passers by could hear, and demanded the driver take us to the airport immediately else we would report him to the police (in hindsight, fat lot of good that would have done).

We closed the passenger door in the hitchhiker’s face while she gave us the finger. The driver, not sure about how to proceed, got back in and started to comply with our demands and drive us to the airport, leaving the accomplice behind.

We then turned on our Google Maps / geolocation services and made it clear to the driver we were tracing his route and if there was any turn or deviation we would call the police immediately. The situation, though fluid, was under control as long as the driver was complying. We were however on his terrain, so I was going through how to stop the van by pulling the emergency brake if the driver tried to make a wrong turn.

About a mile from the airport we arrived at what turned out to be the last main traffic light on the main road. While stopped and waiting for the light to change from red to green, the driver, probably not aware I was watching like a hawk even during the lull in confrontation, locked the passenger doors from inside the van.

By then I’d had enough, opened the door in the middle of the road while the van was stopped, and stood in front to block the driver in case the light turned green while my girlfriend popped the rear hatch and threw out our luggage.

Must have been our lucky day as there was a police kiosk right at the intersection. They had been observing our bizarre escape drama unfold in real-time. The driver pulled over at the command of the police and immediately started into a bullshit story to cover his tracks and avoid getting arrested.

We calmly identified ourselves, stated our story and made it clear we were nearly robbed. The driver then had the audacity to demand payment for the ride during which he tried to rob us.

Do not come to Thailand, ever, unless you have money to launder. Sadly, it’s ultimately honest Thai people who suffer having to deal with corruption, human trafficking, assault, and intimidation/violence.

I’m sure the ones with intelligence and means are doing the same as we are and as countless others in countries that suffer from kleptocracy are: packup, leave, and don’t come back.

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2000 baht from the airport to city centre

Was scammed in Thailand.. 2000 baht from the airport to city centre. Scams happen everywhere they are not limited to certain countries.. Just take it as a learning lesson.

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Most are fine except in Sukhumvit

Most taxi drivers in other parts of Bangkok are totally fine. But when you’re in Sukhumvit esp Siam till Asoke, it’s almost impossible to hail a taxi that will pick you up by meter. No matter how far or close. I just give up and use grab.

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Flag down taxis from the street

Always gotta flag down taxis from the street. The ones that wait by the hotels are usually looking for tourists so that they can overcharge them. Either because “big taxi” or “no meter” etc.

Big taxis are worth paying a little more for. I wouldn’t mind paying a higher flag fare or something similar for them, but they usually just try and prey on the people who have no idea on how much a particular trip should cost.

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Be firm with them

Thailand is a hotbed, never ask the taxi driver to take you to an emporium or a spa. They will try to pitch someone who pays them a commission, you’re better off asking to go to some attraction nearby and be firm with them.

If you happen to order a beer without looking at the menu in one of those shady bars, you can be presented a bill of like 5000 bahts, you’d be surrounded by bouncers, shown a menu with those fake prices and believe me the local cops would side with them too. There are other frauds like selling fake gems that are more likely to net Europeans or Americans than us Indians.

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Threaten to call with a complaint

Note the phone number written on the taxi door. And also note the ID number of the taxi (inside, most of the time).

If he refuses to turn on the meter (you can say ‘tick tick tick and point towards the meter), tell him you will call with a complaint, and call.

2 times I tried it, the taxi driver instantly agreed to turn on the meter. Apparently it is illegal for them to refuse in Bangkok.

The airport may be different, especially ‘leaving’ the airport.

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1500 baht (approx $45 USD) for a 6 mile cab ride

I had a cab driver in suratthani (Thailand) try to charge me 1500 baht (approx $45 USD) for a 6 mile cab ride to my hostel. He followed us for about 5 minutes saying “you won’t be able to find somebody else to take you, it’s too far away, this is a very fair price” and repeatedly told me to check my phone’s map to see how far away it was

i laughed in his face, went to a cafe. had a beer and asked one of the girls working there if she would mind getting me a cab. and guess what, the guy she found only charged 300 baht ($9 USD)

i also just bought a pair of fake oakleys today in phuket as a christmas present for my dad the girl tried to tell me they were real and said she wanted 750 baht ($21). i was like. yeah right, i don’t want them then. i was only looking to spend about 100 baht ($4). she ended up taking the 100 baht.

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Take the metered taxis from the pools

At the airport there are private car or van services that will over charge. Take the metered taxi’s from the pools. Just be patient they go through the numbers quickly.

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For the first since I’ve been in Phuket I got scammed and harassement

For the first since I’ve been in Phuket I got scammed and harassement. I was using a motorbike to phuket old town from where I stay. And also try to use the same one as I want to go back. I was thinking to use a taxi to go back.

But, when I walk on the side of the road, suddenly one motorbike stop in front of me and ask me where I am going. And I told him the place where I stay. And he ask me how much did I pay before, and I told him It was 50 baht when I came here.

He said ok, and ask me to hop in to the bike. I ask a helmet from him and he say sorry he forgot to bring it, and I ask is it ok to ride without helmet, and he say ok.

He was so bad in driving. I think he was drunk. The way was one way , but he against the direction, he drive so fast and kept moving the bike. Half of the way, he blamed me that I am the one who kept moving. I told him, I AM NOT. I just sit as he was driving. And he was angry and shout at me.

I just silent, then almost near my apartment he did it again, and told another vehicles behind us that I am the one who cause the bike moving like that. He was shout at me and ask me to go down. And I did go down. He shout at me to pay, and I did pay him 50 baht. And he shout at me to say sorry, and I did say sorry because I don’t want to cause any problem.

Then I across the road, and suddenly he took the picture of me. And I realize it since everyone look at me. I run as fast as I can to my apartment and met my landlord of my apartment. I can’t handle myself and traumatized, I have no clues why he did it like that. I should have took his picture and report to the police. Such a big regret.

This is the reason why it’s not easy for tourist to use public transportation in Thailand. Even though not every driver will act like that, but as I did traveling I saw a lot of tourist got scammed as they traveling. I wish this will never happen to anyone else who like to traveling. What a shame.

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