Tuk-tuk scams in Thailand

Cheap tuk tuk to another wat and then jewellery shop

Grand palace and the Wat near it the other day, guy in grey uniform followed us through the wat, it was extremely hot so we were looking for shade. He tried the deal with cheap tuk tuk to another wat and then jewellery shop, my partner didn’t realise it was a scam so jumped in the tuk tuk I quickly googled showed him and we jumped out 100 metres up the road and told the tuk tuk driver we know it’s a scam. He took off no payment

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Buddha day public holiday, tourist information office, 2-3 Tuk tuks nearby

My lady and i encountered what we thought was a scam near Khaosan road today – we were headed to a temple for something to do when we were approached by a semi smartly dressed Thai man, with a New York navy top on (he claimed to be an engineer working nearby) on the ratchadanmnoen klang road.

He told us we could not proceed down this road as there were protests happening and it was Buddha day public holiday – he then asked us lots of questions about what we were doing in Thailand etc he then wrote a lot of tourist information on a piece of cardboard, including that we had to go to tourist information office (which he said was further down the road he told us not to go down, but we had to turn left at the roundabout as the protests were straight ahead ) for a package holiday tour with 30% discount for when we go to Phuket tomorrow (which we advised was our next destination) and he urged us to get a Tuk Tuk there (there were 2-3 Tuk tuks nearby) –

we said we would continue to walk down the street, which we did, then about 200m down the street, one of the guys (wearing a dark green top) standing near the Tuk tuks was then walking beside us trying to talk to us, saying the same things as the engineer so we then decided to stop and he kept walking – he then stopped at the top of the “tourist information” street, waited for a bit and then hopped on the back of a bike –

I then watched the bike drive back towards the same first spot, with the guy looking at us, so we decided to walk back to our hotel. The engineer guy then drove down sidewalk on a bike towards us and we said we had to go back to our hotel to deal with business – we then walked past both guys at the first spot and took a different route back to our hotel –

I just wanted to share this in case it was a known scam, as we felt we were being set up, in case anyone else is approached by these guys today. I felt the first guy, the engineer, was genuinely helpful at first and he looked fairly smart (hair styled, clean shaven, dress shoes and trousers) we thought he was on a work break but the whole experience felt like a scam.

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Asked for much more saying traffic was bad

My mother and I fell for a similar scam. We were quoted a cheap Tuk Tuk price by a Tuk Tuk driver during peak hour. As we were in a hurry, we hopped on. But in the end, the Tuk Tuk driver asked for much more than he originally quoted us, saying traffic was bad. Being in a foreign country, we did not dare to argue and my mother decided to pay him the price he asked for in the end.

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Tuk Tuk Scam in Thailand

18 June 2018 : So i was backpacking solo to Thailand for 3 days. This scam happened when i am at Phuket. It was late in the evening and I need to get to a travel agency (which i already bought my bus ticket) to hop in my bus to Krabi for my next destination. 30 minutes prior to departure, it was raining and i was trying to get a transportation to the agency. So i just saw a tuk tuk just in front my hostel and i asked him if he can send me to the location and he said yes so i just hopped on the tuk tuk.

My mistake here would be not bargaining the fare first before riding the tuk tuk because it was raining heavily at that moment. While he was driving, i opened google maps on my phone (i always do this just to make sure its the correct destination) and the driver actually took a different path which is longer than what my apps showed. The journey should only took around 6 minutes but it goes for 20 minutes and i might be late for my bus.

So i asked the driver why he drove this way which is longer and he replied that the shortest path is in bad traffic at that hour. But i know its not true because my apps can actually detect traffics. in addition, we actually went half of the road that we supposed to go in the first hand and i saw no heavy traffic as he mention. So arriving to the agency ticket, he charged me for 300baht for 20 minutes ride, which should be only 6 minutes ride with fare 100baht as the distance is not that far.

I can’t really argue because it was my mistake for not bargaining first and i’m almost late for the departure so i just let it go.

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Tailor, jewelry shop, overpriced travel agency

Tailor, jewelry shop, overpriced travel agency are usually the stops. Plus one actual, nice destination, which was golden mountain when I fell for that scam on my first day ever in Bangkok (20b back then in 2013).

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Scammed by some dude with a tuk tuk in Bangkok

How do you guys go with trusting people?

This is my first time in SEA and I’m really careful! for scams. Even so I got scammed yesterday by some dude with a tuk tuk in Bangkok (he was like really really nice and friendly). Now I feel a bit sad because I don’t want to go around trusting no one and don’t want to miss out on actual proper nice, polite and helpfull locals. Also I felt sad because I got this feeling that nice people always want something in replace… I’m travelling next 6 months to most countries in SEA.

Also a tip for people going to Bangkok or other cities (don’t now if it aplies for every city or in the country) use the app ‘Grab’ It’s an app like uber, you give the address, it says the amount you should pay and someone close by picks you upp a few minutes later. This way you don’t have to bargen about prices and maybe still get ripped of.

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No you will have to take the boat because i get free gas

****SCAM ALERT***
Tuk-Tuk scam, Thailand

People travelling to Thailand for the first time be aware of these tuk-tuk drivers who can very easily scam with their tricks and stories especially in tourist places like Bangkok, Pattaya etc. Happened with me as well but i was lucky that i found he was scamming and got off the tuk-tuk at that very moment.

So what they do? They would line up with boards on their hand showing you all the pretty places of the city and give you a very good price for the city tour eg. 20 baht per person (approx 45inr). We were two people, the other one was my friend from Canada and even he got very surprised by the price and we decided to take a city tour with the tuk-tuk driver(biggest mistake). He said that okay he charge us so less because first he will take us to a travel agent where we just need to fake it that we will be traveling to other tourist places in Thailand in upcoming days. The driver said please do it as he gets free gas from the travel agent. We thought out of kindness its not a big deal, we can do it for you. Okay travel agent done he said he got free gas coupon, we moved ahead.

Now the tuk-tuk driver stopped and took out a map from his seat and said next we will go to a floating market so which boat you want to take, we told him we don’t want to take any boat but just want to see the place and leave asap, he shooked his head in disagree and said ‘no you will have to take the boat because i get free gas’.. We were shocked, he again came up with his story of free gas. We just asked about how much it cost for a boat, he said 1000Baht (approx. 2500inr). We were amused by his clever act . We just nodded in disagreement and said we want take the boat, he said okay if you don’t want to take the boat you will pay me 600Baht(approx 1300inr). Both of us literally got furious at the driver and as the tuk tuk was not moving while he was showing us the map, we just got out of the tuk tuk, he insisted to sit came up with new story okay give me 400 Baht only. We were really angry and didn’t listen to him at all and just shouted at him and just walked and didn’t look back.

This Tuk-tuk driver was still not that bad but after the incident i heard some more same incidents from some tourists who were forced to pay the driver who refused to take the boat and all. So please takr care with your Tuk-tuk city tours. I won’t suggest you to take city tours in Tuk-Tuk.

Download Grabcabs from app store if you in Bangkok, It’s like Ola and Uber. Very pocket friendly and genuine.. You will save a lot of money with this app while commuting in the city.

Thank you

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Just let the thai tuk tuks alone

After dealing with tuk tuk drivers in India for years, just seen trough them, when I wanted a ride to boonsiri ferries office They right away offered me a 40bht ride to the agency which is closer and I can get all the tours and stuff I need Asking questions, where i go and when etc… not their damn business. After some argument they gave up, but asked 200bht for a 4km ride to my original destination. Just walked away.

Another one wanted to bring me to some shop first, which happens to be on the way… I used the same behaviour like with the Indian tuk tuk drivers. Confident and sometimes harsh argument is the key over there Bargaining hard. Well, thai drivers not used to this and not even understanding. They just get confused and offended Calmness and kind bargaining does not work either. So I just let the thai tuk tuks alone. Taxi meter or public transport. If staying longer somewhere, I’m just renting a bike and go on sightseeing and to where ever I wish. Can be cheaper and more free than tours for ex.

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Jewellery store and free Gasoline

Every tuk tuk driver near Grand Palace will try this scam. will take you to Jewellery store, citing free Gasoline for his tuk tuk. We were there last week and got approached for the same.

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Brought to gem scam and tailor scam

Part 1: robbed at the Cambodia-Thailand border

Part 2: The next day, we planned to tour the city. We walk through the streets,then one tuk-tuk driver approach us and offer to accompany us. He brought us to a temple. They have an accomplish at the temple promoting the products in Thailand like ruby and sapphire jewelry.

This tuk-tuk driver brought us to the jewelry store and we were greeted by friendly personnels offering drinks. We spent 260$ just for small piece of sapphire in silver ring for my wife. They also tried to force to buy one for me around 650$ but I declined.

The driver also brought us to a tailor shop and the personnels convince me to get a suite which I think very pricey. I told them, I don’t wear suits. T-shirts are enough.

The experience with the tuk-tuk diver had only sit in mind upon reading this web page that it was a scam.

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