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Bangkok Warnings or Dangers: Con Artists tips posted by real travelers and Bangkok locals.
Con Artists
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Bangkok Con Artists ReviewsTips 1 - 10 of 21  
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Con Artists: Fake International Police
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  • Updated By beebah on December 13, 2003
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  • Con Artists - Bangkok
    by beebah
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    If you encounter anyone who claims he's International Police and tries to rip you off some money by pointing your pocket and asking "what's in your pocket" if you reply "my money ofcouse" he would ask "show me" You don't have to do anything he orders,Just tell them "Sorry I don't believe you" and just walk away as soon as possible.If he's still bugging you by trying to take you to "Police Station" DONT pay attention at them.Just looking for police in uniform around there if possible and tell them what happened.Otherwise just tell those guys that you will call Tourist Police to check his ID that it's real or fake.(and ofcourse it doesn't even exist) These people they're not even Thais.(In his card says "Turkish" but anyway you can't believe anything) These people are real trouble.Government don't even have a clue that this kind of people exist and I don't know how many tourists they've rip off them already. They will try ask if you use drugs or stuff like that.Don't waste your time.Walk to most crowded areas as soon as possible and if they still wanna take you to police station.You might say "yes" BUT ONLY IF YOU WHO CHOOSES A POLICE STATION and ofcourse they won't go with you.It seems they work as teamwork.While one guys is trying to make a trouble with you,other one is waiting on his motorbike as they could run away anytime. I was quite shocked to hear this story from my Belgian friend.(he encountered ones near Siam BTS station) So,becareful.

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  • Phone: Tourist Police +66 2 66440 00
  • Website: http://www.tourist.police.go.th/

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    Con Artists: Fake ATM machine - see photos
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  • Updated By Peter4 on August 10, 2007
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  • This ATM machine will STEAL your card number! - Bangkok
    This ATM machine will STEAL
    your card number!
    by Peter4, 4 more photos
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    . Is there really such a thing as a fake ATM machine that can steal your card number and your password? Do such things exist? Or is it just an urban legend? These photos and warnings -- in Thai and English -- are making the rounds of emails in Thailand. Looks convincing. Somebody went to a lot of effort to create a device for stealing ATM numbers and passwords. Be sure to look at all 5 photos to understand how the ATM con works. --- If you found this tip useful, I hope you'll give it a rating by clicking below. If you have specific questions about long-stay in Bangkok, you are welcome to send me email. - Peter

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  • Phone: Tourist Police +66 2 66440 00
  • Website: http://www.tourist.police.go.th/

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    Con Artists: Fake Monks
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  • By SumTingWong on April 30, 2003
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  • HEY monks don't smoke, FAKE!! (click photo to see) - Bangkok
    HEY monks don't smoke,
    FAKE!! (click photo to
    see)
    by SumTingWong
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    This is a horrible thing, which I have personally seen in Bangkok (and Bangkok only). Fake monks on the streets. These fakes love to steel money and make "illegal" business deals. Be careful, these people must be bad if that pick wearing a monk's robe as a disguise. I actually got a photo of a fake, and the signs were blatantly obvious, first of all the "monk" was smoking, which real monks don't do, and second of all he was hugging a woman, which monks don't do either (it is forbidden for monks to even touch women). Be aware and be careful, there are some bad people in Bangkok (but a lot of very good too!!).

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    Con Artists: A Warning from the Bangruk Police in Bangkok
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  • By balisunshine on September 18, 2004
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  • %crATTENTION%c* - Bangkok
    %crATTENTION%c*
    by balisunshine
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    The police here in Thailand, usually accepts that a vendor may over charge you or take you for a ride. So do take this warning with attention, since it is not usually of their kind to have this kind of attention. Attention Beware of strangers who try to take you to buy cloths, jewelry, gems, silver, etc. Please do not trust them!! If you need help please 1) Call Tourist Police 1155 2) Contact the nearest police box Bangruk Police Station

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    Con Artists: Nice Old Man - University Professor
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  • Updated By tna on June 2, 2005
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  • My husband and I believe ourselves to be pretty savvy and had prepared ourselves before arriving in Bangkok for all the possible scams etc (or so we thought). While walking to the palace, we were greeted by a friendly-faced old man, carrying an umbrella and a briefcase. He asked us where we were from, and he told us he was a professor on his way to University (flashed us some sort of ID and pointed across the park to the University's location). After some friendly chit-chat he then proceeded to tell us that the palace was closed due to celebrations (a line we knew to expect from touts and taxi drivers, but one we weren't expecting from a nice old University professor). Next thing we know, he's arranging a tuk tuk (taxi) for us, explaining how we can avoid getting scamed by taking the ones with the green license plates because the yellow ones were illegal (or something to that effect). Next thing we know, we're thanking him and off we set in the tuk tuk who is going to take us to some obscure temple. But as soon as he stops first at a silk shop we recognise we've been had...so we toss him a few coins and head off on foot back to the palace, which of course....is open. We got along absolutely fine for the rest of the trip via public bus. You can get a map with the bus routes from the tourism offices...and you can save more money for the great food!

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  • Phone: Tourist Police +66 2 66440 00
  • Website: http://www.tourist.police.go.th/

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    Con Artists: Beware friendly people asking for a pen!
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  • By Aquacraig on May 7, 2007
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  • People approach you and talk to you about anything that may lead them to ask you for a pen so they can write an address for you ! On two occasions in Bangkok we were subject to this. They are very smooth and nice people but they want you to open your bag for a pen. As soon as you look down to do this their accomplice walks past and tries to grab your bag, wallet or purse. We were quick enough to smell a rat and closed the bag just as the accomplice was coming up to us, he quickly ran off along wioth his smooth talking friend!

  • Phone: Tourist Police +66 2 66440 00
  • Website: http://www.tourist.police.go.th/

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    Con Artists: First time travellers beware
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  • By citytrip on June 10, 2007
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  • Never say it's your first visit to Bangkok, if a taxi driver or whoever asks how long you've been there or if it's your first trip lie! There are ample con artists around just ready and waiting to take the unsuspecting tourist for a ride! Taxi drivers will charge you way over the odds if they think you don't know the going rate. Always ask them to turn on the meter if they want to agree a price upfront it will be above the going rate! When visiting the main tourist attractions you will see many smartly dressed men in suits even lingering around the sights to try and persuade you that the attraction is closed today or not open until later, many will even point to a closed gate, chances are you are just not at the front enterance. They might also try tell you that your clothing is unacceptable for entrance to the palace etc whereas at most major tourist attractions including the grand palace you can hire appropriate clothing free by leaving a refundable deposit. Don't be deceived by their lies, they will say there is another attraction close buy that they will take you to. I've never been mislead by them but have heard plenty of stories where people have been fleeced for tour guide fees or taken to the make shift tour guides shops or families shops along the way and encouraged to buy stuff. So be assertive and don't be misguided by anything they may tell you. Check everything out for yourself.

  • Phone: Tourist Police +66 2 66440 00
  • Website: http://www.tourist.police.go.th/

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    Con Artists: Buying Jewelery and Antiques
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  • Updated By keeweechic on June 11, 2003
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  • Con Artists - Bangkok
    by keeweechic
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    Be very wary about buying jewellery and antiques - the market in Thailand is rife with fakes. If you think you're being asked to pay a lot of money for an inauthentic item, or you're being overcharged for a service, report the incident to the tourist police. Be careful if someone offers you a free tour of the Chao Phraya,it's likely that at some point, in some remote location, you'll be asked to 'contribute' some large sum of money to the venture. Watch your handbags and camera cases when you're shopping in the markets. .

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    Con Artists: The local government warn...
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  • By Grete on August 24, 2002
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  • The local government warn tourists about touts and especially tuk tuk drivers who offer you a sightseeing tour. '10 Baht - 1 hour ' they'll say and take you straight to a jewellerwho of course gives them comission or gas. You'll find it hard to get out of such a situation without buying anything. This happend to me and my friends during our first stay in Bankok and the same trick is still being played today. Another thing is that taxi drivers will tell you that the tour you're taking, or the sight you're seeing, is closed due to some public holiday. Make it a rule always to check for yourself wether or not that is actually true. It seems to me the government has done a good joob in cleaning up quite a lot of the monkey business tourists often are trapped into. They have strenghtend the tourist police and made them more accessible at hte places where many tourists go. So if you find yourself in trouble, contact them and they will help you. We found them very friendly and helpful once, when some of our stuff was stolen. It appears Thailand really makes an effort in keeping their country attractive to tourism, hence keeping up the important income the industry brings them.

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    Con Artists: Off Duty Police Men
  • By maclean on October 21, 2005
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  • Around the majority of tourist attractions - there appear to be an abundance of so called 'Off Duty Policemen" who find it in thier heart to advise you of the best tourist attractions to see. Ignore them They will give you something along the lines of "It is a little too far to walk and I would not recommend that you take a taxi as that is too expensive and the buses are not the best in Bangkok either - I will get you a tuk tuk to take you it will be very cheap" and surprisingly a Tuk Tuk will appear in seconds few. Amazing !!!! They are purely a rip off - they will tell you 20 - 30 Bhat, but the price will always end up being much higher - Do not take them and politely, but firmly, inform them "Thank you for the advice, but no thank you"

  • Phone: Tourist Police +66 2 66440 00
  • Website: http://www.tourist.police.go.th/

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