Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
COMMON BANGKOK SCAMS
Commit these classic rip-offs to memory and join us in our ongoing crusade to outsmart Bangkok's crafty scam
artists.
Closed today
Ignore any 'friendly' local who tells you an attraction is closed for a Buddhist holiday or for
cleaning. These are set-ups for trips to a bogus gem sale.
Túk-túk rides for 10B
Say goodbye to your day's itinerary if you climb aboard this ubiquitous scam. These al-
leged 'tours' bypass all the sights and instead cruise to all the fly-by-night gem and tailor shops that pay com-
missions.
Flat-fare taxi ride
Flatly refuse any driver who quotes a flat fare (usually between 100B and 150B for in-town
destinations), which will usually be three times more expensive than the reasonable meter rate. Walking beyond
the tourist area will usually help in finding an honest driver.
Tourist buses to the south
On the long journey south, well-organised and connected thieves have hours to comb
through your bags, breaking into (and later resealing) locked bags, searching through hiding places and stealing
credit cards, electronics and even toiletries. This scam has been running for years but is easy to avoid simply by
carrying valuables with you on the bus.
Friendly strangers
Be wary of smartly dressed men who approach you asking where you're from and where
you're going. Their opening gambit is usually followed with: 'Ah, my son/daughter is studying at university in
(your city)' - they seem to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of major universities. As the tourist authorities
here pointed out, this sort of behaviour is out of character for Thais and should be treated with suspicion.
Information
EMERGENCY
If you have a medical emergency and need an ambulance, contact the hospitals listed be-
low. In case of a police or safety issue, contact the following emergency services:
Fire
( 199)
You're unlikely to find an English-speaker at this number, so it's best to use
the default
191 emergency number.
Police
(
191)
Tourist Police
( 24hr hotline 1155)
The best way to deal with most problems requiring police
(usually a rip-off or theft) is to contact the tourist police, who are used to dealing with
foreigners and can be very helpful in cases of arrest. Although they typically have no jur-
isdiction over the kinds of cases handled by regular cops, they should be able to help with
translation, contacting your embassy and/or arranging a police report you can take to
your insurer.
INTERNET & TELEPHONE ACCESS
There's no shortage of internet cafes in Bangkok competing to offer the cheapest and
fastest connection. Rates vary depending on the concentration and affluence of net-heads
- Banglamphu is cheaper than Sukhumvit or Silom, with rates as low as 15B per hour.
