Khao San's fake document industry
Thailand is most likely the only country in the world where counterfeit documents are openly offered and sold on the street.
In Khao San Road in Bangkok, there are at least a dozen stalls – even one directly outside Chana Songkhram police station under a giant screen depicting two police officers with the message '24 hours protection and services' – selling a wide variety of fake IDs and other documents.
The documents made of paper or plastic can be, for example: ID cards for press, students, airline cabin crew, Interpol, FBI, DEA, but also driver's licenses, diplomas, graduation certificates from prestigious universities in England, USA or Australia.
Thai police do nothing
The stalls selling counterfeit documents effortlessly manage the pandemonium of Khao San Road. Best known as a backpacker's haven in Southeast Asia with its budget hotels, guesthouses, internet cafes, restaurants, travel agencies and tattoo parlors. In fact, it is nothing new in this street, but what has changed is that more and more suppliers of fake documents can be seen. Publications about this in the international media, denouncing these practices, achieve the opposite, namely that the trade is given free publicity. There has been no action by the police or other authorities in all these years.
"Each time their criminal activities are exposed, the sellers and those behind the scenes are encouraged to include more IDs and documents in their package so that the supply continues to grow," said a police officer who agreed to talk about it. on condition of anonymity.
The publicity has attracted many clients from abroad, who come to Khao San Road with fake document orders collected in their country.
Counterfeit student card
It is believed that the trade started in Thailand more than 30 years ago with counterfeit student cards, which were sold by travel agencies near the Malaysia Hotel. The customers used that card to buy cheap airline tickets. Student cards, and later press cards, were used as credentials for stolen checks and credit cards in the XNUMXs.
Nowadays, ordering a fake ID or other document is very easy. You select the desired document from a catalog or from a display, give the seller a photo and personal information that should appear on the document. Put a signature and after a deposit of 50% and the document will be delivered within the hour. The data therefore has to belong to the buyer himself, he can do it for anyone else, it does not matter to the seller. Current prices are around 300 Baht for a paper ID, 800 Baht for a plastic ID (credit card size) and 2500 Baht for a university degree.
The aforementioned police officer confirms that these activities are, of course, illegal in Thailand and that the sellers could in principle be arrested with all “merchandise” confiscated. But he added that problems arise when it has to be proven in front of the prosecutor and the court that the sellers are providing false documents. With the large supply of all these hundreds of documents, it is very difficult and expensive to produce conclusive evidence. The real issuer of the documents that have been counterfeited (a foreign government agency, company or university) should send a representative to Thailand to file a complaint with the police. However, the costs and effort of filing such a complaint are too high to warrant action.
In the past, the fake IDs were also bought by tourists who thought it was a nice souvenir. Later, the offer became known in increasing circles and also attracted people who bought the false documents for criminal purposes. The fact that the sales outlets are mainly located in Khao San Road and the side streets has to do with logistics. The places where the documents are actually produced are nearby and the owners of these production companies have good contacts with the police in the usual way for Thailand. Everything in this trade, which involves a lot of money, is well organized.
Passports
The policeman pointed out that the Khao San vendors only offer foreign counterfeits and not Thai identity cards or driver's licenses, because if they did they would be immediately arrested. For the time being, they are reasonably safe with foreign documents.
An additional or perhaps even more important trade is that in forged or stolen passports. The vendors in Khao San Road say it's a dangerous area, but if they trust you as a foreigner they can put you in touch with people who specialize in it.
A separate story about fake and stolen passports soon.
Shortened and (sometimes) freely translated to an article in The BigChilli
In itself, the trade in fake student cards, international driver's licenses and the like is still fairly innocent.
After all, if you are caught with it, you will receive a reprimand in the first/best case, and a correctional conviction in the second. And you did that to yourself.
You can also buy glossy fashion magazines, where your photo is depicted in full regalia on the cover.
What is more concerning is the professionalism of those counterfeits. Naturally, Khao San Road is known as a backpacker's Mecca. Such a fake student card will at most provide them with a cheaper bus ride or meal at KFC. Or you buy it for fun. But without a student ID you sometimes also get a discount or there are equivalent promos, so who cares. It is different when professional rogues come to Khoa San to place some 'orders' there. Everything is possible, you can do something with a fake UN card, but you can definitely order fake credit cards. Admittedly without the software and knowledge of data to abuse them, but then we are still on the criminal path, aren't we?
But it is something like the soft drugs versus the hard drugs policy. One is tolerated, the other is quickly penalized. And the counterfeiters of innocent student ID cards on Khao San may well be the accomplices of the mafia supplying counterfeit passports, associated credit cards, and more. Then the line between soft and hard fades, and trade flourishes…
Twenty years ago there was someone in the Netherlands who worked in a hospital for years with a forged doctor's certificate. (Has happened before). Everyone liked a good doctor. He only fell through after 4-5 years. A carpenter with a forged diploma is exposed at the first repair. That's why I sometimes have more respect for good craftsmen than for doctors.
If you have a driver's license made there, check whether they do not make the same spelling mistake as on the 'advertising board' – license vs. license – because otherwise you will quickly fall through the basket…………….
Fall through the basket?. Where ?. Most Thais cannot read English at all. And fake Thai ID cards and driver's licenses are not offered at all. Apart from having such a document as a party kick at home, it makes no sense to buy anything here.
Possessing - or even carrying with you - dropped papers is a criminal offense in the EU. If you want to have a fake passport made here, the question arises how did you enter Thailand? Without a passport? The same applies to a fake driver's license. Especially if you get into a collision in Thailand. If you drive with false papers, you will immediately lose your insurance coverage. You can still apply for a job at, for example, SHELL Netherlands with a fake Thai Harvard diploma. It is better, however, that you hang that diploma framed on your toilet at home. You can laugh about that. If the SHELL notices, you have nothing to laugh about afterwards.
For years I walked by without paying attention until I wanted an international driver's license or a Thai driver's license. The latter is not possible as stated above. What struck me was that it's all a mess, it doesn't even look like the original. All those so-called documents are fantasy documents, nice for show but not for real use.
The big man behind all this is a policeman, who has a professional workshop with presses, stamps, photocopiers, plastic in all thicknesses, paper in all kinds that are pressed around the cards. Yes, Thai papers, driver's licenses, passports, ID cards etc etc, made in a professional manner, indistinguishable from the real thing. It's true, 30 years ago you could have everything made in the parking lot of the Malaysia Hotel, then everything was still made of paper, that's where he started, also stamps he made after. Now 30 years later he has +- 50 people working for him, most cards and passes that you see on khao San are poorly made for show, but if you need a real looking document, that will also be made, of course for a multiple of the amount they charge on khao San.
Don't know if we're talking about the same guy. But one of the printing houses is located on a side street (soi) north of What Chana Songkram. Khao San past the temple towards Rambutri, almost to Phra Athit; so towards Chao Praya.
There – en masse – printing, copying and sealing takes place. Professional.
Perhaps another small anecdote, about that 'printing house'.
Once happened to be smoking a cigarette, at the entrance of the printing house. Was waiting for a comrade who had done his shift at that time in a guesthouse 50 meters away. His patron was not allowed to know that we were going to do something else together. You are suddenly addressed 'you are mister Davis?'. Confirmed that, and was whisked in. Thought, my mate from the guesthouse has arranged it this way, to relieve me from the sight of his patron and possible detection. So come inside. Saw stacks of prepared and packaged documents there, there were also travel passes, at least on the cover with print. To then get to the back of an office. There sat a corpulent fellow, soon furious with his accomplice who had dumped me inside. 'This isn't Mister Davis!' followed by Thai swear words. (Must be, they certainly weren't caresses). Got short of breath, my buddy wasn't there either and didn't expect this predicament. Then took the floor and explained my situation, also that my name was indeed Davis, or David, which is probably why the misunderstanding. Just stood smoking a cigarette waiting for my mate, no more, no less. That guy then laughed heartily about it, and led me outside under his guidance and that of 2 elderly boxers. My buddy was happy there. 'The Big Chief' has addressed the latter, which all seemed okay, who added another 100 THB to – said in Thai, understood – to go to a little room. Didn't say anything, got into the first tuk-tuk that passed, and just went home. By the way, the ride home was 60 THB, just over Pinkao, and I just said to my buddy; 100 is okay let's go in quick, still shivering in body and limb…. This anecdote is part of a previously published topic of mine here, also related to Khao San.
I have another fun and true anecdote regarding such a counterfeit document.
A comrade of mine went to Thailand where I had seen such “documents” and asked him
to have a PRESS card (journalists pass) made for me. I gave him some information and he left for Thailand for six months. Admittedly to Pattaya.
After about three weeks I received a truly beautiful journalist ID card by post, with my photo and all.
Published by International Press-Journal Association based Fleetstreet, London EC4. Stamp on front and back and partly over the photo. Validity date until December 31, 2003. Plasticized for the price of 300 Baht….
The only mistake was that my signature was wrong.
I thought of the “document” as a gadget to impress my friends at parties.
About six months later, a sister of my wife came to visit the Netherlands. In 1999 it was even easier. Tourist visa for 3 months, she would stay for 6 weeks at the most. Arrived at Maastricht-Aachen airport (which still had flights AMS-MST at the time). No problems except she had a suitcase full of wooden figures. Customs was difficult at first, but by acting smart (and that's a whole different story) they allowed her in, without payment.
However, her passport stated “validity of stay in the Netherlands: 3 weeks”. No problem, she still had to report to the immigration service in S. Would we correct that.
So not nice. A boy barely out of puberty stated that nothing could be done about that and that the lady was staying illegally after those three weeks, and that they would keep an eye on it.
Since I don't let myself be easily thrown into a rut, I asked the young sprout to call in his boss. That wouldn't be possible, he was too busy.
Then the chief commissioner, the governor, the foreign minister, even Prince Bernard.
The young man didn't feel very comfortable and disappeared for a few minutes.
He returned triumphantly and snapped at us: "You had better leave immediately, otherwise we will be forced to have you removed". (It must be said, the teen was friendly the entire time.)
I dared to conjure up the light green, still shiny Journalists. In the meantime I was white-hot with anger: I would teach that toddler!
“Sir, I am a journalist and ask you to inform my newspapers and television. This whole display is unheard of, one would rather imagine oneself in a police state than in a country that calls itself civilized. Incidentally, we will not allow ourselves to be removed by force until the newspaper and television have arrived. Then you will be on television and you can try to explain that to your children later.”
It was gone before I realized it. The trainee immigration officer disappeared, taking my beloved journalists with him. My wife's sister had watched the whole spectacle (not understanding a word of it), and muttered, "Bob, I think we better go).
There appeared a big man dressed in a thick suit, judging by the stripes on that suit.
“Ma'am, sir, I have re-examined your documents, something must have gone wrong somewhere. May I agree with you that we send everything to the ministry and invite you to come by again next week. We will see what can be arranged.” With a smile, he slid my International Press Association pass across the table to me. My ears were probably on the back of my head, so wide was my triumphant smile.
Not trusting the case, I called an immigration attorney. Just drop by, pay 900 guilders (yes, you read that right!) in cash. Next day two letters by aunt's mail, letter to court, letter for police check.
How long would such a procedure take? Two years is quite normal.
The sister is scheduled to leave after six weeks, check in Beek (as we call MST), minimal, check in AMS not at all. Letters from lawyer never needed.
About three months later I pulled the same trick again at the immigration office in M.
Thai knowledge would be deported from the country. After showing the journalist pass and circus with the newspaper, television, she was given an extension of one year, with the request to look for work. (And this is another story altogether.)
That wonderful pass now lies somewhat crumpled in front of me. Expiry date 2003. Those were the days.
This shows that such a counterfeit document can also have its good sides. Although I wouldn't use it at the moment. However, displaying it at birthday parties and telling the accompanying stories invariably leads to hilarity. Those who are not strong must be smart.
Finally. The lawyer. Years later I called again, that 900 guilders was a lot of money for two notes. He agreed. "Come by the office and we'll discuss it."
My Thai wife and I indeed visited in 2012 because of a labor dispute with the employer. We didn't talk about that visa issue, but thanks to his knowledge and skills, we are now able to move to Thailand this year. (But those are two other stories.)
He who says that fraud does not pay: arise now and defend yourself!
Under the moto of strong stories; Here we have another “Sandwich Monkey”
I'm sorry I don't normally comment on this, but this article is a pure "birthday brag" story and gives people a completely wrong idea of the "power of cards".
1 quote “With a smile, he pushed my International Press Association pass across the table to me. My ears were probably on the back of my head, so wide was my triumphant smile.” end of quote.
For the rest, the reaction is full of superlatives and paper victories.
Lex K.
Hi Bob,
Nice story and certainly a lot of fun afterwards, if everything worked out.
But if I read it correctly, then we TB-ers still owe you at least 4 stories.
waiting in suspense,
LOUISE
Messing around is not always the case. Friend of mine is from Australia and works in Dubai, I had a driver's license made for him and he converted this driver's license in Dubai to a local driver's license and no one saw anything.
Coincidentally, we are not talking about Dubai here, but about Thailand. Describing a driver's license to a Thai does not work. This is due to the case that your Thai driver's license is noted in the Thai PC. If you go for an extension, you can declare something. Well, you can go to Bangkok again and get a fresh driver's license?
Thanks, by the way, Gringo, for the interesting post; if one reacts, it is a reaction, but that does not mean a word of thanks to the poster. Hereby.
Look forward to the sequel. Because I have a small suspicion that Khao San is not only the mecca of backpackers ... Have lived there for about 10 years - just over the bridge - and can only say:
Where there is a lot of light, there is also a lot of entertainment.
But the darker the alleys, the harder the tricks ;~)
Davis.
If you go straight to the point and walk in your shoes correctly, you don't need false papers. Unless you are looking for a nice joke to hang on the wall at home.
Moderator: Your comment must be on topic
In the late 90s you also had 1 or 2 of those shops on the Beach Road. I always liked looking at those signs there, further down the road they also sold plenty of those counterfeit Rolexes.