It is a well-known scam at the Grand Palace in Bangkok and the police are now cracking down on it. Someone comes to you and tells you that the palace is closed for some reason. The Tuk-Tuk driver proposes to take you to another place of interest. You will then be driven to seedy tailors and jewelery shops.
If you complain about that, the Tuk-Tuk drivers say they get petrol coupons from the shopkeepers. They try to arouse pity and say that this is how they can keep their heads above water. Of course they know that tourists are sensitive to that. For example, you will be driven to shops where you do not want to be in the hope that you will buy something, because then the Tuk-Tuk driver will receive his commission from the shopkeeper.
The tourist police has now been instructed by the authorities to deal with the scammers. More than ninety people have already been arrested in the vicinity of the Grand Palace, of which 68 for traffic violations and 19 for disturbing public order. Another group of 52 people has been warned: stay away and avoid activities that could damage Thailand's tourist image.
Source: Bangkok Post
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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That was XNUMX years ago and nothing has changed. I faced a double scam at the time: we were driven to a temple, which was a bit deserted, and then approached by someone who said he had been to a wedding party there, wondering how we knew about this temple. When asked where we came from, his story came. That he had an acquaintance in the Netherlands and went to visit there and now we could guess how he paid for the trip. With jewelry that he bought through a promotion in Bangkok and was able to sell in Amsterdam with a lot of profit… the story is well known.
I interrupted him in the middle of his story and finished it for him. When I told him with a smile that his account was many years old and most tourists already know it (apparently not), he replied that many Thais were exploited by the foreigners and he now wanted to do that again.
I advised him to come up with another story. Then he could earn more, but we were no use to him.
A little later the Tuk-tuk driver came back from the toilet and drove us on. Since he probably intended to take us to the various shops, we had him stop on the way, gave him the agreed 50 baht and found a new transport, this time taking us back to our hotel without any problems.
There are even tuk-tuk drivers who offer you a free ride if you are only willing to make 2 stops, namely at jewelry or clothing stores, from which they receive more money than they can ask from the passenger.
You do have to get out to walk in and out of the store.
We have been coming to Thailand for many years, we think you are doing a good job, unfortunately we have experienced it ourselves once 16 years ago, so we learned well just recently, we also had a man like this at the palace who approached us and said that the palace was closed luckily we knew about the practices of these men, but they do get angry if you say it's not right. Sincerely, Lois. Valat.