Has been going on there for years, any foreigner is a target...
I was taken there by Thai friends about 10 years ago, the boat operator wanted 500 baht per head for a 10 minute ride.. 6 people in the boat !!!!!
The canal side market is also a trap for over-pricing, never returned even though it's only 45 minutes away
Blame everything else except yourselves, the constant fights, drugs, drunkenness, taxi rip-offs, safety, the list is endless.
Clean up your own mess before blaming the decline on others.