Same scams, same corrupt police, same Phuket

[logbags]

This week I received a frantic call from an Australian friend on Phuket.

 

A Thai “friend” of his had offered to return his rented motorbike but had disappeared with it. The owner of the motorbike turned up with the police demanding he pay for a brand new motorbike. The police had apparently made no effort to track down the bike or the man who absconded with it, even though he lived on Phuket. 

My friend offered to pay the rental until the bike turned up, but the police insisted he pay cash for a new one, or he would held in the cells. They had confiscated his passport although he had committed no crime. He asked for time to see if the bike turned up, but the police only wanted cash and offered no receipt. 

He only had returned to Phuket to get a tattoo finished, having avoided the island for more than a decade after being previously cheated by police there.

 

Nothing has changed on Phuket or Patong beach it seems: the same scams, same dirty, corrupt, cash-chasing police. My friend has a brother who is a filmmaker. I have urged him to make a viral video warning would-be visitors of what potentially awaits them on Phuket. Who can you complain to about these matters? The police? This man will probably never set foot in Thailand again, joining the long, long list of people who now spend their cash elsewhere after being extorted by corrupt Thai police. 

He has holidayed in both Cambodia and Vietnam for the last decade without being caught up in this type of nonsense. As of writing this letter, he has not had his passport returned. I suspect that is going to cost him even more than the US$3,000 he has paid the police already.

My advice to people thinking of visiting Phuket is always the same – just do not go there.

 

## Update- It is now clear the owner of the motorbike and hotel owner on Kata was behind this. The bike was indeed returned. She claims it wasn't. My mate offered to go buy a new bike with her, she refused. She wanted cash and the police demanded 67,000 baht although it was a second hand scooter worth maybe 15 to 20k tops. My friend had booked her Hotel in Kata for 6 nights but he said it was nothing like the images online and told the woman this. He stayed a couple of nights and said he was going back to Patong as it was a better Hotel. She was furious with him even though the hotel was empty and had like 2 rooms occupied. He unfortunately had one of her rental bikes and he suspects she just vanished the bike and got the coppers in Patong in on an earn to spite him for leaving her hotel. My friend the tattooist is absolutely livid. I've told him not to go taking revenge and leave it to us to "rectify" this. We go back a long way and I knew he wouldn't do this. I'd name and shame the Hotel as a warning to others but you can't name and shame here. I am going to the beach to sit where it's pure with my friend Pam. Pure and Pam.

Edited November 8, 2018 by logbags
update

[Jai Dee]

Topic move to the Phuket Forum.

 

/Moved.

[LivinginKata]

He should have been savvy enough to not let some one 'return' his rented bank. He is completely responsible as per the hire agreement which is usually full new bike price.

 

Police will never get off their bum to go search unless there is money in it for them. And they will get a cut of the new bike money. No scam with bike hire company. Just corruption with BiB.

[flyingtlger]

Welcome to Thailand.....

 

[logbags]

I go back 35 years on Phuket. I schooled this guy myself. He's traveled world wide for years and was just in Vietnam days ago. He was getting a tatt finished before flying home and the lackey offered to ride the bike back to Kata for him to save some time. The cunning owner took advantage of this and obviously hid the bike. Sure he should have taken the bike back himself but you say this aint a scam? This isn't over by a long way, you think the boys from Nakhon Si are going to let this go after losing face like this? There are any ways to skin a cat and revenge is a dish best eaten cold. I've been living quietly in Nakhon Si for the last 7 years and are well over this type of Phuket crap. This poor woman doesn't know who she's crossed. She'll be selling Som Tum in the back streets of Nakhon Nowhere by the time this is settled. Take that as a promise. This aint our first rodeo in dealing with scammers. I've been on the phone from Nakhon to Phuket to Australia for days about this. The damn cops had the passport, he had no choice, they basically muscled him and threatened him into getting their cash. His bank account was locked and the police had a guy posted outside his hotel to make sure he didn't do a runner until they got paid- total scumbags. They refused all negotiations, what does that tell you????

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, logbags said:

what does that tell you

Tells you that the BIB are very corrupt here and I know this through the dealings of a friend or two with them.

 

Someone should set up a "sting" with them and film it, then make it go viral...……….may hurt the place in the pocket vis a vis tourists, so that should rattle a few cages!

 

Thieving, lying bastards, most of them. 

[logbags]

At least you can spot them easily now. The King has insisted all police and army have the traditional flat top, shaved back and sides haircut. I work out at a local park where I live and a lot of guys I suspected to be coppers actually are. At least where I live now they never bother me. They see me working out and see I'm clean living so leave me be. The local Police brass try to work out and I've been introduced to the local Colonel in charge who is a walker. Never say much, just play the grey man and keep a low profile. Everyone knows me as that farang guy who works out at the park. Big fitness craze here with cycling and triathlon popular. 

[Psimbo]

My advice to people thinking of visiting Phuket is always the same – just do not go there.

 

Aww diddums- so no one should go there because your mate got burned. get real. For everyone that does get suckered there are plenty that don't.

 

This aint our first rodeo in dealing with scammers. 

 

You should have leared by now then shouldn't you? You are coming across as a right tosser. 

 

As for post #8 what has flexing in the park and haircuts got to do with anything. Roiders of the World unite, Dude (above comment refers).

Edited November 8, 2018 by Psimbo

[Joe Mcseismic]

Your mate committed the cardinal sin. By complaining about the hotel to the owner, your mate made her lose face.

He should have just said nothing and left for the other hotel.

[Spidey]

38 minutes ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

Your mate committed the cardinal sin. By complaining about the hotel to the owner, your mate made her lose face.

He should have just said nothing and left for the other hotel.

I have had problems with hotels in Thailand and other places in S.E. Asia, including Patong. pointless complaining at the hotel. I just drop a ton of s**t on them via TripAdvisor, Agoda, Google etc.

[Spidey]

9 hours ago, Psimbo said:

You should have leared by now then shouldn't you? You are coming across as a right tosser. 

 

As for post #8 what has flexing in the park and haircuts got to do with anything. Roiders of the World unite, Dude (above comment refers).

It might surprise you to learn that there are plenty of guys, living in Thailand, who don't see the need to put up with crap from the locals. Not all of them are "roiders". IMHO, those that do put up with all the crap are just spineless and would put up with the same crap in their own countries. I get where the guy's coming from.

[logbags]

I see the usual "I'm so street savvy it could never happen to me" type has to have his little say. Like we're all farking psychics and can know when someone is just going to suddenly scam us.

 

If I had even 10 baht for every <deleted> I've met like this over the years on Phuket, I'd be a millionaire. Check out his posts, sounds like the typical 20 year Google know it all by the style and tone of his writing. Us guys who have actually been around the block a few times know never to say 'serves you right' to anyone as we all could get caught up in some nefarious scam at any given time.

 

I have indeed been asked if I'm on roids, I take that as a compliment. It's good to see nothing has changed on Thai visa.com. LOL............

[logbags]

P.S When you see a person using the word "Dude" in a post, just stop. Wait until he reaches puberty before having a mature man's conversation with him.

 

If he continues with his nonsense, take his skateboard off him. ????

[Goldieinkathu]

I"m always grateful when someone informs me of a new scam.

It keeps me on my toes and reminds me not to think that I know it all after living here for over 20 years. Thanks.????

 

[Old Croc]

Wow, what a saga!

Firstly, the friend, an experienced traveler, was disappointed to find his booked hotel didn't look as good as the photos on line, duh.  Show me a cheap hotel anywhere on the planet that does!  If I read this correctly, he leaves the hotel early, thus depriving them of some expected income, argues with the owner, but retains a bike hired from her! Despite being "schooled" by a Phuket expert about scams, he decides to get a "lacky" to take the bike back rather than return it himself.  The scam kicks in, the hotel owner obviously knows some police who get in for a cut. No surprises there.

The OP then, for some reason, felt the need to insult Phuket expats, Phuket itself and posters on Thaivisa, while all the time extolling the virtues of his current Province/city which has a reputation as the murder capital of Thailand and the place to go to hire a hitman.

Also, it's mystifying why he felt the need to talk about haircuts, his workouts in the park and sitting on the beach with "Pure Pam"  !!!

 

Next time, rather than planning exposé films to let the world know about the evils of Phuket, just tell your friend to complain about scams and corruption through the proper channels

[xylophone]

17 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

Next time, rather than planning exposé films to let the world know about the evils of Phuket, just tell your friend to complain about scams and corruption through the proper channels

Oh come on OC, and just where would that get anyone?? 

 

Once the crooked BIB get in on a scheme, there is nowhere to go.....had that happen to friends here and it makes me sick how these b'stards get away with it, time and time again.

[grumpyoldman]

I would like to thank Logbags for notifying us all about this scam.

 

Renting a scooter and then letting someone else "return it"....hmmm I'll remember thats a bad idea next time I am in Phuket.

 

Letting that hotel owner know "she doesn't know who she has crossed" , Nakon revenge a skinned cat first rodeo, EXACTLY as a foreigner should proceed in Thailand.

[beechbum]

This is gonna be good.

Favourite bits so far:

They see me working out and see I'm clean living so leave me be.

just play the grey man and keep a low profile. Everyone knows me as that farang guy who works out at the park

Edited November 10, 2018 by beechbum

[Badrabbit]

Jeez lived in Phuket for 10yrs and never once had a problem with the police or been scammed, yes it does happen a lot but I have not been taken yet.

Sent from my SM-G610F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[logbags]

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

Wow, what a saga!

Firstly, the friend, an experienced traveler, was disappointed to find his booked hotel didn't look as good as the photos on line, duh. 

So just bend over and cop it? Pay for what was misrepresented.

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

Show me a cheap hotel anywhere on the planet that does!  If I read this correctly, he leaves the hotel early, thus depriving them of some expected income, argues with the owner, but retains a bike hired from her!

You think he doesn't know that? We all aint as smart as you obviously.

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

 

 

Despite being "schooled" by a Phuket expert about scams, he decides to get a "lacky" to take the bike back rather than return it himself. 

The guy returned it. You seem to be siding with a scammer. The guy who returned it thought he was doing a favor as my friend was sore from being tattooed. What farking planet do you live on where you think it is his fault? Yes, he was tired from traveling, he made an error in judgement, but he's 34 not 74 or whatever you are.

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

 

The scam kicks in, the hotel owner obviously knows some police who get in for a cut. No surprises there.

So again, as it has been done for 30 years and is a normal scam, we should all say never mind, just pay up, let's be mugs and let these dirty brown shirt wearing c@nts just do it over and over and over/

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

The OP then, for some reason, felt the need to insult Phuket expats, Phuket itself and posters on Thaivisa.

If you feel insulted you might need to harden the fark up princess. I hate the 'blame the victim' and 'I'm so smart it could never happen to me types' you get trolling here.

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

 

 

while all the time extolling the virtues of his current Province/city which has a reputation as the murder capital of Thailand and the place to go to hire a hitman.

Now who's using old Phuket born myths. I love the people in Nakhon as they are wonderful people. If you cross them no doubt they are vengeful.

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

Also, it's mystifying why he felt the need to talk about haircuts, his workouts in the park and sitting on the beach with "Pure Pam"  !!!

That's the name of the Hotel. You cannot name and shame so I chose to be cryptic. I said the police are now totally recognizable because of the mandatory haircut. That way newbies can remember that if approached by an out of uniform cop. I said I see off duty cops at the park, in the past I never was sure they were coppers but now I know they are because of the haircut. You following now old fella?

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

 

Next time, rather than planning exposé films to let the world know about the evils of Phuket, just tell your friend to complain about scams and corruption through the proper channels

Oh just fark off with that, proper channels? You mean the police? You've been on here for a decade and come out with that? You followed the story of Colin Vard by any chance? Try the Chalong coppers and see how well that goes.

[Old Croc]

1 hour ago, logbags said:

So just bend over and cop it? Pay for what was misrepresented.

You think he doesn't know that? We all aint as smart as you obviously.

The guy returned it. You seem to be siding with a scammer. The guy who returned it thought he was doing a favor as my friend was sore from being tattooed. What farking planet do you live on where you think it is his fault? Yes, he was tired from traveling, he made an error in judgement, but he's 34 not 74 or whatever you are.

So again, as it has been done for 30 years and is a normal scam, we should all say never mind, just pay up, let's be mugs and let these dirty brown shirt wearing c@nts just do it over and over and over/

If you feel insulted you might need to harden the fark up princess. I hate the 'blame the victim' and 'I'm so smart it could never happen to me types' you get trolling here.

Now who's using old Phuket born myths. I love the people in Nakhon as they are wonderful people. If you cross them no doubt they are vengeful.

That's the name of the Hotel. You cannot name and shame so I chose to be cryptic. I said the police are now totally recognizable because of the mandatory haircut. That way newbies can remember that if approached by an out of uniform cop. I said I see off duty cops at the park, in the past I never was sure they were coppers but now I know they are because of the haircut. You following now old fella?

Oh just fark off with that, proper channels? You mean the police? You've been on here for a decade and come out with that? You followed the story of Colin Vard by any chance? Try the Chalong coppers and see how well that goes.

Thanks for proving me right about your insults towards TVF posters. You really went to town in your response to my post calling me Princess, Old fellow and over guessing my age in an attempt to insult. At 56 you're not exactly a spring chicken yourself. I note you been a member here since 2004, so I'm a little surprised you felt the need to talk about how long I've been on the forum.  You did get one thing right, you and your mate are not particularly smart.

As you have some comprehension difficulties, I'll explain something. Not being surprised someone was scammed, does not equate to siding with the scammer.

I've also been scammed by Thais and farang since I've been living here to the point where I don't trust anyone anymore and am now extremely careful in all dealings. I don't whine about it to people on forums who don't give a crap, particularly if insults are included. I take whatever action I can and move on.

As far as the reputation of your current domicile is concerned it's not just a Phuket thing - google it.  I note you left Phuket for financial reasons, it is relatively expensive, not everyone can afford to live here. 

I love the people in Nakhon as they are wonderful people. If you cross them no doubt they are vengeful.

I was amused by this.

Since the army took over the country some things have changed. Some corruption has been identified and halted, and there are now places to take complaints. Google that too.  I still would never have dealings with the Chalong station because of it's reputation.

 

[OmarZaid]

On 11/8/2018 at 3:20 PM, xylophone said:

Tells you that the BIB are very corrupt here and I know this through the dealings of a friend or two with them.

 

Someone should set up a "sting" with them and film it, then make it go viral...……….may hurt the place in the pocket vis a vis tourists, so that should rattle a few cages!

 

Thieving, lying bastards, most of them. 

Had a friend who got scammed in Phuket, big time hotel development money, for millions by a Thai lady with a Chinese Thai boyfriend he didn't know about till push came to shove. In the end, he was lucky to get away with his life. A sit down was witnessed between Chinese Mob and Thai Military to settle the matter. Police were nowhere in sight except as hit men.

[billythehat]

5 hours ago, beechbum said:

This is gonna be good.

Favourite bits so far:

They see me working out and see I'm clean living so leave me be.

just play the grey man and keep a low profile. Everyone knows me as that farang guy who works out at the park

...just don't put sugar in his kerwoffee...????

[catman20]

what does that tell you.

He only had returned to Phuket to get a tattoo finished, having avoided the island for more than a decade after being previously cheated by police there.

 

it tells me hes a slow learner.

[Thingamabob]

Very strange story. In addition to some rather unconvincing details, those involved appear to have learned very little about how things work here. 

[Retiredandhappyhere]

 

Old Croc said":

Next time, rather than planning exposé films to let the world know about the evils of Phuket, just tell your friend to complain about scams and corruption through the proper channels

 

And, out of interest,  exactly what do you think that would achieve?

[4MyEgo]

Logbags, short and sweet, your friend was sore from having a tattoo and had his friend return the bike, ask yourself this, since you cannot see with your blinkers on, if the friend had smashed the bike, i.e. ride it off, would your friend not have to replace the bike.

 

The whole fact of the matter boils down to your friend giving the bike to another friend to return it, yes, this is Thailand and things work very differently than in Oz, streetwise I think not, your friend should have returned the bike at the same time he checked out, matter closed, and too be honest, I don't buy your version of the story, because there has to be more to it to piss the owner of the hotel off to the level that she would involve the cops and the cops get involved, they won't scam someone unless they know there is a reason and when they know that reason they will lock in, as you said, take the passport until the money is paid, ransom, sure, but ah, hello, it's Thailand and if you don't know how the system of corruption works here, it means your very naive, don't get me wrong, I can appreciate your anger/frustration etc etc, but it is what it is and your rant isn't going to change a thing as Thailand has survived as it has for how long, just have a look who is running the place and who is wearing 25 top notch watches while people are growing hungry.

 

If it gets too much, maybe best you look for an alternative country, Phuket, the cops and Thailand won't miss you or your friend as we are all dispensable here.

 

To close, just think if your friend took the bike back himself, do you think he would be in this predicament, sounds to me he sent his friend with the bike back to the hotel and also delivered the message of oh, my friend he not come back to your hotel, now that would have pissed the Thai owner to take the action she did, and he took on a little too much to chew, hence the end result, sometimes you have to face up to your responsibilities and let hotel owners know in person that the hotel is not up to scratch and that he will be making alternative arrangements, I personally have done that and have pissed an owner off, but that was his problem not mine, and what I do now when I book a new hotel, I book for an evening, advising them that if I like the room when I arrive, I will stay a further 6, 13, nights, so as not to be locked into an argument, and as for hiring scooters etc etc, not a chance in the world as insurance doesn't cover me and for a few hundred baht extra, I can have a car.

 

Time to move on, if you can....

[Russell17au]

I personally think that this story is a load of rubbish. Let me get this straight Logbags, you have stated that your friend has not been in Phukett for over a decade but he returned to have a tattoo FINISHED. No one is going to wait for more than a decade to get a tattoo finished and as for the police haircuts that is laughable because I know plenty of people with that type of haircut and they are not policemen. What an idiot.

[namatjira]

Hey dude, enjoy yourself in Vietnam and Cambodia.....

things will go better there for you...

[spiderzik]

Rental agreements only cover the person on the contract. He gave the bike keys away so this is not THEFT! same in any country. 

He 100 % has to pay for another bike. But of course is now screaming scam! its hilarious