Over 10 million confirmed for Rao Chana

[snoop1130]

Over 10 million confirmed for Rao Chana

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - More than 10.5 million people have confirmed their participation in the Rao Chana program via the Pao Tang application, after Krungthai Bank had to suspend and reopen the system due to high traffic.

 

Ministry of Finance Spokesperson Kulaya Tantitemit assured that participants in Rao Chana will receive an initial 2,000 baht immediately after confirming their identity and participation, with transfers to occur every Thursday until a total of 7,000 is paid to the individual. The funds can be used at Blue Flag stores, co-pay participating stores and other registered venues, equipped with the Toong Ngern application, between now and May 31.

 

People without smartphones, dependents and people who were previously unsuccessful at registering due to an information error can still apply at Krungthai Bank branches and mobile units. So far, 455,000 such individuals have successfully entered Rao Chana. From Monday February 22, registration can also be done at Government Savings Banks until March 5.

 

The spokesperson admitted some citizens and stores were misusing the program, prompting the Finance Ministry to coordinate with agencies, such as the Royal Thai Police, to investigate and take legal action. Those found misusing either the Pao Tang or Toong Ngern applications will have their participation revoked and will be subject to legal action.

 

Regarding social media posts, saying pensioners will receive Rao Chana funds without having to register, the spokesperson clarified that the claims are untrue and asked that such news not be circulated.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-02-19

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[PatOngo]

Let's see how long till they find a way to rort this one! 

[mtls2005]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

More than 10.5 million people have confirmed their participation in the Rao Chana program

 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

So far, 455,000 such individuals have successfully entered Rao Chana.

 

A bit confusing.

 

And 10.5 million times 7,000 baht is a lot of baht.

 

In about six months we'll start to get the first trickle of corruption with this scheme, starting with dead people getting the 7,000.

 

 

[phetphet]

You underestimate the Thais. Someone will have a profitable system up from day one. 

[phetphet]

9 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

 

A bit confusing.

 

And 10.5 million times 7,000 baht is a lot of baht.

 

In about six months we'll start to get the first trickle of corruption with this scheme, starting with dead people getting the 7,000.

 

 

 

You underestimate the Thais. Someone will have a profitable system up from day one. 

 

[sandyf]

34 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

 

A bit confusing.

 

And 10.5 million times 7,000 baht is a lot of baht.

 

In about six months we'll start to get the first trickle of corruption with this scheme, starting with dead people getting the 7,000.

 

 

What is confusing, the 455K refers to those that have registered without a smartphone, they get a card that has to be scanned.

 

I would have thought that the facial recognition would have made it a bit difficult to use the deceased. There is little doubt that some will find a way to abuse the system but it is not so easy as you seem to think.

The travel scheme was done in a hurry which led to many flaws, been a lot of updates since then.

[mtls2005]

38 minutes ago, phetphet said:

You underestimate the Thais. Someone will have a profitable system up from day one. 

 

Of course.

 

But we won't hear about the fraud and corruption for at least six months, if past performance is any indication of future performance.

 

3 minutes ago, sandyf said:

There is little doubt that some will find a way to abuse the system but it is not so easy as you seem to think.

 

So there will be corruption, but it will be challenging? That's your position? Faking receipts and offering kick-backs is the simplest approach, but there are many leak points so stay tuned.

[Peterw42]

Its not like the Thaivisa membership to be negative, lol

Thais will rort the system, there will be corruption etc

 

These stimulus packages actually do a lot of good, gets some money to the people who actually need it, helps small businesses keep the doors open etc.

I literally know of a couple of Thai people where the stimulus is the difference between eating and not eating.

[gunderhill]

Like a plague  of  locusts........social distancing , who gives a f...

[mtls2005]

4 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

Its not like the Thaivisa membership to be negative, lol

 

We can all agree that there are millions of Thais living close to the edge of eating/not eating.

 

We can all agree that government hand--outs are good if they reach the most deserving people.

 

But we are also realistic, and we've seen staggering reports of corruption. The lets go halves and travel subsidy programs have been reported as having thousands of cases of fraud.

 

There is a differrence between being realistic and being negative.

 

Let's just agree to re-visit this program in six months, then we can evaluate the cost/benefit/corruption (if any).

 

 

9 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

I literally know of a couple of Thai people where the stimulus is the difference between eating and not eating.

 

"Literally"?

 

Knowing them is sufficient.

 

 

Can you share any details? They have smartphones? They were able to enroll (by paper)? How are they using their funds? Can they use them anywhere? How was the initial 2,000 baht delivered?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Peterw42]

4 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Can you share any details? They have smartphones? They were able to enroll (by paper)? How are they using their funds? Can they use them anywhere? How was the initial 2,000 baht delivered?

The old couple I know of (they live next door to my Thai brother in law, who helps them out) queued up and enrolled at the bank as they dont have phones. Yesterday they went and bought a big sack of rice, some eggs and cooking oil. I believe most stalls at their local wet market are part of the scheme and they can shop there. I think they have a card with a unique QR code that links via the vendors phone, to a virtual account that shows the balance.

The phone app uses a virtual wallet, the 2,000 was delivered at 6 am yesterday, as a credit in the virtual wallet

[mtls2005]

So if the vendor charges them 100 baht for 50 baht worth of goods...

 

Is that a good thing or a bad thing, or a Thai thing?

 

(I'd lean toward good/Thai, as at least they're getting some food.)

 

 

[4MyEgo]

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

The travel scheme was done in a hurry which led to many flaws, been a lot of updates since then.

 

We have used it twice, staying at 5 star hotels for a pittance when you take into consideration the reduced package deals they offer, then another 40% off, only thing is we have used the 14 nights validity.

 

Wife says as there are no more rooms available as the system has achieved what it wanted to achieve, and now says they will do another, I hope so, because living the 5 star life for this otherwise, budget conscious Charlie has been fantastic of late.

[Peterw42]

4 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

We have used it twice, staying at 5 star hotels for a pittance when you take into consideration the reduced package deals they offer, then another 40% off, only thing is we have used the 14 nights validity.

 

Wife says as there are no more rooms available as the system has achieved what it wanted to achieve, and now says they will do another, I hope so, because living the 5 star life for this otherwise, budget conscious Charlie has been fantastic of late.

 

We did a couple of nights in a resort, really enjoyed it.

At the end of the day it does work because otherwise we wouldn't have made the trip. besides the hotel getting some money, we probably spent a couple of thousand baht at the local somtum, BBQ stand. had a coffee etc

[mtls2005]

12 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Wife says as there are no more rooms available as the system has achieved what it wanted to achieve

 

Program was shut down due to fraud.

 

 

15 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

We have used it twice, staying at 5 star hotels for a pittance

 

Can you share any details? Property? Location? Thanks.

 

Police chief reveals massive fraud on We Travel Together scheme centred on a small Chaiyaphum resort

 

Police hold a press conference at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters in Bangkok where a top Crime Suppression Division officer revealed over ฿120 million in fraudulent claims in Chaiyaphum and Phuket. Hundreds of suspects are reported to be linked to the orchestrated fraud schemes in both provinces.

 

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2021/01/28/police-chief-massive-fraud-we-travel-together-scheme-chaiyaphum-resort/

 

 

Hundreds of tourism operators face fraud charges for allegedly cheating subsidy scheme

 

Hundreds of tourism operators face fraud charges for allegedly cheating the government’s “We Travel Together” subsidy scheme which was intended to help tourism businesses financially hit by the coronavirus pandemic and stimulate travel.

 

Instead of lowering prices to draw in more travellers, some hoteliers and restaurateurs allegedly raised their prices to get more subsidies. The scheme paid 40% of room rates for travellers and offered e-vouchers worth 600 baht to 900 baht for a traveller’s daily spending. Apparently, there were even fake hotel bookings, including from hotels that were no longer open, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, or TAT.

 

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/hundreds-of-tourism-operators-face-fraud-charges-for-allegedly-cheating-subsidy-scheme

 

 

 

[4MyEgo]

19 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

 

We did a couple of nights in a resort, really enjoyed it.

At the end of the day it does work because otherwise we wouldn't have made the trip. besides the hotel getting some money, we probably spent a couple of thousand baht at the local somtum, BBQ stand. had a coffee etc

 

We usually stay at a 3 star hotel that caters for 2 adults and 2 kids, i.e. kids get a double bunk bed, so non of this paying extra 2 x $hit fold up beds, and our budget is usually 2,000 baht per night including breakfast.

 

The 5 star we stayed at gave us an 80m2 ocean front room with fold out sofa for the kids with a fantastic mattress, not the usual $hit fold out type, check in at 10am, check out at 4pm, 5 night stay with complimentary food, beverage, massage vouchers to the value of 6,000 baht, all for 12,300 baht or 2,460 baht per night, down from the usual 7,500 baht per night, so for an extra 460 baht compared to what we would normally pay in our 3 star pre pandemic state, it's an absolute bargain. 

 

As we live far from the hotel, we check into the 3 star at 6pm, now around 1,000 baht per night after the 40% reduction, sleep, wake up, have breakfast, and check out at 9.45am, drive up the road to the 5 star and enjoy, on the way back, instead of leaving early, we check out at 4pm, the agree check out time and drive back down the road to the 3 star for the night, then wake up at 6am have breakfast and then leave to be home by 6pm. So for a weeks holiday, 5 nights in a 5 star, 2 in a 3 star for basically sleeping and breakfast, the 14,300 baht outlay works out to around what our budget was for the 3 star pre Covid, e.g. 2,000 baht per night.

 

Lets not forget the Thai government also give you 900 baht per night for food Mon-Thu, and 600 baht per night for Fri-Sun.

 

Like I said before, hope they give another 14 nights, because at those rates we are very happy to contribute to the Thai economy, showing our support ????
 

[4MyEgo]

40 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Program was shut down due to fraud.

 

 

 

Can you share any details? Property? Location? Thanks.

 

Police chief reveals massive fraud on We Travel Together scheme centred on a small Chaiyaphum resort

 

Police hold a press conference at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters in Bangkok where a top Crime Suppression Division officer revealed over ฿120 million in fraudulent claims in Chaiyaphum and Phuket. Hundreds of suspects are reported to be linked to the orchestrated fraud schemes in both provinces.

 

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2021/01/28/police-chief-massive-fraud-we-travel-together-scheme-chaiyaphum-resort/

 

 

Hundreds of tourism operators face fraud charges for allegedly cheating subsidy scheme

 

Hundreds of tourism operators face fraud charges for allegedly cheating the government’s “We Travel Together” subsidy scheme which was intended to help tourism businesses financially hit by the coronavirus pandemic and stimulate travel.

 

Instead of lowering prices to draw in more travellers, some hoteliers and restaurateurs allegedly raised their prices to get more subsidies. The scheme paid 40% of room rates for travellers and offered e-vouchers worth 600 baht to 900 baht for a traveller’s daily spending. Apparently, there were even fake hotel bookings, including from hotels that were no longer open, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, or TAT.

 

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/hundreds-of-tourism-operators-face-fraud-charges-for-allegedly-cheating-subsidy-scheme

 

 

 

 

I recall the system was shut down for a brief while when they found out about the fraud, that said, it was reinstated and we booked our holiday on the 30th January 2021 for April, and the hotel has confirmed that they have receive payment, i.e. wife did everything via the app/wallet whatever you call it.

 

From what the wife now tells me, reading from their website, there are no more rooms available as the system has fulfilled it's objective, and may do it again as it proved to be a success, make of that what you will.

[mtls2005]

5 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

I recall the system was shut down for a brief while when they found out about the fraud, that said, it was reinstated and we booked our holiday on the 30th January 2021 for April, and the hotel has confirmed that they have receive payment, i.e. wife did everything via the app/wallet whatever you call it.

 

From what the wife now tells me, reading from their website, there are no more rooms available as the system has fulfilled it's objective, and may do it again as it proved to be a success, make of that what you will.

 

So which properties did you stay at?

 

And which properties are you staying at in April?

 

 

[Venom]

Note to self: Avoid Krungthai Bank. 

[ChipButty]

My wife spoke to a young guy we know who does the markets selling Kebabs, he said he was doing good business 

[mtls2005]

Ouch!

 

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

The two base jumpers nearest the camera in that photograph only wanted to get to the top floor.....

[sandyf]

On 2/20/2021 at 8:20 AM, mtls2005 said:

 

Of course.

 

But we won't hear about the fraud and corruption for at least six months, if past performance is any indication of future performance.

 

 

So there will be corruption, but it will be challenging? That's your position? Faking receipts and offering kick-backs is the simplest approach, but there are many leak points so stay tuned.

Not my position, just the position of governments globally. Try adding 'perspective' to your vocabulary.

[sandyf]

23 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

So if the vendor charges them 100 baht for 50 baht worth of goods...

Do you really believe that vendors have 2 prices on the goods, one for those on the scheme and one for those not? - sad.

[mtls2005]

5 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Do you really believe that vendors have 2 prices on the goods, one for those on the scheme and one for those not? - sad.

 

Well, this wasn't my idea. It's already been identified in the press that this is just one method of defrauding the lets go halves "scheme".

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit said the Ministry of Commerce has been receiving complaints of vendors participating in the co-pay campaign who allegedly priced their items higher than usual or failed to put up a clear price display in an attempt to receive a bigger payment from the government.

 

https://bangkokherald.com/business/hundreds-defrauding-go-halves-co-pay-scheme-to-be-prosecuted/

 

And yes, I agree that it is "sad.

 

Just one reason the minister (Commerce, Jurin) is in hot water.

[sandyf]

23 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

We have used it twice, staying at 5 star hotels for a pittance when you take into consideration the reduced package deals they offer, then another 40% off, only thing is we have used the 14 nights validity.

 

Wife says as there are no more rooms available as the system has achieved what it wanted to achieve, and now says they will do another, I hope so, because living the 5 star life for this otherwise, budget conscious Charlie has been fantastic of late.

We have had 17 nights away under the scheme, some under family members entitlement, all very good. Even had the discount on flights to Krabbi and CM.

Only real letdown was the last two nights over new year in Pattaya, the restrictions made the hotel bar the only one available but even though it was almost empty still special new year prices.

[petermik]

On 2/20/2021 at 12:31 AM, phetphet said:

You underestimate the Thais. Someone will have a profitable system up from day one. 

I learnt last night a rather intrepid business lady here in Pattaya is "converting" the 2000 baht phone app and after her 200 baht "commission" is taken out the customer receives 1800 baht in cash....

They`re very savvy these Thai folk where money is concerned.....

 

 

 

[mtls2005]

7 hours ago, petermik said:

I learnt last night a rather intrepid business lady here in Pattaya is "converting" the 2000 baht phone app and after her 200 baht "commission" is taken out the customer receives 1800 baht in cash....

They`re very savvy these Thai folk where money is concerned.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfer of one's subsidy scheme rights to another 'a criminal offence'

 

Exchanging or transferring one's rights under the "Rao Chana" (We Win) scheme may be considered an act of fraud, the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) warned on Sunday.

In a Facebook post, the CSD said rights under the scheme cannot be exchanged for cash or be transferred to others in the same way as the “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) tourism stimulus scheme.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402883

[phetphet]

7 hours ago, petermik said:

I learnt last night a rather intrepid business lady here in Pattaya is "converting" the 2000 baht phone app and after her 200 baht "commission" is taken out the customer receives 1800 baht in cash....

They`re very savvy these Thai folk where money is concerned.....

 

 

 

There you go....illegal or not. People are desperate for money,  and with LINE and Facebook, how long before that little idea is being used countrywide? And that is only one scheme.

[Andrew Dwyer]

28 minutes ago, phetphet said:

There you go....illegal or not. People are desperate for money,  and with LINE and Facebook, how long before that little idea is being used countrywide? And that is only one scheme.

My gf was offered the same deal by a young lady on a stall in a mall, can return any amount of money to the owner of the app ( up to 2000 baht currently) for a 10% commission .