Taxi Touts

[Shrubbery]

At primary school, I recall being told never accept something from a stranger. (I could have seen loads of puppies and had loads of strawberry sherberts)

As an adult, I know that I should keep an eye on my drink.

On a personal note. Unless I opend my own bottle/can. I want to see my drink opened in front of me.

[Shrubbery]

There's no shame in being wrong. Getting things wrong is the only way to truly find what's right. I'm delighted to say I'm wrong more times than I'm right.

Read Karl Popper's great work, Conjectures and Refutations. My bible.

Think I will pass on Mr Popper.

[mikethevigoman]

There's no shame in being wrong. Getting things wrong is the only way to truly find what's right. I'm delighted to say I'm wrong more times than I'm right.

Read Karl Popper's great work, Conjectures and Refutations. My bible.

Think I will pass on Mr Popper.

Can i have yours ?

[ballbreaker]

Never thought my question would cause such controversy.

Back from Samui and Phangan and GF back working at airport. She works for travel agent and in addition to normal travel agent work they provide greet service to people that desire connection help from airport to hotel. Most of their clients are women traveling alone, families and tour groups, and is usually prepaid.

She has been unable to find copy of article but friends at airport say it was in Thai newspaper last week. It detailed the arrest of the people responsible for the drugging incidents.

She can confirm that most if not all of the touts are now gone. Very few are still around but they are being hunted down by uniformed and plain cloths police. She was confronted by a plain cloths cop, and yes she asked to see ID, after they noticed her hanging around airport for extended period. He wanted detailed info on why she was there. After explaining her purpose he wanted to see some type of document backing up her activities, which she had. They said she and others are being watched so their activities better remain legit. She was also told that cars her company use for the service must have yellow tags or she and the driver will be fined.

[bendix]

You're obsessed with touts, arent you ballbreaker? This must be the third or fourth thread you've started on the subject. What's the story?

[samran]

There's no shame in being wrong. Getting things wrong is the only way to truly find what's right. I'm delighted to say I'm wrong more times than I'm right.

Read Karl Popper's great work, Conjectures and Refutations. My bible.

Is this the same Mr Popper who invented popper buttons for baby clothes? If so, I take my hat off....a life saver to all parents.

[bendix]

No, that was his cousin Peter Popper.

Karl invented critical rationalism.

[farang prince]

Urban Myth?

Not a chance.

Sad but true. It happens every day.

A close friend was recently slipped somthing. Knocked him out!

My family ran a small hotel in Bangkok. 2 or 3 times a year, some guest would get drugged. Sleep for 2 days sometimes.

Yet another 'it happened to a close friend' etc etc yadda yadda yadda

Come on - surely if it happens every day it MUST have happened at least once to one of our 40,000 members.

you can't really be surprised at the silence ,

not the kind of thing one would be in a hurry to admit to on a public forum ...............

Actually, I had a similar experience. I flew from the USA to Bkk and had difficulty sleeping on the plane. My Thai ladyboy met me at the airport. We went to her place, had some great sex. And I slept for almost 14 hours!!!! Wow, that jet lag and a sexy ladyboy sure knocked me out. Funny thing is, my money and my clothes and my ladyboy were still there the next day. Amazing.

[ballbreaker]

You're obsessed with touts, arent you ballbreaker? This must be the third or fourth thread you've started on the subject. What's the story?

Not really but unlike yourself I like to ask questions that create useful dialog.

[bendix]

True. Your contributions here are renowned and admired.

Thanks for making the effort.

[mcd]

Actually, I had a similar experience. I flew from the USA to Bkk and had difficulty sleeping on the plane. My Thai ladyboy met me at the airport. We went to her place, had some great sex. And I slept for almost 14 hours!!!! Wow, that jet lag and a sexy ladyboy sure knocked me out. Funny thing is, my money and my clothes and my ladyboy were still there the next day. Amazing.

isn't this thread about taxi touts, or people being drugged? what does your post have anything to do with the topic???

[carnival1200]

Here's a simple challenge. Has anyone on this board ever personally been drugged and had all their goods taken from them? From this board it would seem everyone has heard of such stories but it's always hearsay - friend of a friend-type stuff. So, let's have some actual experiences.

Me? No. Never. Largely cos I think it's yet another farang urban myth.

Anyone?

As for so-called touts. They exist at every airport I travel to, without exception. In the last few months I've been approached variously at Heathrow, LAX, Beijing, Jakarta, Singapore and KL. Oh, and Narita too.

It's very very easy to say no.

This is not am urban myth and it is dangerous for you to suggest.  It wasnt so many years ago that a number of ferang tourists were taken by taxi from Don Muang, after being touted, and mudered.  Their bodys were found in shallow graves about 10kms or so from the airport.  This made very littke news internationaly but the thais did bring in measures to protect tourists by using the ticket system for all registered taxis.  Thing is about touts at the new airport, most unsuspecting tourists wouldnt even think they were touts as they operate in such a position that they seem official - right outside arrivals.  

And why do you say so called touts.  what are they if not touts.  And you have never been touted at heathrow - impossible

[bendix]

And you have never been touted at heathrow - impossible

Oh . well maybe I'm mistaken then, but when my Cathay Pacific flight landed at Heathrow in the early hours of Tuesday 23 April, and when I was sitting having an early morning post-flight coffee before heading to my hotel, the swarthy looking gentleman who came up to me and said "Where are you going Sir, would you like a ride into town from 30 pounds" was what exactly?

Despite being an 'unsuspecting visitor', guess what I did? It took a lot of initiative and courage of course, but I raised my eye from the sports pages, swallowed my recently sipped portion of a dodgy latte and came right out with it as bold as brass. "No thanks mate, I'm ok."

[carnival1200]

And you have never been touted at heathrow - impossible

Oh . well maybe I'm mistaken then, but when my Cathay Pacific flight landed at Heathrow in the early hours of Tuesday 23 April, and when I was sitting having an early morning post-flight coffee before heading to my hotel, the swarthy looking gentleman who came up to me and said "Where are you going Sir, would you like a ride into town from 30 pounds" was what exactly?

Despite being an 'unsuspecting visitor', guess what I did? It took a lot of initiative and courage of course, but I raised my eye from the sports pages, swallowed my recently sipped portion of a dodgy latte and came right out with it as bold as brass. "No thanks mate, I'm ok."

Ok i cant dispute that, but taxi drivers do not wonder around heathrow coffee shops. However,you dont correct the major issue here.  What exactly is your point - dangerous in heathrow, not to worry in BKK.

I stated facts, as you know - not myths.  There is no issue with Heathrow taxi touts

Further, i bet he didnt follow you to the toilet and keep harrasing you. and was he one of many - come on!!

Edited June 13, 2007 by carnival1200

[technocracy]

And you have never been touted at heathrow - impossible

Oh . well maybe I'm mistaken then, but when my Cathay Pacific flight landed at Heathrow in the early hours of Tuesday 23 April, and when I was sitting having an early morning post-flight coffee before heading to my hotel, the swarthy looking gentleman who came up to me and said "Where are you going Sir, would you like a ride into town from 30 pounds" was what exactly?

Despite being an 'unsuspecting visitor', guess what I did? It took a lot of initiative and courage of course, but I raised my eye from the sports pages, swallowed my recently sipped portion of a dodgy latte and came right out with it as bold as brass. "No thanks mate, I'm ok."

Ok i cant dispute that, but taxi drivers do not wonder around heathrow coffee shops. However,you dont correct the major issue here.  What exactly is your point - dangerous in heathrow, not to worry in BKK.

I stated facts, as you know - not myths.  There is no issue with Heathrow taxi touts

Further, i bet he didnt follow you to the toilet and keep harrasing you. and was he one of many - come on!!

Ah come off it - Heathrow has got loads of dodgy touts hanging around outside the arrivals! They all wait as you walk out to the taxi ranks - I don't know why your trying to defend that sh*thole of an airport!!

[carnival1200]

And you have never been touted at heathrow - impossible

Oh . well maybe I'm mistaken then, but when my Cathay Pacific flight landed at Heathrow in the early hours of Tuesday 23 April, and when I was sitting having an early morning post-flight coffee before heading to my hotel, the swarthy looking gentleman who came up to me and said "Where are you going Sir, would you like a ride into town from 30 pounds" was what exactly?

Despite being an 'unsuspecting visitor', guess what I did? It took a lot of initiative and courage of course, but I raised my eye from the sports pages, swallowed my recently sipped portion of a dodgy latte and came right out with it as bold as brass. "No thanks mate, I'm ok."

Ok i cant dispute that, but taxi drivers do not wonder around heathrow coffee shops. However,you dont correct the major issue here.  What exactly is your point - dangerous in heathrow, not to worry in BKK.

I stated facts, as you know - not myths.  There is no issue with Heathrow taxi touts

Further, i bet he didnt follow you to the toilet and keep harrasing you. and was he one of many - come on!!

Ah come off it - Heathrow has got loads of dodgy touts hanging around outside the arrivals! They all wait as you walk out to the taxi ranks - I don't know why your trying to defend that sh*thole of an airport!!

If you read my post regarding the murder of tourists who had taken taxis from Don Muang you may understand that my point is not to defend Heathrow but to underline the dangers of taking taxis through touts at BKK airport.   Read and understand before you leap in with your ludicrous statements.  I hate going through heathrow as much as most people.  The point is - are you listening - dangers of taking taxis through touts at BKK airport. Taxis at ranks are not touts. Taxis at ranks are not touts. Taxi touts do not operate from ranks.

[Baan Kiki]

One more thing.

I've this afternoon received a PM from another respected TVer who tells me he was similarly drugged recently.

Perhaps it's more common than my cynicism will allow me to see.

I hereby accept that the whole premise of my argument could be wrong, and if someone will fetch me my sword, I shall happily fall on it.

But only after I've finished wiping the srambled off my face.

Mea culpa again.

Bendix, I take my hat off to you.

Not many people on this forum admit that they "may" be wrong.

Same. Same me . used to be big headed :- perfect now

[lazeeboy]

One more thing.

I've this afternoon received a PM from another respected TVer who tells me he was similarly drugged recently.

Perhaps it's more common than my cynicism will allow me to see.

I hereby accept that the whole premise of my argument could be wrong, and if someone will fetch me my sword, I shall happily fall on it.

But only after I've finished wiping the srambled off my face.

Mea culpa again.

Bendix, I take my hat off to you.

Not many people on this forum admit that they "may" be wrong.

Same. Same me . used to be big headed :- perfect now

while theres passengers coming to thailand there will always be taxi touts,same the world over

[tartempion]

And Oh, Bendix, whilst we are at it, some 10 years ago an aquiantance who stayed in the same hotel did not show up on time for an outing. I went to look for him, had hotel staff open his room, foun him drugged, took severall weeks to have him recover, long story I am not going to lay down here, only had small money on him when it happened.

Since it did not happen to me, just to a guy who stayed at my hotel, for you this will part of the ongoing urban myth.

Ahhhhh .. another story where it happened to an acquaintance. A story in which the teller of the story can't talk knowledgeably about it because it didnt happen to them . . . . Okkkaaaaaaay.

I repeat my challenge.

This urban myth seems to always happen to a friend of a friend. There are 40,000 members here, 95% of whom I would guess have been to Thailand.

Can anyone tell us their experiences of being drugged and robbed.

I'm willing to suspend my disbelief when I hear a credible story. Until then, it's all hearsay and bullshit repeated be people with too much imagination.

Ah, my story is not credible?

Are you credible then?

I repeat: The man was sick, I found him in his room, brought him to the hospital who diagnosed drugging, I took care of the man, took him to Sangklaburi to recover, his money was stolen, but he had a locker with valuables, no big harm done there, but he did not look good for the next five days.

OK, you'll conclude he was a case of eating bad som tam.

Oh, and yes I did get robbed in Thailand, but not drugged. Of no interest to you, since your question is about getting robbed AND drugged.

Sorry for waisting your time, many of your post are waisting mine, so we're quit.

Edited June 17, 2007 by tartempion

[tartempion]

Can anyone confirm if taxi touts are gone out of airport. While in Samui on holiday, my GF, who works at airport, received a call from friend saying that was the case. Friend says in two seperate incidents a tourist going to Pattaya accepted offer from pretty tout. In van individual was offered drink and then woke on side of motorway minus all baggage and money. Has anyone heard anything about this?

To the OP:

I landed Savanaboum 7 June at 12.00 am, unfortunately but not surpringly some touts stood in my way at exit C before heading down to the taxi booth at level 1. I make fun to hit them with my luggage cart though. And No they had not moved the taxi stand to arrivals level yet....

Edited June 17, 2007 by tartempion

[Furbie]

Well, while these stories are not taxi related, here are some solid examples of druggings in Pattaya. If this is not good enough "proof", then I am at a loss as to know what is.

Two Nepalese men drugged and robbed in South Pattaya Hotel. Two suspects arrested

Saturday 17th March 2007, Pattaya City News

These pictures come from the Baiyoke Hotel on the Pratamnuk Road in South Pattaya where Police and rescue workers were called to the location at 4am on Saturday after Hotel staff reported a suspected drugging and robbery of two Nepalese Tourists. Police Colonel Sutin, the Chief of Pattaya Police attended the incident which saw two Hotel Guests, Mr. Satya Kayastha aged 33 and his traveling companion sent to Hospital in unconscious states. It was suspected they had been drugged, a theory supported by the presence of sleeping tablets on the sideboard.

Suspicions were initially aroused when the two men were seen by the Reception Staff taking two Thai women back to their room. Less than one hour later the women left the Hotel and appeared to be acting in an unusual manner. They were detained by Hotel Security as they were about to leave in a Black Toyota Vios driven by a friend of the two female suspects, Khun Pisamai aged 30 and Khun Surirat aged 26. Khun Aeg aged 28, the driver of the car was also detained but was later released after Police determined he was unaware of what the two women were up to.

Inside the car, many fake ID cards and a further bag of sleeping tablets matching those found inside the Hotel room occupied by the Nepalese men were found. Items such as Gold necklaces, mobile phones, digital cameras and money were seized as evidence and the two women have been charged and incarcerated pending a court appearance and have also been connected with another case from the Moonlight Hotel in Naklua which took place on 21st October 2006. The two Nepalese victims are recovering in Hospital.

Two Bar workers drugged and robbed after a night of fun with three men.29th January 2007

Police Lieutenant Colonel Omsin from Pattaya Police Station was called to an apartment complex in Soi 11 off the Central Pattaya Road on Saturday Afternoon after receiving information regarding two Thai women who had been reportedly drugged and robbed by three men, one of which was thought to be of Cambodian Origin. Khun Machooree and Khun Samuan , both aged 22, were clearly in a dazed state but were able to explain to Police that they worked in a Beer Bar in Soi 9 off of Pattaya Beach Road. The previous night, they had become friendly with a group of three men; two were thought to be Thai and the other Cambodian. The two women were taken to a nearby Karaoke Bar after they finished work and the men were then invited back to the victim's apartment to continue the party. More beer and whisky was consumed and the two then claimed they passed out and the next morning they woke up and realized that a mobile phone, a 1/4 Baht-weighted Gold necklace, a 2 Baht-weighted Gold bracelet and some costume jewelry along with 5,000 Baht in cash was stolen. At this point, the pair called the Police who are now investigating the case further based on descriptions received from the two victims.

Two Pakistan Men drugged and robbed in Central Pattaya Guest House

12th March 2007

Police Lieutenant Colonel Santi from Pattaya Police Station was called to the Arisa B&B Guest House in Central Pattaya, over the weekend, after the receptionist was alerted by a Pakistani Guest that he suspected he and his friend had just been drugged and robbed by two working girls. Police and rescue units arrived and attended to Mr. Shatbir Ahmen aged 64 and Mr. Rathore Loung aged 51. Both men were staying in the same room and both were in a semi-conscious state. Khun Pornrawee, the hotel receptionist explained to Police that the two men checked in on 9th March and in the early hours of Sunday Morning the two men brought two Thai women back to their room. One hour after the group arrived, the two women left the Guest House in a hurry and moments later, the alarm was raised by Mr. Ahmen. The Hotel failed to keep details of the two Thai women and no CCTV cameras are installed at this small Guest House. Police have no idea what was stolen as both men are still recovering from the effects of the drugs they were given. Further investigations will take place over the coming days.

Dubai man drugged and robbed by Pattaya Beach Sex Worker

20th February 2007

We now take you to the Midtown Inn located on the Pratamnuk Road opposite the Marine Plaza Hotel. Police were called to the location at around 1pm on Tuesday Afternoon after information relating to a Hotel Guest who was reportedly wandering around the grounds of the Guest House in a dazed state was received. We joined Police who found the man; Mr. Joseph Funey aged 30 from Dubai, wandering around in a confused state. He managed to explain to Police that he had checked into the Hotel at 2am earlier that morning with a woman he had picked up from Pattaya Beach known as "Namfon". Hotel staff checked his room at 1pm after he failed to checkout at Midday and found the confused man. Mr. Funey further explained that he remembered the woman using a spray directed at his face. He then passed out and was awoken by Hotel Staff in the afternoon. Details regarding any stolen items could not be taken from the victim who was still feeling the effects of the spray. He is now in Hospital and will be questioned further when he recovers. We must warn viewers that taken women or men from the beach back to your Hotel room, house or apartment exposes you to a significant risk and we ask you to think twice before taking such a person back to your abode.

Drowsy German Tourist apparently drugged by transsexual on Pattaya Beach but nothing was stolen

21st February 2007

On Wednesday Afternoon, we joined a Sawang Boriboon Rescue Unit on Pattaya Beach who was called to deal with a foreign man who was apparently sleeping on the beach. The man was spotted by two Pattaya City Hall Security Officers who attempted to rouse the man who appeared extremely drowsy. Mr. Harry Timm aged 58 from Germany mentioned that he thought that he may have been drugged by a transsexual selling sex on the beach. Mr. Timm claims that nothing was stolen and he decided that he wanted to be sent back to his Hotel rather than to Hospital. No further action was taken by Police who also attended the scene.

Two more Indian Tourists drugged and robbed from their Hotel room

9th February 2007

We now take you to the Golden Beach Resort and to room number 2001 on the 2nd floor occupied by two Indian Tourists. It appears that organized gangs of working girls are now operating in the Pattaya Area who will lace drinks with sleeping tablets to allow them time to steal valuable items from Hotel Rooms. They tend to target mainly Indian Tourists; however incidents involving other nationalities have been reported by us. Mr. Nilantha Peiris aged 35 and Mr. Chaminda Rathasin aged 36 were discovered by a Hotel Security Guard who decided to check on them after they were seen taking two women back to their room who left quickly about one hour later. An Ambulance was called after both men were found in semi-conscious states. They were both taken to Hospital where they are now recovering from the effects of an overdose of sleeping tablets. Police have managed to speak with them and the men claim that over 100 US Dollars in cash was taken from the room. Police are now checking the Hotel CCTV cameras, but for now, the identity of the two suspected thieves is unknown.

Finnish man drugged and robbed from his Hotel Room by Bar Girl

6th January 2007

Tourist Police dealt with this case of suspected drugging and robbery of a Finnish man on Friday Night. The victim is Mr. Hannu Sakari Gustafsson aged 52 who alerted Police after he woke up from an unplanned sleep and realized that his drink had been spiked and his room had been robbed. He told Police that he had taken a woman from a local beer bar located opposite Mike Shopping Mall earlier that night and the pair went back to his room in View Talay Condominium in Jomtien. Mr. Gustafsson was offered a beer by the 20 year old bar worker which was accepted. He then became drowsy and passed out. He woke up to find a mobile phone and an undisclosed amount of money had been stolen. Mr. Gustafsson accompanied Police back to the bar and the suspect was located and taken to Pattaya Police Station where she is assisting Police with their enquiries. At this time, no criminal charges have been brought against her.

Three Indian's drugged and robbed from their South Pattaya Hotel room

20th January 2007

This story comes from the Champ Hotel off the Pratamnuk Road in South Pattaya and was dealt with by the Tourist Police who responded to a call from Hotel Staff who were alerted by the occupants of room number 603 that they had been drugged and robbed. Mr. Narendeg Kumar aged 40, Mr. Ravi Bhatt aged 30 and Mr. Kailash Agrawal aged 34 all from India were taken to Hospital in semi-conscious states. The victims were unable to explain exactly what had been stolen. The hotel reception was able to give Police copies of the ID cards taken from two women who were seen to accompany the three men to their room. Arrest warrants for Khun Waraporn aged 24 and Khun Radringrat aged 28 have now been issued, but as yet, they remain at large. Police are also waiting for the victims to recover from the effects of the drugs they were given to determine what was stolen and how the drugs were administered.

German drugged and robbed. His boyfriend is prime suspect

23rd January 2007

Cases relating to Foreigners robbed after being drugged are continuing here in Pattaya. This case comes from the Eastiny Inn Hotel in Soi 8, Central Pattaya. Room Number 211 is occupied by Mr. Ronald Feier aged 42 from Germany, who celebrated his birthday on Monday Night with friends including the prime suspect in this case. Mr. Feier has been seeing a Thai man known as "Dada" since his arrival on 14th of January. He recently broke off the relationship because "Dada" demanded money every time they met. The two became reacquainted on Monday Night which led to the two going back to his Hotel room. They continued to drink in the room and Mr. Feier claims that he passed out and woke up the next morning to find "Dada" had disappeared with a Diamond Ring worth 70,000 Baht, a Diamond encrusted watch worth 50,000 Baht, a mobile phone worth 15,000 Baht and 8,000 Baht in cash. On Tuesday Morning Mr. Feier summoned the assistance of a friend who contacted the Tourist Police who were given a picture of "Dada" who works somewhere in Soi Pattayaland 3 otherwise known as "Boyztown". He is now wanted on charges of theft and assault, but, as yet, remains at large.

[bendix]

Ah, my story is not credible?

Are you credible then?

I repeat: The man was sick, I found him in his room, brought him to the hospital who diagnosed drugging, I took care of the man, took him to Sangklaburi to recover, his money was stolen, but he had a locker with valuables, no big harm done there, but he did not look good for the next five days.

OK, you'll conclude he was a case of eating bad som tam.

Oh, and yes I did get robbed in Thailand, but not drugged. Of no interest to you, since your question is about getting robbed AND drugged.

Sorry for waisting your time, many of your post are waisting mine, so we're quit.

tartempion, instead of just jumping in, why don't you read the thread through to the end. If you did, you would see that based on a variety of PMs sent to me, I have conceded my mistake and suspended my disbelief. Which part of 'mea culpa' don't you understand?

[Etrigan]

What an arse!

[chuchok]

tartempion, instead of just jumping in, why don't you read the thread through to the end. If you did, you would see that based on a variety of PMs sent to me, I have conceded my mistake and suspended my disbelief. Which part of 'mea culpa' don't you understand?

funny,I didn't think were were on a Latin Forum.How about a "I was wrong".It looks much better that way....

[A_Traveller]

tartempion, instead of just jumping in, why don't you read the thread through to the end. If you did, you would see that based on a variety of PMs sent to me, I have conceded my mistake and suspended my disbelief. Which part of 'mea culpa' don't you understand?

Well I'll jump in and say that it's both rare to see a poster herein say mea culpa and to do so with good grace, and so for what it's worth I'll acknowledge Bendix doing so.

Regards

PS Manners Makyth Man

[bendix]

funny,I didn't think were were on a Latin Forum.How about a "I was wrong".It looks much better that way....

You're quite right chuchok. As I've learnt during our many verbal joustings, it's always a mistake to overestimate someone's intelligence.

I was wrong. It is now quite obvious to me that farang are drugged, robbed and anally penetrated with gay abandon. Let's celebrate that fact.

Is that better?

[Mid]

it's not friday ......................

[tartempion]

tartempion, instead of just jumping in, why don't you read the thread through to the end. If you did, you would see that based on a variety of PMs sent to me, I have conceded my mistake and suspended my disbelief. Which part of 'mea culpa' don't you understand?

So now you're telling me I can not push the reply button on a reply from you to me, but I first should read all further replies in the tread to check if for some dark reason you would have turned you jacket inside-out, which you have never done before on this board (unless I missed out one some other posts from you that is)

The above reply to me just summarises your cyber personnality.

You do have something in common with St Thomas though.

And to the subject of drugging: The man I mentionned was not a friend of a friend, we simply acquainted staying in the same hotel and agreed to have dinner together and when he did not show up I went looking for him. Sofar for my credibility.

Edited June 19, 2007 by tartempion

[bendix]

Ummmm. . yes. I agree with whatever it was you just said.

[BADBRAD]

bendix is THE MAN. In my meager 3 months of reading this forum he is the first person I've seen admit he was wrong. Give him his props.