Dozens of foreigners in Phuket allegedly defrauded by visa agency, police investigating

[LatPhrao]

4 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

A large part of the problem is these guys don't have the 800,000 baht in the bank, hence the reason they use the agents and take the risks, and we all know with risks, the greater the risk, the greater the loss.

 

I too have no sympathy for those who can't afford to have 800k in the bank and use these types of agents, I also have the utmost disrespect for I/O's who are on the take and allow this practice to flourish, as long as they get their cut.

 

Will be interesting to see how this problem is sorted, no doubt there will be money to be made by these I/O's.

THE problem is a government that requires a rip off 800K thb in a bank account and other ridiculous means of securing a visa. Forcing people to chase other solutions.  End of story.

[proton]

24 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

The OP and the linked article "IS NOT" about people getting caught doing bogus extensions. Its about an agent doing a runner with money and passports.

There is no mention of checking the legitimacy of any visa's/extensions.

That would involve exposing corruption, so will probably remain brushed under the carpet. The victims however will still be up poo creek without a paddle.

[crazykopite]

33 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

A large part of the problem is these guys don't have the 800,000 baht in the bank, hence the reason they use the agents and take the risks, and we all know with risks, the greater the risk, the greater the loss.

 

I too have no sympathy for those who can't afford to have 800k in the bank and use these types of agents, I also have the utmost disrespect for I/O's who are on the take and allow this practice to flourish, as long as they get their cut.

 

Will be interesting to see how this problem is sorted, no doubt there will be money to be made by these I/O's.

Maybe the time has come when a foreigner is allowed to present his income/savings that he has in his home country instead of the stupidity of having to have 800k in a Thai bank if your not married to a Thai you are discriminated against as the money requirement is double . I live in my own however I did have a Thai GF for 3 months my monthly expenditure trebled in that time yet if I had of married her then all that would be required in my Thai account is 400,000 baht that’s crazy 

[Sydebolle]

Possibly the agency is owned by some of those immigration "officials". 

A country like Thailand should FACILITATE matters and simplify their own maze of rules, regulations and procedures on how to treat the "dirty farang", "alien", "Khaek" or "Jeck". It is symptomatic to see, how people resort to costlier/costly "visa" services as the present mess is - seriously - second to none. A linguistically challenged, digital thinking Caucasian, gets completely stucked and cant be asred with providing a full set of photocopies of a passport including the empty pages, all to be signed with exclusively blue ball pens (fountain pen or felt pen not allowed), no two-side copies may be provided etc. etc. etc. 

They even have forms which are NOT understood by the immigration clowns themselves and subsequently it leaves all sorts of overlaps and blank spots which allow such "agencies" to jump in with a (financially self-helping) hand. 

I never had an issue as I took EVERYTHING always along, copied it at the immigration (at the inflated pricing of relatives of the immigration officers who ran the copy machines) and I also speak the language ???? 

Will anything change? No. Will the cheated customers be able to pursue their rights? No. 
For all those tourists - welcome to Thailand!

[4MyEgo]

20 minutes ago, LatPhrao said:

THE problem is a government that requires a rip off 800K thb in a bank account and other ridiculous means of securing a visa. Forcing people to chase other solutions.  Get a frigging clue.  End of story.

You do realise that you are not in your home country don't you, that said, what do you think the requirements would be for someone to stay in your country would be, I would suggest a lot stricter than here, i.e. if they even have such an extension where one has to put money in the bank to stay in your country, more like they would be sent on their merry way when the visa they have expires.

 

Fact of the matter is, it is in the bank, it's your money, you can withdraw it at anytime (provisions apply) of course, no one is forcing you to do anything you don't want to do. That said, if you haven't got the cash, then perhaps you shouldn't be here, their rules, their country.

 

Do you cry over everything that doesn't suit you, you are welcome to leave at anytime. As the Thai's say, "up to you". There is your frigging clue. End of story Krup.

[4MyEgo]

23 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

Maybe the time has come when a foreigner is allowed to present his income/savings that he has in his home country instead of the stupidity of having to have 800k in a Thai bank if your not married to a Thai you are discriminated against as the money requirement is double . I live in my own however I did have a Thai GF for 3 months my monthly expenditure trebled in that time yet if I had of married her then all that would be required in my Thai account is 400,000 baht that’s crazy 

Your crying over spilt milk, I just changed my extension from a marriage extension to a retirement extension because it is easy to obtain, i.e. on the spot and less paperwork involved, not to mention I/O's don't like doing them because they get checked elsewhere.

 

Nothing to do with discrimination, my budget is 70,000 baht a month, so put in 840,000 baht in the bank and draw down on it as required, that said, while your at it, throw in another 800,000 baht just to make sure you have more than enough to cover your annual extension, regardless, you will need money to survive in Thailand.

 

So you don't earn too much interest on it, they tax you a little, their country, their rules, we all have choices, but telling them what to do is like telling your own government back home what to do, eventually, you should get it, i.e. life is passing you and you are still stuck in the same place crying over spilt milk, accept it and move on, or move on, simple really.

[Jonathan Swift]

Most of the people I have talked to who use these services seem to be simply lazy. When I tell them I do all my own work, because it's cheap and because I would never place such an important task in the hands of some one else, they look at me like I'm from another planet. But as in this case, laziness can cost you in the end. 

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

No mention of the Agency's nor Agent's name.

 

Same with the linked article.

 

 

From Facebook for all to see - not posted by me I might add!

 

 

https://web.facebook.com/Helpcrimevictimpeople/posts/pfbid02Y2Xv3WMySTPWnciJBp8Cv8kpCpd5DuK1mTnBqN8AptvSwDGE7gsXBFzWVoMzjSmUl?_rdc=1&_rdr

[Time Traveller]

1 hour ago, dingdongrb said:

Paying anyone for something you can easily do yourself is surely a ripoff.

What a strange life you must live.  I regularly pay other people to do things that I could do but prefer not to.

Don't feel like changing the oil in my car, pay someone else to do it.

Don't feel like washing my car myself, pay someone else to do it.

Don't feel like cooking my dinner, pay someone else to do it.

Don't feel like driving myself somewhere, then pay someone else to take me

Don't feel like talking to the rabid dogs in uniform at immigration, then pay someone else to speak with them.

 

Sure you pay, but life is much easier. I don't think I'm being ripped off at all

 

Edited June 29, 2022 by Time Traveller

[khunpa]

2 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

The OP and the linked article "IS NOT" about people getting caught doing bogus extensions. Its about an agent doing a runner with money and passports.

There is no mention of checking the legitimacy of any visa's/extensions.

Correct! And I doubt very much they will check the legitimacy… because that would most just mean more problems and block of certain revenue streams. Nobody… especially at immigration, has an interest in that.

 

Last time I was at the immigration, the officer there actually suggested I used an agent. He could even recommend one, he said was really good. I wonder why?

 

I always find it funny when people think that doing things “the correct way” will keep them out of risk or trouble in Thailand. All it takes is a conflict with the wrong person and you can be in deep trouble here… no matter if you do things “correctly” or not. That’s how corruption works. And it is everywhere.

 

Edited June 29, 2022 by khunpa

[Andrew65]

4 hours ago, Iamfalang said:

Well, we will never know what agent this was.  Overstay at a tune of 20,000 per person times 100.....maybe they say, "10,000, you OK?".   I understand what the article says, and I understand how reality works.  It's not like these falangs will make it out on top.  never.  Maybe 1900 baht for every two months.......I would be shocked if the falangs pay nothing.  0% Maybe some money changes from one hand to the other to the other and this agent is driving in a lambo......

 

Amazing how protecting an "alleged" (not convicted) and even convicted criminal is a thing.   Falangs will never know.    Maybe your agent has been convicted 10000000000000000x and you are not allowed to know.

 

It's my country, so I have to account for this and do it myself.  But I feel bad for the falang......

It's funny that you mention 20,000 Baht, that's around how much it costs to get the retirement visa without having the requisite 400,000/800,000 Baht in the bank,

[Burma Bill]

3 minutes ago, Andrew65 said:

It's funny that you mention 20,000 Baht, that's around how much it costs to get the retirement visa without having the requisite 400,000/800,000 Baht in the bank,

Yes indeed. That is what I used to have to pay to avoid the financial bureaucracy when I lived in Thailand.

[Andrew65]

1 minute ago, Burma Bill said:

Yes indeed. That is what I used to have to pay to avoid the financial bureaucracy when I lived in Thailand.

I know someone who does it. One thing being, it means 4 trips a year to Pattaya, when if you're doing it the legit way you can do your 90 day reports by mail, as I did for a few years. (I'm now living back in the UK).

[dingdongrb]

38 minutes ago, Time Traveller said:

Don't feel like talking to the rabid dogs in uniform at immigration, then pay someone else to speak with them.

 

 

My life is just fine, thank you.

 

So nice that you have to belittle those you don't even know. What happened, did you not correctly fill the form out or omit your signature?

[Pedrogaz]

Surely these people were breaking the law using an agent? The only people I know who use an agent are those who don't have the 800K in the bank. The agent puts 800K in their accounts and then withdraws it immediately but claims to the I/O that it is seasoned. It's pretty clearly fraud.

I know a guy been here 17 years, he has used agents to extend his marriage visa for all this time. He is two years on overstay and agents can't do anything for him, and he doesn't have 400K in the bank. I'd lend it to him but I'd never see the money again as I'm guessing two years overstay meaning deportation.

[blacksuitdandruff]

Because they didn't state the business name...

 

This sounds more like a clever way to rattle the bushes to see which creatures emerge...then whack a mole

 

I'm sure some dumb ones will fall for it...

[Kwaibill]

3 hours ago, dick turpin said:

"I have learned how to do the 90 day report online"

 

Did that involve going to evening classes?

With the on again, off again status of the on line reporting system no surprise.

[Kwaibill]

34 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

Surely these people were breaking the law using an agent? The only people I know who use an agent are those who don't have the 800K in the bank. The agent puts 800K in their accounts and then withdraws it immediately but claims to the I/O that it is seasoned. It's pretty clearly fraud.

I know a guy been here 17 years, he has used agents to extend his marriage visa for all this time. He is two years on overstay and agents can't do anything for him, and he doesn't have 400K in the bank. I'd lend it to him but I'd never see the money again as I'm guessing two years overstay meaning deportation.

Surely not. Everytime I go to immigration I see multiple agents with stacks of passports, X however many immigration offices there are.. Your theory is that these millions of people using agents are all scofflaws?

[Mavideol]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Multiple news outlets have reported an estimated 100 foreigners in Phuket

what is it Dozens of Foreigners or 100 foreigners, not same same.... glad I am not one of them 555

[Liverpool Lou]

6 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

No mention of the Agency's nor Agent's name.

 

Same with the linked article.

 

 

It's linked in the link, names, addresses and photos!

[Liverpool Lou]

6 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Yes, you would not want a criminal to launch a lawsuit against you for criticizing his illegal business would you

The linked Facebook page doesn't seem to care!

[Liverpool Lou]

5 hours ago, Iamfalang said:

Well, we will never know what agent this was.

...unless you read the link!

[Liverpool Lou]

5 hours ago, proton said:

6 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

Not painful per the linked article:

 

"We will help and those defrauded by this agent will not be held accountable or suffer penalties or punishment for their current visa status."

Expand  

Does that mean those who got an extension from another province with no cash in the bank will be let off as the agent did a runner? ????

They didn't get their extensions, that's the point of the article!

[off road pat]

I always did the visa extension thing myself. I loved to do visa Runs,...sometimes they where at a inconvenient time but I always tried to enjoy it. I did visa runs at every official border crossings around Thailand. Sometimes I stayed and traveled around in the border country. It was great fun and so adventurous..... Cambodia, Laos Myanmar (Burma), Malaysia,....don them all.....several times in over 30 years.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, proton said:

The victims however will still be up poo creek without a paddle.

Not according to the police statement in the link.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, blacksuitdandruff said:

they didn't state the business name...

Clearly stated in the link.

[Liverpool Lou]

22 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Multiple news outlets have reported an estimated 100 foreigners in Phuket

what is it Dozens of Foreigners or 100 foreigners, not same same....

"An estimated 100" is dozens, 8.33 dozen, exactly the same.

[proton]

9 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Not according to the police statement in the link.

You believe what a Thai cop says to a news outlet?

[Liverpool Lou]

Just now, proton said:

11 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Not according to the police statement in the link.

You believe what a Thai cop says to a news outlet?

I'd put more faith in it than anything you postulate.

[The Hammer2021]

6 hours ago, Iamfalang said:

Well, we will never know what agent this was.  Overstay at a tune of 20,000 per person times 100.....maybe they say, "10,000, you OK?".   I understand what the article says, and I understand how reality works.  It's not like these falangs will make it out on top.  never.  Maybe 1900 baht for every two months.......I would be shocked if the falangs pay nothing.  0% Maybe some money changes from one hand to the other to the other and this agent is driving in a lambo......

 

Amazing how protecting an "alleged" (not convicted) and even convicted criminal is a thing.   Falangs will never know.    Maybe your agent has been convicted 10000000000000000x and you are not allowed to know.

 

It's my country, so I have to account for this and do it myself.  But I feel bad for the falang......

And your point is?