"Need to stay 3 days in Malaysia" scam

[JoseThailand]

It's seems that there is a scam run by Thai immigration crooks at the Malaysian border. When you try to return to Thailand after crossing the border into Malaysia the same day, they tell you that you can't enter Thailand unless you stayed in Malaysia at least 3 days. And of course they can let you in if you give them a "tip" of around 2000 baht.

 

It's pretty much the same as the "stay overnight in Cambodia" thing. However, the difference is that in case of Cambodia, it's enforced by Cambodian IOs, who don't let you out of the country unless you give them a "tip". Some people say that it's an actual rule in Cambodia, although I doubt that. But in case of Thailand, this scam is run on the Thai side. There is sure no Thai law saying that you need to stay in Malaysia 3 days before you can come back to Thailand.

[scubascuba3]

Sounds like flying is the best way to avoid these scams

[JoseThailand]

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Sounds like flying is the best way to avoid these scams

And run into "stay in Thailand too much" scam ????

[VocalNeal]

40 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

And of course they can let you in if you give them a "tip" of around 2000 baht.

Which is cheaper???? 2000 baht or 3 nights in Malaysia. 

[scubascuba3]

6 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

And run into "stay in Thailand too much" scam ????

Possible but I've read no denied entries on here or facebook, plenty of warnings

[2009]

Hopefully, not too off topic, but which place is currently easiest for visiting embassies for a new visa?

 

Laos? Malaysia? Cambodia?

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by 2009

[JoseThailand]

6 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Which is cheaper???? 2000 baht or 3 nights in Malaysia. 

The thing is they make up this thing to make you pay them. Typical scammer tactics.

[StayinThailand2much]

4 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

The thing is they make up this thing to make you pay them. Typical scammer tactics.

I crossed the Malaysian border several times in the early 2000s. Always came back the same day, so (at least back then) there was no such rule.

[KannikaP]

2 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

I crossed the Malaysian border several times in the early 2000s. Always came back the same day, so (at least back then) there was no such rule.

There were over Bht 70 to the GBP twenty years ago, and my current GF was 5 years old! 555

Edited January 10, 2023 by KannikaP

[StayinThailand2much]

7 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

And there were over Bht 70 to the GBP twenty years ago! 555

And I saw with my own eyes stacks of passports being stamped at the border down south, while the owners probably were at the time in Pattaya or Patong...

Edited January 10, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[SuperSilverHaze]

Just enjoy Penang for a few days you're down there anyway sheesh. What's so urgent back in Thailand?

[VinnieK]

15 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

The thing is they make up this thing to make you pay them. Typical scammer tactics.

Problem is, if you don't pay,they turn you back.

This has being going on for over a decade or so but it used to be 1 night in Malaya not 3

The baksheesh used to be be a paltry 2oo bahters 

Edited January 10, 2023 by VinnieK

[SuperSilverHaze]

Curious if OP was on a tour or in some runner group especially if largish.

 

Was doing independent runners up to about 2009 and Malaysia many times. Always have the option of returning within minutes or heading on to Penang.

 

In Cambodia no problems back then. At those tiny little border crossings there was nowhere to stay and no roads to go inland into Cambodia so them trying to pull that stunt would be impossible at least back then.

Edited January 10, 2023 by SuperSilverHaze

[StayinThailand2much]

12 minutes ago, VinnieK said:

Problem is, if you don't pay,they turn you back.

This has being going on for over a decade or so but it used to be 1 night in Malaya not 3

The baksheesh used to be be a paltry 2oo bahters 

I don't mind, as long as this "rule" is publicised, as I'd rather spend 3 days in Malaysia than being robbed at the border. And I'd let the TAT know too, that 'I had to spend 3 days in expensive Malaysia, so that I need to cut back on my Thailand holiday budget'... 

Edited January 10, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[VocalNeal]

19 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

The thing is they make up this thing to make you pay them. Typical scammer tactics.

So if is cheaper to pay then do so. If not spend 3 nights in Malaysia.????

[JoseThailand]

2 minutes ago, SuperSilverHaze said:

Curious if OP was on a tour or in some runner group especially if largish.

 

Was doing runners up to about 2009 and Malaysia many times. Always have the option of returning within minutes or heading on to Penang

Of course I'm talking about independent border crossing, without a group. If you are with a border run group, everything is included in the price.

[JoseThailand]

20 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

So if is cheaper to pay then do so. If not spend 3 nights in Malaysia.????

Cheaper would be not pay anything and not stay 3 days in Malaysia, because there is no law about this.

[KannikaP]

31 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

And I saw with my own eyes stacks of passports being stamped at the border down south, while the owners probably were at the time in Pattaya or Patong...

Are you still talking about 20 years ago, or last week?

[StayinThailand2much]

7 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Are you still talking about 20 years ago, or last week?

About 15 years ago. Perhaps the IOs needed a new income source, and made up the 3-day 'rule'...

Edited January 10, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[KannikaP]

3 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

About 15 years ago.

Things 'may' have changed since then.

And my GF would've been 10.

Edited January 10, 2023 by KannikaP

[JoseThailand]

6 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

And my GF would've been 10.

We've already figured out that your GF is 25yo from your previous post.

[tomazbodner]

31 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

Cheaper would be not pay anything and not stay 3 days in Malaysia, because there is no law about this.

Or even cheaper if you got proper visa so you don't have to run around trying to game the system.

[JoseThailand]

4 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

Or even cheaper if you got proper visa so you don't have to run around trying to game the system.

I love these "proper visa" remarks! To which I answer, the tourist visa is proper for me now, as I don't work, study, marry, or retire in Thailand.

Edited January 10, 2023 by JoseThailand

[tomazbodner]

9 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

I love these "proper visa" remarks! To which I answer, the tourist visa is proper for me now, as I don't work, study, marry, or retire in Thailand.

Enjoy Malaysia.

[BananaStrong]

2 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

There is sure no Thai law saying that you need to stay in Malaysia 3 days before you can come back to Thailand.

Thanks for the heads up, I guessed Cambodia was really the only big scam.   HOWEVER, I disagree with you here......IF they say you can't come in, then that is the law.  For all practical purposes, it is the law to you.   Are you going to fight them or make things difficult or quote them the "real" law, they don't care.  Not sure how to get around this one........make problems for them, they will make problems for you.   

 

welcome to the lawless world of "your life is worth 500 baht, enjoy your stay" LOS.  lol.   or should I say SOL.  

[my friend I]

Which border crossing was it?

 

[my friend I]

Just now, BananaStrong said:

Thanks for the heads up, I guessed Cambodia was really the only big scam.   HOWEVER, I disagree with you here......IF they say you can't come in, then that is the law.  For all practical purposes, it is the law to you.   Are you going to fight them or make things difficult or quote them the "real" law, they don't care.  Not sure how to get around this one........make problems for them, they will make problems for you.   

 

welcome to the lawless world of "your life is worth 500 baht, enjoy your stay" LOS.  lol.   or should I say SOL.  

Just because they say something it doesn't make it the law. Ask to speak to the OIC. 

[StayinThailand2much]

42 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

Or even cheaper if you got proper visa so you don't have to run around trying to game the system.

Why? If I got a Thailand visa in Malaysia, would I be exempted of the 3-day "rule"? (But, yes, I'd probably need 3 days to get it.)

Edited January 10, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[VocalNeal]

41 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

I love these "proper visa" remarks! To which I answer, the tourist visa is proper for me now, as I don't work, study, marry, or retire in Thailand.

Then as a "tourist" it shouldn't really matter what country you stay in for 3 days????

[JoseThailand]

4 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Then as a "tourist" it shouldn't really matter what country you stay in for 3 days????

It wouldn't matter if there was a law saying that I must stay there 3 days. But I don't like to be told where to stay by some corrupt crooks making up their own rules to extort money from people.

Edited January 10, 2023 by JoseThailand