daveAustin Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 Fair play to the op. I’m generally more forgiving to foreigners here as it is easier to get in trouble, but back ‘home’ I will brush off such a scenario. Suggesting the tourist police is a good idea, or ‘let’s call the police together’. 😋 One can also withdraw using the phone with those cardless atms, but guessing that is local accounts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker1 Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 Based on your comments I would have done exactly what you had done. Congratulations ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneMoreFarang Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 50 minutes ago, ThaiFelix said: What? Im 72 years old and have been travelling since my mid 20's but have NEVER EVER had a credit card and have never ever had any problems from not having one. I am amazed at the comments people make about not being able to book a hotel, a flight or hire a car etc if you dont have a credit card ? Where does this nonsense come from? Ok, I also didn't have a credit card when I was last a tourist in Thailand about 30 years ago. At that time, we had cash and traveler checks and all that. And obviously it is still possible to exist and even travel without a credit card. But why do when it is so much more convenient to have those little plastic cards compared to wads of cash? If you lose the card, no problem, get a new one. Or let the hotel talk to the credit card company and let you use your credit without having the card. If you lose cash, that's it, it's gone. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novacova Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 20 hours ago, Lee4Life said: "so you're not going to help me?" Red flag 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Prubangboy Posted December 8, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted December 8, 2023 As mentioned, saying a credit card was going to be rushed to her the next day is nonsense. I had a fraud alert and they had to issue a credit card. It took 8 days till I had the new card in my hands. Also, Thailand has Western Union. She could be cashed up by people back home in an hour. A lot of the women who do this are BPD. They do it for the thrill of the scam. The money is unimportant. "You're not going to help me", is a ploy to put you on the spot and bring out any White Knight instinct you might have (why these misguided simp impulses within us all must be ferreted out and killed). 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangkokHank Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 Even if it wasn't a scam (which it was), you are under no obligation to give money to random people simply because they ask you to. You did the right thing. In these situations, I sometimes tell the person, "Oh, I was just about to ask YOU for money - because I'm having problems as well. So let's just call it even." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignok Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 26 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said: Ok, I also didn't have a credit card when I was last a tourist in Thailand about 30 years ago. At that time, we had cash and traveler checks and all that. And obviously it is still possible to exist and even travel without a credit card. But why do when it is so much more convenient to have those little plastic cards compared to wads of cash? If you lose the card, no problem, get a new one. Or let the hotel talk to the credit card company and let you use your credit without having the card. If you lose cash, that's it, it's gone. Debit cards. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignok Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 10 minutes ago, BangkokHank said: Even if it wasn't a scam (which it was), you are under no obligation to give money to random people simply because they ask you to. You did the right thing. In these situations, I sometimes tell the person, "Oh, I was just about to ask YOU for money - because I'm having problems as well. So let's just call it even." Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prubangboy Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 .....That her friends are all mysteriously on the other side of the border without her-story would have been one I would have pressed to hear; the elaborate confabulation as to how this wayward lamb got separated from her flock. Because Australian groups travel all the time together and routinely cross borders without so much as a backwards glance to see if everyone is present. It would be a good story, confected on the spot. Prob a very vague family emergency back home. 'Sad that Laos has no telephones so she couldn't sort it out from there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Freddy42OZ Posted December 8, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted December 8, 2023 18 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said: Let's assume for a moment that her story was true. Does she have a credit card? If no, then she shouldn't travel. If yes, then she can use that one - even if she doesn't have the physical card. Just call i.e. AMEX and they sort is out. And obviously it's not your job to help strange women. I've not held a credit card for the past 23 years. Doesn't stop me from traveling to other countries. 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee4Life Posted December 8, 2023 Author Share Posted December 8, 2023 1 hour ago, newbee2022 said: It's not about money at all. It's about offering help in a special situation. She asked you and you refused. I can't see any red flags at all. If you had put your feet in her shoes ..what you would have done? Of course waiting for a farang whom she could explain her situation to. And where is a better place to meet a farang if not at the ATM? To give her a ride to the hotel would have been at least what I would have done. I don't think it was your best day in life.😕 That's okay, I don't mind that you think poorly of my decision, but it was my decision to make and I'll live with it. you can do differently when you are faced with the same situation if you like. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john donson Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 SCAM... Phaya thai station 2 weeks ago... middle aged australian woman... tried the same sob story... atm swallowed, blabla... told her, sorry lady, call tourist police or go to the front desk of your hotel and went my way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoner Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 20 hours ago, steven100 said: you are certainly more understanding than me ..... as soon as she approached ... I would have said ' go away ' .............. end of story I've been in Thailand long enough to know not to trust anyone, foreign or local. i trust you steven. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven100 Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 1 minute ago, stoner said: i trust you steven. thank you. I don't cheat people .. it's not how I was brought up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiFelix Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said: Ok, I also didn't have a credit card when I was last a tourist in Thailand about 30 years ago. At that time, we had cash and traveler checks and all that. And obviously it is still possible to exist and even travel without a credit card. But why do when it is so much more convenient to have those little plastic cards compared to wads of cash? If you lose the card, no problem, get a new one. Or let the hotel talk to the credit card company and let you use your credit without having the card. If you lose cash, that's it, it's gone. Why carry cash when you can have a debit card? I wouldnt carry wads of cash because you dont need to. My comment was about people saying you cant survive without a credit card. I am saying you conveniently can. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiFelix Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 45 minutes ago, bignok said: Debit cards. Exactly!! thank you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newnative Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 Scam. You did the ight thing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiFelix Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 6 minutes ago, ThaiFelix said: Why carry cash when you can have a debit card? I wouldnt carry wads of cash because you dont need to. My comment was about people saying you cant survive without a credit card. I am saying you conveniently can. In addition I would never have all my money in one account. I have several bank accounts at different banks for this reason plus for others such as visa money, day to day spending, plus bulk of savings. Not rich just have it distributed. An atm machine or card fails I am not stuck. Learnt from years of travelling to always have a contingency plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonlover Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 (edited) 13 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said: Been dreaming? I didn't say that the whole exercise could be done in 24 hours. Delivery of the card could be. You're thinking of credit cards, I think, something the OP did not mention. Banks do keep stocks of debit cards for immediate use that do not require authorisation before issuance as a credit card would. As best I recall, every debit card that I have ever held has been personalised, including my current one with NBS. The only exception to that being cards that I hold here in Thailand. Where like everyone else I am a 'privileged member'. (that I should be so lucky) The manufacture of these cards is out sourced to companies such as this one and as you can see their service includes personalisation, so I fail to see how a replacement card can be produced and delivered 'the next day' as this lady claimed. I remain a sceptic on this issue. Enjoy your day. Edited December 8, 2023 by Moonlover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX1 Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 35 minutes ago, Moonlover said: As best I recall, every debit card that I have ever held has been personalised, including my current one with NBS. The only exception to that being cards that I hold here in Thailand. Where like everyone else I am a 'privileged member'. (that I should be so lucky) The manufacture of these cards is out sourced to companies such as this one and as you can see their service includes personalisation, so I fail to see how a replacement card can be produced and delivered 'the next day' as this lady claimed. I remain a sceptic on this issue. I used to think the same, but my Bangkok Bank debit card had expired while I was absent from Thailand over the last 4 years. Last month, the Asoke branch took a few minutes to make a new one for me while I waited. Maybe it’s different in Thailand to banks back home in Australia. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX1 Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said: And obviously it is still possible to exist and even travel without a credit card. But why do when it is so much more convenient to have those little plastic cards compared to wads of cash? If you lose the card, no problem, get a new one. Or let the hotel talk to the credit card company and let you use your credit without having the card. If you lose cash, that's it, it's gone. Sure, plastic’s more convenient, but I have nightmares over losing my plastic cards or having them stolen. At best, just a huge hassle to get replacements, especially when overseas. At worst, being defrauded of thousands. Losing a few hundred bucks of cash is trivial in comparison. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthainess Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 22 hours ago, Chris Daley said: Tourists can not have a Thai ATM card. And who said it was a Thai ATM card...................Oh yes it was you. please learn to read 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthainess Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 22 hours ago, Lee4Life said: Then she called her bank and they told her that her card had been locked and impounded due to a fraud alert and they would send her a new card that would arrive the next day. I got an ATM card locked by an OZ bank, and that was at a hospital ATM, I rang them and explained NO I am not in Pattaya!/Chonburi as they thought I was, I'm in a TRAT hospital and need to pay them, they unlocked it. Tossers. OZ banks SUCK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthainess Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 21 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said: If she was genuine, her foreign bank may well have expressed a new card to her Thai address if she had been left in dire straits due to the bank's cancelling her card. That would take about a week to arrive minimum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthainess Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 20 hours ago, vangrop said: I would not help her. Everything smells scam. The best part is she is in an hotel and the bank could send her a new card the next day. To which adress??????? They may send it the next day, but how long would it take to arrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eisfeld Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 A very similar thing happened to me a few months ago at a Tesco in Phuket. A middle aged women speaking english approached me saying something like she lost her wallet and doesn't have money. She even showed some sort of paper with a police report. Asked for money but didn't want any other help. Clearly a scam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneMoreFarang Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 22 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said: Sure, plastic’s more convenient, but I have nightmares over losing my plastic cards or having them stolen. At best, just a huge hassle to get replacements, especially when overseas. At worst, being defrauded of thousands. Losing a few hundred bucks of cash is trivial in comparison. So what do you do when you used your few hundred bucks of cash? How do you refill your wallet? With some form of plastic card interaction? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthainess Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 2 hours ago, Freddy42OZ said: I've not held a credit card for the past 23 years. Doesn't stop me from traveling to other countries. Agree I have never had one, and traveled world wide. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthainess Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 I was approached by a bloke in Pattaya, (UK or OZ) went on about he was waiting for a new passport, asking me for money he appeared slightly drunk, of course I didn't give him any, about 30min later saw him coming out of 7/11 with beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthainess Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 One thing to have done, not saying I would, would ask her to ring her bank again on speaker phone to hear what they said. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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