Bangkok tuk tuk driver and tailor shop scam British YouTuber

[snoop1130]

 

A British YouTuber warned foreign tourists of a transport scam in Bangkok, recounting his experience when a tuk tuk driver and a tailor shop attempted to swindle him out of money.

 

British YouTuber Phil Bland shared the video when he was scammed on his YouTube channel on May 25 of last year. However, the video recently gained attention on Thai social media after it was reposted by the TikTok account, KritPaul.

 

Bland shared the video with the title saying, Avoid this scam in Bangkok, Thailand. In the video, Bland can be seen negotiating the transportation fare with a Thai tuk tuk driver in a dark blue shirt.

 

Bland wanted to go to MBK shopping centre and the driver initially quoted a fare of 100 baht. However, the driver offered a 50 baht discount if Bland agreed to make a stop at a tailor shop, which the driver claimed was his sponsor.

 

The British YouTuber agreed to the condition, thinking it would be fine if he just stopped to look at the shop.

 

However, when he entered the shop, an employee asked him to turn off his camera. Uncomfortable with the situation, Bland left the store and returned to the driver.

 

The driver persisted, asking Bland to return to the store without the camera so that he could earn extra money from the store.

 

Transport scam

 

During their discussion, a store employee followed Bland outside and told him to stop filming. Bland argued that he was outside the shop and had the right to continue filming.

 

Bland insisted on going to MBK for the agreed fare of 50 baht. The driver was seen to be angry and said he would take Bland back to his hotel. The driver eventually took Bland to his destination, although he was clearly reluctant.

 

This issue is not isolated to Bland alone. Recently, a similar problem happened with a South Korean YouTuber, IL Hong Min, in February this year. Hong shared with his followers that he was overcharged at 1,200 baht for a four-hour trip by a tuk tuk driver in the central province of Ayutthaya.

 

The driver even falsely claimed that using app-based drivers in the province was illegal, leaving Hong without a choice and forcing him to use the tuk tuk service.

 

Channel 7 reported that the reporter team visited the hotel near Hua Lamphong Train Station where Bland stayed and found several illegal tuk tuk and taxi drivers there.

 

The media stated that the Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, and the Bangkok Governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, expressed urgency about the problem and vowed to solve it as soon as possible. Despite their promises, the problem persists and continues to make headlines.

 

 

By Petch Petpailin

Caption: Photo via YouTube Channel/ Phil Bland

 

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-03-25

 

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[bob smith]

scammy thai's at it again!

 

bob.

[simon43]

Where is the scam?  The Brit agreed to go to the tailor shop.  He was never pressurised to buy anything. All he was asked to do was to turn off his camera.

[reefsurfah]

Another loser trying to get clicks🖕🏼

[Kinnock]

If you want to go direct to your destination, use Grab.  If you want a mini adventure, take a tuk tuk.  Experienced travellers have known this for decades.

 

Not even a scam .... just the tailor shop paying commission for visitors .... he could pay the full fare, but then he'd have no story for his channel.

[OneMoreFarang]

Imagine all would be fine and those YouTubers would have nothing to complain about.

Next thing they would need a real job. The horror! 

[still kicking]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Imagine all would be fine and those YouTubers would have nothing to complain about.

Next thing they would need a real job. The horror! 

Agreed 

[richard_smith237]

37 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Where is the scam?  The Brit agreed to go to the tailor shop.  He was never pressurised to buy anything. All he was asked to do was to turn off his camera.

 

Yup... And the v-logger knew exactly what this scam was and was trying to capture it. 

The Tailor shop also knew that he was trying to capture the scam, otherwise there was no need to get him to turn off his camera, if they are offering an honourable and quality service, then they'd be happy for the free exposure. 

 

-----

 

With all the v-loggers and TikTokers coming to Thailand and embarrassing the Nation for all the scams it surely can't be long before Thailand tries to ban video's equipment (which is obviously impossible).

 

So far Thailand has banned the 'targeting' videoing of individuals without their consent, even in public.... 

[it is what it is]

 

low level scam, and to be honest if you're not streetwise enough, or have done so little research on your destination, to spot these scams then you deserve what you get. this sort of stuff happens in pretty much every popular tourist country so don;t go saying it's a thai problem.

[MrPancake]

Just get a Grab and <deleted> those bums...

[OneMoreFarang]

23 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

The Tailor shop also knew that he was trying to capture the scam, otherwise there was no need to get him to turn off his camera, if they are offering an honourable and quality service, then they'd be happy for the free exposure. 

Probably you are right.

But most of us know that with creative editing everybody can be made look bad.

I wouldn't want a stranger making a video about what I do and then letting him edit it in any way he wants. And as usual YouTubers and others don't want to show nice and clean things, they want to create something controversial and get clicks.

[bendejo]

The only reason to take a tuk-tuk in Bangkok is because your ass is too big to fit in a regular taxi sedan.  Ever seen two fat Arab ladies get into a tuk-tuk?  Even then they can barely fit.  And then there are their shopping bags . . .

 

[SingAPorn]

Have tourists or expats not learnt yet that the Thai tuk tuk,  the official taxi, or the jet ski rentals in Phuket, the Indian tailors on Sukhumvit or the falang real estate developpments in Hua Hin or Phuket are in majority a scam reservoir that one should flee like the plague....not all but many.

 

Take the tailors for instance, either you will be cheated in the quality of cloth that won't be the same as the cloth exposed or if the same, the tailoring will be real crappy and stiched by a cheap startup tailor contractor.

 

It was great before COVID but since , they are all trying to make their money back. Fools continue to pay, fine. 

 

Real estate is another playground for the cheats. Beware of those tempting homes,  mainly the  pool villa leaseholds in Hua Hin, Phuket or some Koh's,  that have plumbing or electrical defects that are not visible by the eye at first. There is absolutely small chance to obtain justice as a foreigner so just avoid buying or some occasions even renting  in certain developpments. At one's own risk after all...

[flyingtlger]

6 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A British YouTuber warned foreign tourists of a transport scam in Bangkok, recounting his experience when a tuk tuk driver and a tailor shop attempted to swindle him out of money.

Nothing new, this happens day in, day out in Thailand.....

[Keeps]

6 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Bland wanted to go to MBK shopping centre and the driver initially quoted a fare of 100 baht. However, the driver offered a 50 baht discount if Bland agreed to make a stop at a tailor shop, which the driver claimed was his sponsor.

Pretty apt surname. Sums up perfectly the entire 'story'.

[cnx101]

This has been going on for years, take you to gem factory wood carving factory it’s normal practice in Chiangmai Bangkok, you just walk away from them.

[harleyclarkey]

Guess he was rightly stitched up...😉

[Srikcir]

10 hours ago, bob smith said:

scammy thai's at it again!

 

bob.

Scummy YouTuber at it again. Just get a taxi to MBK to continue trip. 

[bumpkin]

6 hours ago, Kinnock said:

If you want to go direct to your destination, use Grab.  If you want a mini adventure, take a tuk tuk.  Experienced travellers have known this for decades.

 

Not even a scam .... just the tailor shop paying commission for visitors .... he could pay the full fare, but then he'd have no story for his channel.

Grab ?    Decades ??     Grab started about the year 2012

[Nickcage49]

Oldest trick in the book. The first thing I was told on my first trip to Thailand was don't go where taxi drivers or tuk tuk drivers want to take you.

[bob smith]

41 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Scummy YouTuber at it again. Just get a taxi to MBK to continue trip. 

Well done to the youtuber for exposing these crooks!

 

bob.

[Skipalongcassidy]

How old is this you tuber... 12

[bob smith]

6 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

this sort of stuff happens in pretty much every popular tourist country so don;t go saying it's a thai problem.

It's a thai problem.

 

bob.

[bristolgeoff]

Gone on for decades tuk tuk driver offer a cheap price to see the sites of bkk.You end up at gold or tailor shops the tuk tuk gets petrol token for doing this.Another scam just like the taxi meter scam

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Bland wanted to go to MBK shopping centre and the driver initially quoted a fare of 100 baht. However, the driver offered a 50 baht discount if Bland agreed to make a stop at a tailor shop, which the driver claimed was his sponsor.

 

The British YouTuber agreed to the condition, thinking it would be fine if he just stopped to look at the shop.

What scam, you agreed to be taken to the tailor shop in return for a fare reduction... green-horn in Thailand.

[itsari]

The British man was out to scam the driver as he climbed into the tuc tuc without any intention of buying anything for saving 50 baht. 

I would speculate the British man was out to make a story at the expense of the tuk tuk driver to make much more than 50 baht'

 

[thesetat]

11 hours ago, bob smith said:

scammy thai's at it again!

 

bob.

Why say again? Do you think it has ever stopped? 

These TukTuks are notorious doing this type of scam to foreigners. They have been doing it for many many years. 

[RickyJB]

i had the same a few years ago, i jumped   into a tuk tuk outside MBK and the guy offered me the same deal. 50 baht to go to a rather filthy looking indian tailor shop. i did order a pair of cargo shorts made to fit, but obviously didnt spend enough , when i got to central festival where i was intended, the tuk tuk driver tried to scam me for 500 baht.. i gave him 200 baht and jumped out, walked away.. i always use Bolt,  now, every time. never a problem, never been scammed,,as for the cargo shorts, they turned up at my hotel and not what i ordered or the material i asked for and too tight.. 

[ronster]

So he was going to make a video about going to buy a phone charger ?

Jesus Christ is this what the world has come too !!

Absolute tool trying to get the most common scams known by thousands about bkk on camera for likes .🙄🙈

[Henryford]

No scam involved. The tuk tuk driver gave a discount if he looked around the shop, which he didn't. If anything the Youtuber was the scammer. Anyway who gets in an argument over 50 baht !!