Driver License Scam!

[thailand49]

Recently, my son friend 25 years old I taught him and my son how to drive a number of years ago. He has a motorbike license but no car he tried just before Covid, had a appointment then it hit everything got shut down. The last few years he is working the one day he has off is on the weekend so he hasn't been able to find the time to go through the process.

 

Last, week he comes to visit my son and he tells the story about going through a company he found Facebook, messenger, interested told to go to this Line I.D.,  basically after doing some research after he told me the results it basically advertises they can get you a license without you ever leaving your room. The do everything for you which from the Ad, is basically illegal! For a car license it advertised 2500 baht.

 

He makes contact on LINE, they provide the instructions as to what to forward, The next day they Line him forward to him a photo of a Thai 5 year license it looks to be the real McCoy?  tells him where to forward the 2500+500 for medical certificate which he does, a hour later he is contacted again LINE to forward another 5600 baht, that it is needed to create a QR code?  for the transaction that this money will be return when the process is done and they deliver the license to him, hesitant he does comply, after another LINE message we need another 8,000 baht for something else in which in the end you will be refunded 14,600.

 

Now hesitant red flag even for a Thai, plus he doesn't have the addition 8000 baht, questions the process and tell them he doesn't have the money tells them forget it at same time ask the return of money already paid. The refuse end of communication.

 

After hearing, I did a bit of research on FB, and Messenger see a number of these types of ads in which there is a picture of a women she is using the DLT, as her source Logo everything even a guy in a uniform with friends posing farang and Thais as satisfied customers. The scam advertising are the one's that refer you to their LINE I.D, this lady has a number of companies referring interested people to LINE I.D. 

 

SCAM, SCAM, SCAM AVOID!

 

[ChipButty]

Them add's are all over the FB groups here in Phuket, Like you I always though it to be a scam, 

[cjinchiangrai]

Every time I see those on FB, I call them out. How do you get a license without getting a photo taken? It just does not make sense from the outset. No test? No papers? Not happening.

[digbeth]

easiest money ever, what's the victim gonna do, go the police for trying to get what's essentially illegal? 

[richard_smith237]

33 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Them add's are all over the FB groups here in Phuket, Like you I always though it to be a scam, 

 

Yup... its been an issue for a while...  

 

... and there have been warnings about it all over Thailand for a while... 

 

On this forum too... 

 

 

[steven100]

when are folks going to learn never to trust anyone here ....  and especially on FB.

 

 

[Gottfrid]

He could have seen the scam from start, with just a small amount of common knowledge. The first license is not issued for 5 years. It´s only 2 years for the first one. After that it becomes 5 year each time. Also, the medical certificate is only 100 baht.

[digbeth]

but also, if you drive up to the big DLT in Bangkok, there are plenty of 'agents' trying to assist you, and often you'll see the odd farang being escorted through the process by what appears to be agents

 

if you go to driving school you can already complete the test, have a certificate to take to DLT to have your photo taken, all for probably lot less than what's being scammed here

[Tropicalevo]

15 minutes ago, digbeth said:

if you go to driving school you can already complete the test, have a certificate to take to DLT to have your photo taken, all for probably lot less than what's being scammed here

 

But isn't that just a different 'scam'/agent?

You have not been tested and certified by an authorised person at the Land Transport Office?

[Mavideol]

if it sounded too good to be true......

[Myran]

Suits him right for trying to get a driver's license illicitly.

[digbeth]

21 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

But isn't that just a different 'scam'/agent?

You have not been tested and certified by an authorised person at the Land Transport Office?

 

no, this is legit, after a few day course, or more, they have multiple client of the school come together, official from DLT come to take the test, you get certificate to go make your license card at DLT at later date, 

often the only way to get queue for test taking as the queue at DLT itself is hard to get, you have to go queue before they open in the morning to book an appointment often months away 

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, digbeth said:

easiest money ever, what's the victim gonna do, go the police for trying to get what's essentially illegal? 

Yes, why not?   There would be no consequences for the scammed victim innocently using an agent.   He did not kmowingly buy, nor use, an "illegal" licence.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

Also, the medical certificate is only 100 baht.

The medical certificate fee is whatever the independent supplying clinic charges, it is not a charge set by the LTD.

[Liverpool Lou]

34 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

51 minutes ago, digbeth said:

if you go to driving school you can already complete the test, have a certificate to take to DLT to have your photo taken, all for probably lot less than what's being scammed here

 

But isn't that just a different 'scam'/agent?

You have not been tested and certified by an authorised person at the Land Transport Office?

No, it is not the same.  Authorised driving schools are permitted to test their customers and assist with licence procuration, it is not a scam.

[Yellowtail]

8 minutes ago, digbeth said:

 

no, this is legit, after a few day course, or more, they have multiple client of the school come together, official from DLT come to take the test, you get certificate to go make your license card at DLT at later date, 

often the only way to get queue for test taking as the queue at DLT itself is hard to get, you have to go queue before they open in the morning to book an appointment often months away 

Yeah, the driving schools that do this are great. My son got his license using the school next to DLT Area 4

[Gottfrid]

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The medical certificate fee is whatever the independent supplying clinic charges, it is not a charge set by the LTD.

Fantistic Mr. Liverpool. I am well aware of that. I have been getting it at different clinics in different areas about 10 times for driver license and other things. I have mostly paid about 100 baht. Sometimes 150 baht, ok. Never 500.

[Yellowtail]

4 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The medical certificate fee is whatever the independent supplying clinic charges, it is not a charge set by the LTD.

And at DLT Area 4, the school is next to the DLT, and the clinic for the medical certificate is next to the school

[Liverpool Lou]

1 minute ago, Gottfrid said:

6 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The medical certificate fee is whatever the independent supplying clinic charges, it is not a charge set by the LTD.

Fantistic Mr. Liverpool. I am well aware of that. I have been getting it at different clinics in different areas about 10 times for driver license and other things. I have mostly paid about 100 baht. Sometimes 150 baht, ok. Never 500.

Fantastic, thanks for confirming that the charge for the medical certificate is not, in fact, necessarily B100, as you initially categorically stated it is.

[Liverpool Lou]

19 minutes ago, Myran said:

Suits him right for trying to get a driver's license illicitly.

Using a legitimate agent to get a legitimate licence is not "illicit", there was no suggestion that he thought that he was doing anything illegal.

[Gobbler]

I saw those ads, too. I gave 5000 to Nan Services, Nan, who compressed time by giving me 20 hours of driver training in 20 minutes.  

 

I must have slept through the driving test, but I passed with flying colors!

[Gobbler]

3 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Using a legitimate agent to get a legitimate licence is not "illicit", there was no suggestion that he thought that he was doing anything illegal.

Of course, it is. 

[digbeth]

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Using a legitimate agent to get a legitimate licence is not "illicit", there was no suggestion that he thought that he was doing anything illegal.

the ad for most of the scam is pretty clear that you never need to set foot inside a DLT or even take test to get a license, if you can't understand the illegality of this it's on you

[Pouatchee]

1 hour ago, digbeth said:

but also, if you drive up to the big DLT in Bangkok, there are plenty of 'agents' trying to assist you, and often you'll see the odd farang being escorted through the process by what appears to be agents

 

these agents do nothing more than hold your hand. you pay for something you can do alone or with thai friend.

 

believe it or not... many offices now dont do any funny business. i remember a big crack down on all the DLT's around 2004. since then you cant just buy a licence without doing anything.

[Yellowtail]

14 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

 

these agents do nothing more than hold your hand. you pay for something you can do alone or with thai friend.

 

believe it or not... many offices now dont do any funny business. i remember a big crack down on all the DLT's around 2004. since then you cant just buy a licence without doing anything.

I don't do it, but paying a couple hundred baht to not wait in line is not that bad a deal. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

Just now, Yellowtail said:

I don't do it, but paying a couple hundred baht to not wait in line is not that bad a deal. 

 

 

…reckon I can top that…

 

After doing the in-class tests etc…  next was a long wait to collect the actual Driving License… a long queue ahead, I took the queue ticket & went for a massage…

… came back a couple of hours later, my queue number passed some time before, I was directed to the next available official & processed…. 

[Will B Good]

3 hours ago, thailand49 said:

Recently, my son friend 25 years old I taught him and my son how to drive a number of years ago. He has a motorbike license but no car he tried just before Covid, had a appointment then it hit everything got shut down. The last few years he is working the one day he has off is on the weekend so he hasn't been able to find the time to go through the process.

 

Last, week he comes to visit my son and he tells the story about going through a company he found Facebook, messenger, interested told to go to this Line I.D.,  basically after doing some research after he told me the results it basically advertises they can get you a license without you ever leaving your room. The do everything for you which from the Ad, is basically illegal! For a car license it advertised 2500 baht.

 

He makes contact on LINE, they provide the instructions as to what to forward, The next day they Line him forward to him a photo of a Thai 5 year license it looks to be the real McCoy?  tells him where to forward the 2500+500 for medical certificate which he does, a hour later he is contacted again LINE to forward another 5600 baht, that it is needed to create a QR code?  for the transaction that this money will be return when the process is done and they deliver the license to him, hesitant he does comply, after another LINE message we need another 8,000 baht for something else in which in the end you will be refunded 14,600.

 

Now hesitant red flag even for a Thai, plus he doesn't have the addition 8000 baht, questions the process and tell them he doesn't have the money tells them forget it at same time ask the return of money already paid. The refuse end of communication.

 

After hearing, I did a bit of research on FB, and Messenger see a number of these types of ads in which there is a picture of a women she is using the DLT, as her source Logo everything even a guy in a uniform with friends posing farang and Thais as satisfied customers. The scam advertising are the one's that refer you to their LINE I.D, this lady has a number of companies referring interested people to LINE I.D. 

 

SCAM, SCAM, SCAM AVOID!

 

 

 

That is crazy......they are only charging 1000 baht at the driving test centre.

[Myran]

46 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Using a legitimate agent to get a legitimate licence is not "illicit", there was no suggestion that he thought that he was doing anything illegal.

"they can get you a license without you ever leaving your room."

 

How do you suggest getting a legitimate driver's license without leaving your room? I'm especially interested in how the actual driving test would be carried out.

[thailand49]

There is no doubt what the kid was doing  was illegal. Reason for willing to pay 500 baht for the medical when we know 100 Baht.

Illegal means hands got to be greased.

My son told him dad took me down the road to this school, for 3800 baht included everything first work it out with school working come on his day off took 3 weeks one day a week to complete written. Video and driving course. Once done an appointment was made for him got a new medical cert and half hour out the door with two years. 

Kid is now enrolled in the same school.

A month ago I renewed 3rd 5 years bike and car, got an appointment list of what what was needed show up at 9. I was out the door at 9:45am, 700 baht for the two.

That day I spoke to my lawyer in BKK, about another situation in conversation told her about the licence scam within an hour she called back said their office is in Nong Chok out skirt of BKK, want money back for your son I said no his friend not our problem. I thank God he is smarter than that.

[Gottfrid]

54 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Fantastic, thanks for confirming that the charge for the medical certificate is not, in fact, necessarily B100, as you initially categorically stated it is.

Do you have anything useful to do, or just a boring day? my point was that it´s not as much as 500 baht. Maybe 200-250 in some places, but Thai people should have the knowledge of that. It was neither the most important thing in my original post, as that was 2 year instead of 5. But, I can do like you. Please show me facts that someone paid 500 for such certificate, more than this stupid guy!