Thai Department Warns Tourists Against Buying Fake Driving Licences

[webfact]

 

In a recent advisory, Thailand’s Land Transport Department has cautioned foreign tourists against purchasing driving licences from illegal websites. This warning comes in the wake of a concerning Facebook post that created a stir by falsely claiming a Chinese woman obtained a Thai driving licence without knowing how to drive, allegedly with the help of an agent.

 

The controversial Facebook post showcased a photo of the woman’s driving licence, claiming, “She lives in Chiang Mai and got a Thai driving licence even though she never learnt how to drive. She just paid an agent to help her get the Thai permit.” This prompted the department to conduct an investigation.

 

According to the Land Transport Department, the Chinese tourist in question did, in fact, apply for her licence at the Chiang Mai Provincial Land Transport Office following legal procedures and regulations. Contrary to the social media allegations, she underwent the necessary physical fitness tests and completed the required training courses.

 

The department clarified that the photo of the driving licence was posted without the woman's consent. She has filed a police complaint against the owner of the Facebook page, asserting that she legally obtained her licence and did not use an agent.

Officials strongly advise caution to tourists, warning that online offers to facilitate quick and easy licences are fraudulent. Such illegal websites often misuse the Land Transport Department’s logo to seem legitimate. They lure unsuspecting individuals by falsely advertising that they can bypass the official process, albeit at a much higher fee.

 

For genuine Thai driving licences, applicants must visit the department in person, complete a physical fitness test, undergo theoretical training, and pass a driving course and examination. The official fee is 105 baht for a motorcycle licence and 205 baht for a car licence.

 

Tourists are urged to avoid falling into these traps and to always follow the established legal procedures.

 

File photo courtesy: Motorist

 

-- 2024-09-02

 

 

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[ChipButty]

Maybe have a word with somebody in the dept to stop issuing the fake ones, or are they genuine fake ones? 

[JoePai]

  On 9/2/2024 at 2:13 AM, ChipButty said:

Maybe have a word with somebody in the dept to stop issuing the fake ones, or are they genuine fake ones? 

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These are not 'fake' DL's but real - it's the way they are (maybe) obtained which is questionable 

[phetphet]

How did the owner of the Facebook page get a picture of her licence?

[brianthainess]

  On 9/2/2024 at 1:58 AM, webfact said:

claiming a Chinese woman obtained a Thai driving licence without knowing how to drive,

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That sounds like so many Thais to me, even after they get a legal License.

[brianthainess]

  On 9/2/2024 at 1:58 AM, webfact said:

According to the Land Transport Department, the Chinese tourist in question did, in fact, apply for her licence at the Chiang Mai Provincial Land Transport Office following legal procedures and regulations.

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The legal procedure is taking the physical driving test, unless she has a Chinese License

  On 9/2/2024 at 1:58 AM, webfact said:

She has filed a police complaint against the owner of the Facebook page, asserting that she legally obtained her licence and did not use an agent.

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So is this is a Fake Story.

[Sydebolle]

Maybe look how other countries in Europe issue licenses. The Thai procedure is tedious, bureaucratic and outright ridiculous. I've had a license for 48 years which was issued back in the day as a lifelong license. Moving to Thailand I had to do a driving "test"; a hopeless joke if you ask me. The theoretical part was all in Thai (which I had no clue of back then) and a kind officer "helped" me by pinpointing the multi-choice answers with a nod or shaking. 

Get proper driving instructors, take license applicants for a full hour into real traffic, get into a car park and drive backwards up the ramp, park sideways and open the bonnet and let them explain basics like battery (and eventual distilled water to be replenished), windshield water tank and what the oil stick in the engine is for. Let them change the spare wheel too. 

I come from a cold country and I had to mount snow chains and once all the afore-mentioned was accomplished, I was given the license. 

Touch wood, haven't had a single accident despite doing 25,000kms a year still today 😉 

[hotchilli]

  On 9/2/2024 at 1:58 AM, webfact said:

Officials strongly advise caution to tourists, warning that online offers to facilitate quick and easy licences are fraudulent. Such illegal websites often misuse the Land Transport Department’s logo to seem legitimate.

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So tourists are supposed to be able to tell the difference?

[LudwigK]

only ONE example!!!!!

[LudwigK]

"We do the exam for you"  

AND WHO IS THE PARTY THAT IS IN THE OFFICE HELPFULL???

[Confuscious]

How difficult is it for the OFFICIALS to arrest these scammers on Facebook?
They even give their Bank account number.
The DL department should get their act together and start to go after these scammers instead of warning tourists.

[richard_smith237]

  On 9/2/2024 at 5:48 AM, LudwigK said:

ONLY ONE example

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There are similar examples all over facebook...

 

...  loads of adds about this - its a lot more than one example and this has been going on for years. 

 

This is not the first warning issued by authorities.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

  On 9/2/2024 at 6:00 AM, Confuscious said:

How difficult is it for the OFFICIALS to arrest these scammers on Facebook?
They even give their Bank account number.

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The scammers use 'proxy' accounts that are not linked to them... 

i.e. the buy an 'bank account' off a local Moto-taxi guy for 500 baht / 1000 baht etc... then use that to receive money into their scam. 

 

The issue of course, is that the person who sold his account claims no knowledge, they're just a poor...  they can't really be charged - this then enables the scammers to continue obtaining 'proxy' accounts.

 

This is the 'base' for all such scams - no scammers use their real bank accounts. 

Its also an major issue with Thai ID fraud. 

 

 

  On 9/2/2024 at 6:00 AM, Confuscious said:

The DL department should get their act together and start to go after these scammers instead of warning tourists.

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100% agree - If authorities could target loads of the scammers it would clean up the country a lot. 

But, its a lot of effort and one thing the Thai BiB are not known for, is their effort.

[thesetat2013]

  On 9/2/2024 at 2:21 AM, JoePai said:

These are not 'fake' DL's but real - it's the way they are (maybe) obtained which is questionable 

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Does it really matter? If you are stopped. The license is never looked at closely. Tickets are rarely issued because the men in brown seek cash. So what difference does it make if you have a fake one or a real one. Only if you are in an accident where you can not flee will you ever be found out. 

I have not once seen a policeman at a checkpoint run a drivers license in a computer database to check if it is valid. I do not even think they have the means to check this nationwide. 

[Liverpool Lou]

  On 9/2/2024 at 5:29 AM, hotchilli said:

So tourists are supposed to be able to tell the difference?

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Obviously, yes, when they're advertised on Facebook!

[rocketboy2]

As if a genuine  license means a heigh level of competences in Thailand. 

carry on with the fakes, it's all just normal here.

TIT. 

[CALSinCM]

  On 9/2/2024 at 6:00 AM, Confuscious said:

How difficult is it for the OFFICIALS to arrest these scammers on Facebook?
They even give their Bank account number.
The DL department should get their act together and start to go after these scammers instead of warning tourists.

Expand  

The Chiang Mai group web site is flooded by a user who uses multiple user names to spam the heck out of the site advertising getting a license without taking a test.

Screenshot here without identifying stuff.  If the RTP was really interested in investigating the scam is easy to find.  But?  TIT.

 

Tourist know it's a scam.  If you saw a ad like this in the US the cops would be all over it, and you'd know it's a scam right away.   So a tourist comes here and says, "Oh boy - I can get a DL without taking tests.  I'm sure that all legal.  It says it's legal so it must be.  🤞"  Yeah right!  Can you get a DL in your home country without taking a test.  Nope.

[CALSinCM]

  On 9/2/2024 at 7:30 AM, rocketboy2 said:

As if a genuine  license means a heigh level of competences in Thailand. 

carry on with the fakes, it's all just normal here.

TIT. 

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Your average village Thais don't even bother.

[rocketboy2]

  On 9/2/2024 at 7:33 AM, CALSinCM said:

Your average village Thais don't even bother.

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So true. 

[JoePai]

  On 9/2/2024 at 6:59 AM, thesetat2013 said:

Does it really matter? If you are stopped. The license is never looked at closely. Tickets are rarely issued because the men in brown seek cash. So what difference does it make if you have a fake one or a real one. Only if you are in an accident where you can not flee will you ever be found out. 

I have not once seen a policeman at a checkpoint run a drivers license in a computer database to check if it is valid. I do not even think they have the means to check this nationwide. 

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It does not matter how you 'obtained' the DL as long as it is in fact genuine BUT it does matter if the DL is only a copy/fake as in an accident your insurance policy would be invalidated 

[candide]

Buying a fake driving licence! What could go wrong? 😀

[nakhonandy]

  On 9/2/2024 at 7:33 AM, CALSinCM said:

Your average village Thais don't even bother.

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That's not true in my experience, all my wife's family and friends have licenses and are average village Thai.

Some don't bother I'm sure, but it's the minority. 

[watchcat]

  On 9/2/2024 at 1:58 AM, webfact said:

“She lives in Chiang Mai and got a Thai driving licence even though she never learnt how to drive.

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Isn't this normal in Thailand?

[Jingthing]

Are they real licenses or not?

[watchcat]

  On 9/2/2024 at 5:48 AM, LudwigK said:

only ONE example!!!!!

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  On 9/2/2024 at 8:04 AM, Jingthing said:

Are they real licenses or not?

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 Not!

[Jingthing]

  On 9/2/2024 at 8:08 AM, watchcat said:

 

 

 Not!

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How do you know?

Its not possible they have inside people doing these for money?

[watchcat]

  On 9/2/2024 at 8:18 AM, Jingthing said:

How do you know?

Its not possible they have inside people doing these for money?

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It's a fake and I can assure it is not legal. A normal reaction from LudvigK

[Jingthing]

  On 9/2/2024 at 8:32 AM, watchcat said:

 

It's a fake and I can assure it is not legal. A normal reaction from LudvigK

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How do you know?

Immigration stamps from agents for unqualified applicants are usually real.

[Confuscious]

  On 9/2/2024 at 6:05 AM, richard_smith237 said:

 

100% agree - If authorities could target loads of the scammers it would clean up the country a lot. 

But, its a lot of effort and one thing the Thai BiB are not known for, is their effort.

Expand  

Because it is a lot of effort is no excuse to let the scammers continue their filthy thing and put the blame on the tourists.
And don't forget that a lot of Thai people are falling in this scam as well.

[Confuscious]

  On 9/2/2024 at 7:32 AM, CALSinCM said:

The Chiang Mai group web site is flooded by a user who uses multiple user names to spam the heck out of the site advertising getting a license without taking a test.

Screenshot here without identifying stuff.  If the RTP was really interested in investigating the scam is easy to find.  But?  TIT.

 

Tourist know it's a scam.  If you saw a ad like this in the US the cops would be all over it, and you'd know it's a scam right away.   So a tourist comes here and says, "Oh boy - I can get a DL without taking tests.  I'm sure that all legal.  It says it's legal so it must be.  🤞"  Yeah right!  Can you get a DL in your home country without taking a test.  Nope.

Expand  

In most countries this would be taken care by the government.
But in Thailand, where they are to lousy (Richard Smith) this is a completely legal thing.
TIT