Foreign couple exposed for repeated taxi fare scams in Phuket

[snoop1130]

Photo via Facebook/Phuket Times ภูเก็ตไทม์

 

By Petch Petpailin

 

A foreign couple in Phuket allegedly attempted to avoid paying a taxi fare yesterday, February 3, but ultimately paid after the driver threatened them with legal action.

 

The female Thai taxi driver took to social media to warn other drivers to be cautious of the foreign couple. The Phuket Times also shared her story to alert taxi drivers working mainly in tourist areas.

 

The taxi driver explained that the total fare was 150 baht but the foreign couple paid her 100 baht, prompting her to demand the remaining 50 baht. The foreigners claimed they only had 100 baht and pleaded with the driver to take pity on them and give them a discount.

 

However, the taxi driver refused and asked to see the couple’s wallets. She stated that their wallets were packed with 100-baht and 1,000-baht banknotes. They had more than enough to pay the fare but lied to her.

 

After that, the couple changed their story, claiming they had given the driver a 1,000-baht banknote instead of a 100-baht bill. The driver, confident in her memory, showed them the cash she had received, proving she had not been given a 1,000-baht note.

 

 

According to the taxi driver, she and the foreign couple argued for some time until she threatened to call the police, at which point the couple paid the rest of the fare.

 

More victims surface

 

The driver expressed her disbelief at having to argue with passengers over a mere 50 baht but insisted she wanted to defend her rights.

 

Based on comments from netizens, this female taxi driver was not the first victim of this foreign couple. A Thai man shared that the couple booked a taxi to Chalong Pier a few days earlier and refused to pay the fare. They even laughed at the taxi driver before running away.

 

Another Thai woman recounted a similar incident in which the couple paid her service fee with a 500-baht banknote but later claimed they had given her a 1,000-baht bill and demanded their change. She had to call the police to resolve the dispute.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-02-04

 

 

[Everyman]

I saw something like this happen at a 7-Eleven in Hua Hin. An older foreign man claimed he paid 1000 baht, but I was behind him in line and he hadn’t. I think in that case he was just an idiot though. 

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

According to the taxi driver, she and the foreign couple argued for some time until she threatened to call the police, at which point the couple paid the rest of the fare.

 

Cheap Charlie scammers... 

[sikishrory]

I was sitting eating a bowl of ramen in suvarnabhumi awhile ago. It was around 200฿ from memory.

A young blonde girl with a large backpack walked up to the menu, pointed out a dish and asked "can you do it any cheaper". She tried to haggle over a plate of cheap airport food then gave up and left.

Also watched a young man try to haggle a bloody bicycle in chiang mai and get it down like 20 baht.

Wtf people.

[khunjeff]

Yes, these people are cheaters who should be dealt with appropriately. But let's be real here...

 

Foreign tourists scam three Phuket taxi drivers: outrage! Press coverage! Tar and feathers!

 

Phuket taxi drivers scam hundreds of foreign tourists every day: crickets

[Thingamabob]

Amazing that there are foreigners here who try to cheat locals out of 50 baht. Go away, and don't come back.

 

[rumeaug]

I did make a mistake myself in a 711 recently.  I usually keep my 1000 thb notes in one specific compartment in Wallet. Sometimes a 100 thb note slips in if I dont pay attention.  I pulled out a note from  there rhinking it was a 1000 but it was a 100. I asked the clerk to check the cctv which proved me wrong. I apologised  for my mistake and that was it. It happens.

[Baz Erckens]

6 hours ago, sikishrory said:

I was sitting eating a bowl of ramen in suvarnabhumi awhile ago. It was around 200฿ from memory.

A young blonde girl with a large backpack walked up to the menu, pointed out a dish and asked "can you do it any cheaper". She tried to haggle over a plate of cheap airport food then gave up and left.

Also watched a young man try to haggle a bloody bicycle in chiang mai and get it down like 20 baht.

Wtf people.

Yeah, it is getting worse by the day. People lack decency, trying to scam, cheat, lie everywhere without the tiniest feeling of remorse or respect. No admitting of wrongdoing whatsoever. 
Look at the news, people destroying police chains, ignoring police checkpoints, pissing and <deleted>ting everywhere, scamming and not paying restaurants, taxis fares etc. 

[Anthony mellows]

4 hours ago, rumeaug said:

I did make a mistake myself in a 711 recently.  I usually keep my 1000 thb notes in one specific compartment in Wallet. Sometimes a 100 thb note slips in if I dont pay attention.  I pulled out a note from  there rhinking it was a 1000 but it was a 100. I asked the clerk to check the cctv which proved me wrong. I apologised  for my mistake and that was it. It happens.

Why not make 1000 baht notes a totally different colour from 100 baht notes.Can easily mistake one from the other if it is dark, or your eyes are not great.

[BusyB]

9 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Amazing that there are foreigners here who try to cheat locals out of 50 baht. Go away, and don't come back.

 

 

I think that as with most shoplifting it's more of a psychological issue than a meagre attempt to enrich themselves.

 

Some people just can't help it. But they should be hammered nonetheless.

[Jaggg88]

10 hours ago, khunjeff said:

Yes, these people are cheaters who should be dealt with appropriately. But let's be real here...

 

Foreign tourists scam three Phuket taxi drivers: outrage! Press coverage! Tar and feathers!

 

Phuket taxi drivers scam hundreds of foreign tourists every day: crickets

Yes, this is a 'Man Bites Dog' story

[Kinok Farang]

Scots,can't take them anywhere.

[watchcat]

On 2/4/2025 at 9:25 AM, snoop1130 said:

A foreign couple in Phuket allegedly attempted to avoid paying a taxi fare yesterday, February 3, but ultimately paid after the driver threatened them with legal action.

 

Deport them 10 years minimum+ a jailtime for good measure.

[Lucky Bones]

On 2/5/2025 at 2:11 PM, rumeaug said:

I did make a mistake myself in a 711 recently.  I usually keep my 1000 thb notes in one specific compartment in Wallet. Sometimes a 100 thb note slips in if I dont pay attention.  I pulled out a note from  there rhinking it was a 1000 but it was a 100. I asked the clerk to check the cctv which proved me wrong. I apologised  for my mistake and that was it. It happens.

Fair call. I do likewise with banknotes. I have made mistakes.

[baansgr]

Thailand attracts so much scum, young and old black and white, so disheartening to see what is happening here

[Ben Zioner]

Why are these people having holidays in Thailand?

 

Would be easy to fix: only give visas to people with package tours costing a minimum of 200 USD a person a day.