Thai Police Apologise After Dismissing Influencer's Stalking Reports
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Trump Administration Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Social Media Vetting Push
That’s out trump trying to control how people think and making sure the schools don’t allow any critical thinking…surprised anyone?we have seen these actions in the past take heed!! -
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Crime Woman Injured in Violent Bag-Snatching Incident in Sattahip
Well done, drag him along to the cells then! -
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Report British Tourists Nabbed with 33kg of Cannabis at Valencia Airport
What a pair of numpties. Perhaps they were patsies for the next guy that had 34kgs. -
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Thursday 29 May 2025
Nightmare in Phuket: British Family's Pricey Villa Scam Uncovered Picture courtesy of ABC News A British family's dream holiday in Phuket descended into chaos when their £4,000 (176,000 baht) villa booking turned out to be a scam, leaving them stranded and scrambling for shelter. The Loaders, who had planned to spend Christmas in Thailand with their children and grandchildren, found themselves without a place to stay after a gruelling 30-hour journey. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1362119-nightmare-in-phuket-british-familys-pricey-villa-scam-uncovered/ -
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Report Nightmare in Phuket: British Family's Pricey Villa Scam Uncovered
Picture courtesy of ABC News A British family's dream holiday in Phuket descended into chaos when their £4,000 (176,000 baht) villa booking turned out to be a scam, leaving them stranded and scrambling for shelter. The Loaders, who had planned to spend Christmas in Thailand with their children and grandchildren, found themselves without a place to stay after a gruelling 30-hour journey. Judy and Richard Loader arrived in high spirits, eager to enjoy a festive break. However, their excitement quickly turned to distress when they discovered the villa they booked through Booking.com did not exist. Upon reaching the specified address, all that awaited them was the realisation that they had been duped. With darkness setting in and no immediate solution in sight, the family faced heightened anxiety, especially with children in tow. Prior to their departure, the Loaders had reservations about the villa as repeated attempts to contact the property owner went unanswered. Despite expressing these concerns to Booking.com, they were assured their worries were unfounded and that any unforeseen accommodation expenses would be covered in the event of issues. Sadly, when the scam was uncovered, the family waited for six hours in vain for assistance from Booking.com, eventually having to secure last-minute accommodation on their own. Booking.com has since refunded the cost of the non-existent villa, with a deduction of £80, but the Loaders' ordeal didn't end there. The family's additional expenses for new lodgings, international phone calls, and unforeseen travel costs were not compensated. Furthermore, to add insult to injury, they discovered the fraudulent villa listing was still active on Booking.com even after being reported by consumer group Which?. Judy expressed her frustration, saying, “Our distress was huge. Children in tears, no toilet, no food, no drink, foreign land and darkness descending.” It was a stark lesson for the Loaders and a sobering reminder to travellers to thoroughly vet online property bookings. In light of this incident, there are growing calls for stricter regulations on online booking platforms. Amendments under the UK’s Online Safety Act now demand that digital platforms enhance their systems to prevent such fraud and combat illegal content. Consumer group Which? has recommended steps like improved host identity verification, mandatory two-factor authentication, and a prohibition on external links in messages to crack down on scams. In response, Booking.com has removed the fake listing and issued a statement reiterating its commitment to safeguarding users against scams. “We take listing verification seriously and have robust controls in place,” the company spokesperson said. This unfortunate episode underscores the perils of online bookings, reminding travellers to exercise heightened caution and conduct thorough checks before proceeding with any transactions. For the Loaders, the holiday was both a nightmare and a valuable lesson in diligence. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-29
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