Photo courtesy of TakeMe Tour’s Blog

 

If you're planning a holiday in Thailand, be vigilant with your spending. Bangkok has been identified as one of the world's leading hotspots for tourist scams, with a significant portion of fraud cases tied to questionable taxi and car rental dealings. This revelation comes from a recent report by the Mastercard Economics Institute, highlighted by CNBC, which outlines a concerning rise in travel-related scams globally.

 

The comprehensive report details that fraud incidents can surge by up to 28% during peak travel seasons. In Bangkok, nearly half (48%) of all reported fraud cases involve dubious taxi and car rental agreements, marking the city as particularly hazardous for tourist scams.

 

A common trick involves fake or misleading tour bookings where, after payment, the tour either fails to occur or vastly differs from what was originally advertised. David Mann, Chief Economist for Asia Pacific at the Mastercard Economics Institute, pointed out the geographic variability of fraud. He noted, "In some destinations, fraud is more common in tour bookings, while in others it may be food services."

 

Thailand's tourist-friendly destinations, such as Phuket, are also flagged for being prone to scams, notably in fraudulent hotel bookings. This mirrors issues faced by travellers in other popular spots like Antalya, Turkey.

 

Contrastively, cities like San Francisco, Dublin, Seoul, Budapest, and Edinburgh are reported to have the lowest levels of tourist fraud, offering travellers a relatively safer experience.

 

Elsewhere, high scam rates have been reported in cities including Cancun (Mexico), Hanoi (Vietnam), and Dhaka (Bangladesh). Scams vary widely: in Jakarta, taxi-related fraud represents 66% of cases, while it's only 2% in cities like Hong Kong and Barcelona.

 

The report also highlights a growing threat during the holiday booking phase, with travel-related fraud up 12% over the past year. Issues include doctored photos, counterfeit booking confirmations, and fraudulent payment links.

 

Mastercard advises tourists to take precautions such as booking through secure platforms, utilising digital wallets or credit cards with robust fraud protection, and steering clear of deals that appear too attractive. Always remember, better safe than scammed.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-21

 

 

Just got back from Bangkok and managed to avoid all the common scams! My top tips: tuk-tuk drivers offering super low prices ("20 baht to see all temples!") are a red flag – always hail a metered taxi or use a ride-hailing app. Be wary of anyone trying to guide you to a "special" shop or tailor; if you don't know much about what they're selling (like antiques or custom suits), just politely decline and keep walking. A firm "no, thank you" and continuing on your way works wonders; don't feel pressured to engage! Stay smart, and you'll have an amazing time!

Tourist destination number 1 is Thailand, but the tourists who are scammed, double priced and/or fined by the RTP will tell their family and friends and colleges at home and now Thailand is wondering why tourists don't come anymore... The result of....

7 minutes ago, KireB said:

Just got back from Bangkok and managed to avoid all the common scams! My top tips: tuk-tuk drivers offering super low prices ("20 baht to see all temples!") are a red flag – always hail a metered taxi or use a ride-hailing app. Be wary of anyone trying to guide you to a "special" shop or tailor; if you don't know much about what they're selling (like antiques or custom suits), just politely decline and keep walking. A firm "no, thank you" and continuing on your way works wonders; don't feel pressured to engage! Stay smart, and you'll have an amazing time!

So first trip to Bangkok.

10 minutes ago, KireB said:

Just got back from Bangkok and managed to avoid all the common scams! My top tips: tuk-tuk drivers offering super low prices ("20 baht to see all temples!") are a red flag – always hail a metered taxi or use a ride-hailing app. Be wary of anyone trying to guide you to a "special" shop or tailor; if you don't know much about what they're selling (like antiques or custom suits), just politely decline and keep walking. A firm "no, thank you" and continuing on your way works wonders; don't feel pressured to engage! Stay smart, and you'll have an amazing time!

 

This is terrifying.  I've told the wife it's Ilfracombe for us this year. Not taking any chances. If I get a few chips less with my fish I won't  complain any more.

10 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

So first trip to Bangkok.

Yes, I went to the Gemini lounge.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

If you're planning a holiday in Thailand, be vigilant with your spending. Bangkok has been identified as one of the world's leading hotspots for tourist scams, with a significant portion of fraud cases tied to questionable taxi and car rental dealings.

Tell us something we don't know...

Taxi rip offs is the biggest scam in Thailand... followed by ATM withdrawals... at airport ATMs one may land up  with a higher exchange rates and also normal ATM withdrawal is around 220 thb per transaction which is very high for a long stay traveler as compared to any other country... like In Vietnam, I pay around 60 thb equivalent in VND per withdrawal transactionfrom ATM... 

then is tuk tuk... a BIG no for me... 

and Other scams or rip off depends upon what you looking for or want to indulge in... and knowledge about a place. Almost all big tourist countries have buses from airport to city center... not in Thailand... so it's a scam also so that a tourist has to get into a taxi. Luckily swarnabhumi airport has MRT... but anyone getting down at Don mueang  will get ripped off

i woulda thought phuket or pattaya would have taken top honors. 

2 minutes ago, factual monk said:

Taxi rip offs is the biggest scam in Thailand... followed by ATM withdrawals... at airport ATMs one may land up  with a higher exchange rates and also normal ATM withdrawal is around 220 thb per transaction which is very high for a long stay traveler as compared to any other country... like In Vietnam, I pay around 60 thb equivalent in VND per withdrawal transactionfrom ATM... 

then is tuk tuk... a BIG no for me... 

and Other scams or rip off depends upon what you looking for or want to indulge in... and knowledge about a place. Almost all big tourist countries have buses from airport to city center... not in Thailand... so it's a scam also so that a tourist has to get into a taxi. Luckily swarnabhumi airport has MRT... but anyone getting down at Don mueang  will get ripped off

The biggest rip off for me is when I enter a National park and I am singled out to pay 5 to 10 times more than my wife. 

10 hours ago, KireB said:

Just got back from Bangkok and managed to avoid all the common scams! My top tips: tuk-tuk drivers offering super low prices ("20 baht to see all temples!") are a red flag – always hail a metered taxi or use a ride-hailing app. Be wary of anyone trying to guide you to a "special" shop or tailor; if you don't know much about what they're selling (like antiques or custom suits), just politely decline and keep walking. A firm "no, thank you" and continuing on your way works wonders; don't feel pressured to engage! Stay smart, and you'll have an amazing time!

 

10 hours ago, KireB said:

 

I have fun with these drivers that approach me on Sukhumvit near Nana and my hotel and tell me 50 Baht for 1 hour tour. I double checked the price with them and then I explained to them I only want to go to MBK so I'll still give him 50 baht for only that 10 minute ride good for him good for me well of course that ain't going to work because he's not going to get his commissions from the tailors and the jewelry stores he tries to get me into. 

Never in the land of smiles 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This revelation comes from a recent report by the Mastercard Economics Institute

They should have just saved the expense and asked me! 😉🤔

6 minutes ago, bluemoon58 said:

They should have just saved the expense and asked me! 😉🤔

They should become members ASEANNOW save them a fortune, 

Just about everything you buy in Bangkok and many parts of Thailand is knock off copy or fake.

Even down to the women. 

And saying

"love you long time ".

35 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Tell us something we don't know...

I don't think this was directed at you.

3 minutes ago, dallen52 said:

Just about everything you buy in Bangkok and many parts of Thailand is knock off copy or fake.

Even down to the women. 

And saying

"love you long time ".

Same same but different... 😅

Still waiting on a refunded car rental deposit from 4 years ago. Should I just give up?

32 minutes ago, KireB said:

The biggest rip off for me is when I enter a National park and I am singled out to pay 5 to 10 times more than my wife. 

I had a similar situation last weekend here in Phuket, we had family down here for a few days from Bangkok and Korat, obviously they want to go sightseeing, They wanted to go to a big tourist attraction Im not mentioning any names but I already knew it was double the price, when my wife was looking to book they had a special offer for Thai people but none for a farang, My Thai relatives couldn't believe it, it wasn't a couple hundred baht, it was over a 1000 baht difference. I just looked on their web site and they have the Thai price written in Thai, ๘๓๗ บาท, I didn't go, 

 

11 hours ago, KireB said:

Just got back from Bangkok and managed to avoid all the common scams! My top tips: tuk-tuk drivers offering super low prices ("20 baht to see all temples!") are a red flag – always hail a metered taxi or use a ride-hailing app. Be wary of anyone trying to guide you to a "special" shop or tailor; if you don't know much about what they're selling (like antiques or custom suits), just politely decline and keep walking. A firm "no, thank you" and continuing on your way works wonders; don't feel pressured to engage! Stay smart, and you'll have an amazing time!

It's not a real trip to Bangkok if you didn't get scammed at least once.  Come back, try again.

8 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

I had a similar situation last weekend here in Phuket, we had family down here for a few days from Bangkok and Korat, obviously they want to go sightseeing, They wanted to go to a big tourist attraction Im not mentioning any names but I already knew it was double the price, when my wife was looking to book they had a special offer for Thai people but none for a farang, My Thai relatives couldn't believe it, it wasn't a couple hundred baht, it was over a 1000 baht difference. I just looked on their web site and they have the Thai price written in Thai, ๘๓๗ บาท, I didn't go, 

 

Every country has it's own discounts in their own ways.  Special menus for tourists in Greece and France.  Special gems and jewelry in the Caribbean.  Almost every duty free shop in the world now.  Florida resident discounts to the theme parks, Kama'aina discount for local Hawaiians.  Tourist fee in Venice, probably soon plenty of tourist fees in Kyoto and other Japan hotspots.   Locals know where to get free parking, free entry to museums, and other specials.

 

Many years ago a tuktuk driver tole me all about the tailor scam. He get a card punched every time he takes a customer into  a tailor shop and after 10 ticket punches he gets a bottle of whisky. So he took me all around bkk for the day,i had a great sightseeing day,he got his whisky, Never charged me one baht.

The Thai authorities know how to fix this scam problem...but will never do it.  And, now they are crying about the lack of tourists??  Go figure.

5 minutes ago, theshu25 said:

Many years ago a tuktuk driver tole me all about the tailor scam. He get a card punched every time he takes a customer into  a tailor shop and after 10 ticket punches he gets a bottle of whisky. So he took me all around bkk for the day,i had a great sightseeing day,he got his whisky, Never charged me one baht.

People can just say no!  It is not that hard!  JUST SAY NO!  I eff them off everyday when I go to BKK and Patts.

1 hour ago, KireB said:

The biggest rip off for me is when I enter a National park and I am singled out to pay 5 to 10 times more than my wife. 

I just simply don't go  to them anymore for this reason. 

25 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

I had a similar situation last weekend here in Phuket, we had family down here for a few days from Bangkok and Korat, obviously they want to go sightseeing, They wanted to go to a big tourist attraction Im not mentioning any names but I already knew it was double the price, when my wife was looking to book they had a special offer for Thai people but none for a farang, My Thai relatives couldn't believe it, it wasn't a couple hundred baht, it was over a 1000 baht difference. I just looked on their web site and they have the Thai price written in Thai, ๘๓๗ บาท, I didn't go, 

 

Yes, agree.  best practice, just don't go- same with all the national parks too. 

11 hours ago, KireB said:

Just got back from Bangkok and managed to avoid all the common scams! My top tips: tuk-tuk drivers offering super low prices ("20 baht to see all temples!") are a red flag – always hail a metered taxi or use a ride-hailing app. Be wary of anyone trying to guide you to a "special" shop or tailor; if you don't know much about what they're selling (like antiques or custom suits), just politely decline and keep walking. A firm "no, thank you" and continuing on your way works wonders; don't feel pressured to engage! Stay smart, and you'll have an amazing time!

"You Falang, you big moneyyyy"

Not to mention the scam where  policemen (fake ones, I am sure) in a certain part of town view tourists as prey to extort money from.  

LOS.  Used to be land of smiles, now “land of” - stupid, scams, scum and soon just plain old sh!t.  I am married with 2 small kids and we are seriously looking to move to Bali.  Cleaner. Better beaches.  Environmentally friendly.   Etc. Etc. Etc.  Also they don’t change their visa or tax rules every time someone sneezes.  

1 hour ago, factual monk said:

Taxi rip offs is the biggest scam in Thailand... followed by ATM withdrawals... at airport ATMs one may land up  with a higher exchange rates and also normal ATM withdrawal is around 220 thb per transaction which is very high for a long stay traveler as compared to any other country... like In Vietnam, I pay around 60 thb equivalent in VND per withdrawal transactionfrom ATM... 

then is tuk tuk... a BIG no for me... 

and Other scams or rip off depends upon what you looking for or want to indulge in... and knowledge about a place. Almost all big tourist countries have buses from airport to city center... not in Thailand... so it's a scam also so that a tourist has to get into a taxi. Luckily swarnabhumi airport has MRT... but anyone getting down at Don mueang  will get ripped off

Firstly Swampy doesn't have MRT it has BTS, and yeah that's being finicky I know. Secondly Don Meung has buses to Mo Chit where you can then get on the MRT, so there is no need to have to rely on taxis.