Farang Safety!it Is'nt A Priority!

[britmaveric]

Please do TV a service and let us know where you are when u come to thailand, so we can be elsewhere. Never heard of such an unlucky muppet. (perhaps come cosmic force is saying you should stay away from thailand)

[doggie888888]

Hi everyone,

In the light of all the recent murders,assaults,robberies,rapes and other ESCALATING crimes on foreign tourists and workers in various regions of Thailand I am looking for support to try and make the Thai authorities make information about these more readily available to people via internet or other media.

I myself have visited Thailand on 8 occassions and although 6 of these have been buisness related(and I have been escorted and generally looked after by Thai nationals) on the 2 occassions I have been holidaying on my own I have experienced the more sinister side of Thailand.

I have been mugged at knife point in a built up area(Police told me it was a rarity).

I have been assaulted in what was a set up involving the Police trying to get money(Fortunately a guy from the French Embassy and his bar owning associate intervened and the whole situation dissolved.The two Farang would'nt even accept a drink as thanks)

My room at my hotel was burgaled and if not for the inroom electronic safe who knows what I'd have been left with.(No sorry,no compensation and no sympathy of any kind from hotel manager).

I could not even count the amount of times I have been ripped off by the hundreds of scams or just greedy,devious and untrustworthy Thai's it has

been my misfortune to encounter.(Not exactly information given by holiday companies and or travel providers).

Many of you on this site will now start on me.........I am quite aware of the love affair that exists between a lot of foreigners and this country but I would like the chance to defend myself beforehand.

I have travelled to nearly every corner of the Globe and up until Thailand I have not encountered anything other than harsh words due to a driving error

or maybe paying a little over the odds for local crafts.I am a fit,tall,strong and intelligent male and therefore not the usual demographic for an easy target.

I am street savvy(believe it or not)!

It's time for Farang to take a stand and get the Government to do something positive to protect us.......It's time for Travel Agents etc to give lot more

information other than "The Land Of Smiles" crap that is continuously thrown at us!To be honest and I hope you all are......the smiles are only there when a good tipper or fat wallet are recognised.

So lets hear the backlash...and before the ranting please remember the many families of the countless foreigners to Thailand that were'nt as lucky as myself...

Although I personally have not encountered anywhere the level of misfortune suffered by you in Thailand, what exactly are you proposing in relation to "looking for support to try and make the Thai authorities make information about these more readily available to people via internet or other media"?

I think it is commendable that you are unlike any of the other moaners who do just that, moan, and little else...at least you are trying to cobble together a "fix" and good luck to you.

[trd]

Obviously that lucky amulet you bought isn't the real deal. See if you can get a refund.

[LennyW]

There was no need to be rude but in reading this site I have sometimes noticed the few obviously under educated reprobates with access to

a pc or laptop.

Blow me!

Hardly surprised you attract the attention that you do with an attitude like that!

Be nice if you could publish a list of the hundreds of scams you have been the subject of, just so the rest of us can be on the lookout!

[anothertorres]

i went to Mantra last night. it was delicious, as usual. that is all. oh wait, one other thing. 8 visits and hundreds of scams? no, this didn't happen. that's not exaggerating, that's just making shit up...

[wasabi]

I am a short scrawny male and I never was assaulted or threatened in Thailand. I am not a Thai apologist and will often be the first to complain but I have to say I felt safer in Thailand than any country I have been. My personal grievance is the pollution both air and water.

[caf]

Hi everyone,

In the light of all the recent murders,assaults,robberies,rapes and other ESCALATING crimes on foreign tourists and workers in various regions of Thailand I am looking for support to try and make the Thai authorities make information about these more readily available to people via internet or other media.

I myself have visited Thailand on 8 occassions and although 6 of these have been buisness related(and I have been escorted and generally looked after by Thai nationals) on the 2 occassions I have been holidaying on my own I have experienced the more sinister side of Thailand.

I have been mugged at knife point in a built up area(Police told me it was a rarity).

I have been assaulted in what was a set up involving the Police trying to get money(Fortunately a guy from the French Embassy and his bar owning associate intervened and the whole situation dissolved.The two Farang would'nt even accept a drink as thanks)

My room at my hotel was burgaled and if not for the inroom electronic safe who knows what I'd have been left with.(No sorry,no compensation and no sympathy of any kind from hotel manager).

I could not even count the amount of times I have been ripped off by the hundreds of scams or just greedy,devious and untrustworthy Thai's it has

been my misfortune to encounter.(Not exactly information given by holiday companies and or travel providers).

Many of you on this site will now start on me.........I am quite aware of the love affair that exists between a lot of foreigners and this country but I would like the chance to defend myself beforehand.

I have travelled to nearly every corner of the Globe and up until Thailand I have not encountered anything other than harsh words due to a driving error

or maybe paying a little over the odds for local crafts.I am a fit,tall,strong and intelligent male and therefore not the usual demographic for an easy target.

I am street savvy(believe it or not)!

It's time for Farang to take a stand and get the Government to do something positive to protect us.......It's time for Travel Agents etc to give lot more

information other than "The Land Of Smiles" crap that is continuously thrown at us!To be honest and I hope you all are......the smiles are only there when a good tipper or fat wallet are recognised.

So lets hear the backlash...and before the ranting please remember the many families of the countless foreigners to Thailand that were'nt as lucky as myself...

Although I personally have not encountered anywhere the level of misfortune suffered by you in Thailand, what exactly are you proposing in relation to "looking for support to try and make the Thai authorities make information about these more readily available to people via internet or other media"?

I think it is commendable that you are unlike any of the other moaners who do just that, moan, and little else...at least you are trying to cobble together a "fix" and good luck to you.

Travel agents are not going to bite the hand that feeds them by commenting on Thailand scams etc

Embassies have to be diplomatic. They are dealing with bigger issues

What would be in it for the Thai authorities? Admit there are problems? Give tourism another knock?

Individulas posting the scams on the internet is more likely to get the attention of potential arrivees.

[IanForbes]

Karma? Bad luck? Too much display of wealth? Staying in the wrong places? Who knows? But, what I do know is I've never felt threatened or lost anything in Thailand, and I've been in some shady places. That is far more than what I can say about the Philippines where the whole country seems corrupt.

Sorry to hear of your problems, but you must realize that it's your choice to be in Thailand where foreigners are pretty much on their own. I could and WOULD have far more problems in many North American cities.

[Lopburi99]

Karma? Bad luck? Too much display of wealth? Staying in the wrong places? Who knows? But, what I do know is I've never felt threatened or lost anything in Thailand, and I've been in some shady places. That is far more than what I can say about the Philippines where the whole country seems corrupt.

Sorry to hear of your problems, but you must realize that it's your choice to be in Thailand where foreigners are pretty much on their own. I could and WOULD have far more problems in many North American cities.

I also have never once felt unsafe or threatened in Thailand. If I should see somewhere that looks iffy, I would avoid it. Common sense. But then again I am not a drinker and don't frequent bars or other areas where the occasional obnoxious drunk make problems for everybody.

[ThaiBasil]

I've been to Thailand 247 times, got robbed about 121 times, assaulted over 50 times, stabbed, hit, kicked, got shot dead twice and ........ sorry got carried away, what as this topic about again?????????

[Bisto]

I'm not trying to have a go at you here, but you do seem rather unlucky. Is it possible that you are not approaching situations with the requisite caution? I suspect you are exaggerating somewhat.

Been coming to los since 2002 15 times now each time I leave the airport I’m scammed but I avoid the scammers don’t know if this is the right way to spell “ meoo- kap” ” no thank-you” and smile. that’s it and walk away. It cannot be more simple.

Is not the pm clamping down on the scammers at least he gave them plenty of notice.

[MaryJane]

Scams don't necessarily happen in a day or two, they can take many years to come to fruition. Don't kid yourself and become complacent. BIG mistake. "Thai Rak Thai" in the end...

[IanForbes]

Scams don't necessarily happen in a day or two, they can take many years to come to fruition. Don't kid yourself and become complacent. BIG mistake. "Thai Rak Thai" in the end...

That is true, but after a couple of mistakes a few of us have learned not to get married.

[lennya12threh]

Ive always felt safer in Thailand then Canada. Never gotten bad vibes, though some Thai people say that I am lucky because there are alot of "bad" people here as well. Like my girlfriends family in Burirum. I just went up there with her. Didnt know her thaaat well. Went up to Sakon Nakon with some thai guys for a week once and didnt know them thaaaat well either besides some drinks and teaching English to some of their co-workers. If I saw them on the street in canada Id cross the street. Dont look to clean and cant afford to eat at MK. LoL Theyve got 5 guys to a room in Bang Na. Never wanted anything from me. Always want me to drink. Couple times asked if Id pitch in some money. Everyeone seems more generous than Canada as well.

Never had any problems here besides the police wanting money and being dicks. I drive motorcycles. As well, my boss always paying me a week late. Nothing else. Could be because Im quite young. Look like a student or something that isnt rich or falling under the common falang stereotypes that are labelled as being "bad."

[lennya12threh]

That is true, but after a couple of mistakes a few of us have learned not to get married.

Well that could be my first scam because right now I really do feel like I love this girl. Uh oh.

But it doesnt seem like a scam. What could she want from me. Shes older than me, but doesnt look it, and dam_n beautiful. dam_n perfect, tiny body. Shes got a nice sum of money left over from her wealthy ex-boyfriend, and if she wanted shes got wealthy guys that like her but she doesnt like them because of their habits, or they have a wife or whatever. I have no money and will be studying in university. She bought me a motorcycle, payed off my 80,000 baht credit card debt that I was going to work for before studying so I could study sooner. We can talk philisophically and she can think extremely well. Psychologically, scientifically, etc. She went to university. She doesnt agree with most of her friends habits but stil cares for them and doesnt take part in anything she disagrees with, but in general doesnt go out much.

She really seems to love me, and claims to beleive marrigae isnt important at all. Just a like a contract on paper that is used for security in and if there is love you shouldnt need to sign a contract. but she does want to put my name on her bank account.

What could be wrong with this picture. If she likes me because im younger Ive got no problem with that. Everyones got some shallowness. If her body wasnt so perfect and she didnt blow my mind so much and didnt have that face I wouldnt feel so strong for her either.

Edited August 24, 2009 by lennya12threh

[Travel2003]

Why should a country make a priority out of the safety of the Foreigners?

A country's citizens should have first priority.

The visitors should follow the rules of the country they visit, and they will (or should) be protected by the host country's rules.

Seems like the word Scam is the hottest word these days here.

It used to be the word mafia (2 or more persons operating together).

I call most of the so call scams, just cheating.

Watch out for people that want to cheat some extra money out of you.

[longstebe]

I also have never once felt unsafe or threatened in Thailand. If I should see somewhere that looks iffy, I would avoid it. Common sense. But then again I am not a drinker and don't frequent bars or other areas where the occasional obnoxious drunk make problems for everybody.

You still off the ale Lopburi99?

Back on topic.The only scam I think I've come across is the traffic cop stopping me for(speeding) whisky money.

It beats points on your license and a heavy fine.

I've also travelled up and down the country and been coming here for 9 years and never been confronted in a

dangerous manner.

Your clearly not as street smart as what you think.

[dale8]

Hello, good luck with getting the Thai police or government to publish any information about crime against farang or tourists. They know it would be counterproductive to the tourist industry that has problems now as it is. I do not know of any country that has any real facts about crime against their tourists. You might want to check where and what you do in LOS as most people I know do not have many problems on their holidays in Thailand.

[Rimmer]

Maybe the OP is confused between here and Lagos.

[MXPILOT]

Some people just have different priorities. They think the good outweighs the bad. I personally agree with you. It's such a nice country but the corruption is just too much for certain types of people. I find it difficult to stay in a country where the police are the "Bad Guys" to the extent that they are here. If you can't count on the police at all you really have to tread lightly and avoid all confrontation period which means basically you can't stick up for yourself. Nobody in there right mind would put up with that for very long which is why the Farangs here are.... well I better not finish that I'll be attacked enough already.

[mahtin]

I'm with Mick from another thread (I think).

If the ticks in the pro column are more than in the con column...

OK, it's past beer o'clock. Over and out.

[Camelot]

Where did the OP go? I do hope he hasn't run into more trouble.

[Lopburi99]

I also have never once felt unsafe or threatened in Thailand. If I should see somewhere that looks iffy, I would avoid it. Common sense. But then again I am not a drinker and don't frequent bars or other areas where the occasional obnoxious drunk make problems for everybody.

I take that back. I always feel threatened (by a possible snake) when walking at night and can't see well. I also feel vulnerable when sleeping because in Thailand one never knows what lovely critter may show up in your bed .

...but never felt threatened by a person here.

[sokal]

I'm not trying to have a go at you here, but you do seem rather unlucky. Is it possible that you are not approaching situations with the requisite caution? I suspect you are exaggerating somewhat.

You could be right about the luck but there is no exaggeration.I would also say that caution does'nt enter into some of my experiences.Who knows.....everyone can draw their own conclusions from their own experiences.

Cheers

I don't think it is nessasary to bug the Thai authorities about this. This is a developing nation, it is not a nanny state. That is what I like about Thailand.

[longstebe]

I also have never once felt unsafe or threatened in Thailand. If I should see somewhere that looks iffy, I would avoid it. Common sense. But then again I am not a drinker and don't frequent bars or other areas where the occasional obnoxious drunk make problems for everybody.

You still off the ale Lopburi99?

Back on topic.The only scam I think I've come across is the traffic cop stopping me for(speeding) whisky money.

It beats points on your license and a heavy fine.

I've also travelled up and down the country and been coming here for 9 years and never been confronted in a

dangerous manner.

Your clearly not as street smart as what you think.

My apologies to Lopburi99.

I've been a little confused. (it doesn't take much).

He is not a drinker just like he said.