Briton Charged With Cheap Air Ticket Scam

[george]

Phuket Gazette:

Briton charged with cheap air ticket scam

PATONG: -- British national Jonathan Duncan, 24, was arrested today and charged with fraud after allegedly selling what he said were cheap air tickets to foreign tourists.

He was arrested at 3:30 pm in Room 112 of the Patong Grand View Hotel, where police also seized a laptop computer as evidence.

Pol Lt Col Boonlert Onklang said at Kathu Police Station that Duncan had been charged with cheating a Swedish man out of 95,000 baht, an offense which carries a maximum punishment of three years in jail.

Col Boonlert said that Duncan came to Thailand last year as a tourist. He is accused of telling foreigners wanting cheap air tickets that he could sell them to anyone interested, but that they would have to pay cash.

Using the tickets he provided, the people who bought them were able to travel one way but could not return, because people who se credit cards had been used to pay for them had notified the card companies that their cards had been used fraudulently, and the cards were cancelled.

The airlines were unaware of the name of the person who had sold the tickets, Col Boonlert added.

He said that the police have the names of people and two airlines allegedly cheated by Duncan.

Another victim of the alleged scam told the Gazette, “A friend told me that this guy was selling cheap tickets, so I bought two open returns to Gothenburg in Sweden. These were first class tickets at an economy price of around 65,000 baht each.”

He intended to use one immediately and the other later, he said. Using the first ticket he flew to Sweden in March, but when he wanted to return he was told that the ticket was not valid. He had to buy a new ticket in order to return to Phuket.

Col Boonlert said, “We want to warn tourists t hat it is impossible to get cheap air tickets. So they should not believe anybody who acts in this manner.”

Duncan will appear in court tomorrow, the colonel said.

--Phuket Gazette 2005-08-30

[Laulen]

This Briton, if the charges are true and he is convicted, gives the rest of us a bad name.

He is greedy, and essentially stupid. Perhaps, if convicted, a time in prison will help this young man 'mend his ways' and find a more reputable business to deal in; no doubt outside Thailand!

[EmptyMind]

"Col Boonlert said, “We want to warn tourists t hat it is impossible to get cheap air tickets. So they should not believe anybody who acts in this manner.”

Exactly LOL, Stupid people, serves them right for buying them lol, on what planet would you get 1st Class for economy prices.

[Pattaya_Fox]

If you are offered a deal in Thailand which seems too good to be true.....Then it usually is.

[ovenman]

Exactly LOL, Stupid people, serves them right for buying them lol, on what planet would you get 1st Class for economy prices.

The same planet where you can by a pile of gemstones and turn them around for 1000% profit when you return home.

[EmptyMind]

Exactly LOL, Stupid people, serves them right for buying them lol, on what planet would you get 1st Class for economy prices.

The same planet where you can by a pile of gemstones and turn them around for 1000% profit when you return home.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yer but at least buy a ticket to get you home hahahahha

[mrbojangles]

Exactly LOL, Stupid people, serves them right for buying them lol, on what planet would you get 1st Class for economy prices.

The same planet where you can by a pile of gemstones and turn them around for 1000% profit when you return home.

We need to talk, my good man

[jrincon17]

This Briton, if the charges are true and he is convicted, gives the rest of us a bad name. 

He is greedy, and essentially stupid.  Perhaps, if convicted, a time in prison will help this young man 'mend his ways' and find a more reputable business to deal in; no doubt outside Thailand!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You guys do this all the time , I knew , probably the same guy who was always trying to sell me Viagra. My friend bought some and didnt do sh&t , I told him see I told you so . Its jus not the Brits its alot of people in Thailand .

[greenwanderer108]

"Col Boonlert said, “We want to warn tourists t hat it is impossible to get cheap air tickets. So they should not believe anybody who acts in this manner.”

Exactly LOL, Stupid people, serves them right for buying them lol, on what planet would you get 1st Class for economy prices.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You must have been born with a silver spoon in your ###### or something...but since when is 65,000 baht roundtrip considered an economy price to anywhere from bkk?

Economy promotion deals are atleast half that !!! Sure the price has gone up a little in the past few years, but last time I flew in 2003, I got economy round trip to LAX for 23,000, so I'm sure I could have gotten first class for double that at most, which is still a lot less than 65,000 baht!!

[mrbojangles]

Phuket Gazette:

Briton charged with cheap air ticket scam

Using the tickets he provided, the people who bought them were able to travel one way but could not return, because people whose credit cards had been used to pay for them had notified the card companies that their cards had been used fraudulently, and the cards were cancelled.

Now i don't pretend to be a "Kojak" "Ironside" "Columbo" or "Taggart" here, in fact i'm more like "Deputy Dog" but even i smell a rat on this one.

The "innocent" people who got "scammed" must have known about this. They paid for them using their credit card and then reported them as being used fraudulantly. Doesn't seem to add up

[Crossy]

Phuket Gazette:

Briton charged with cheap air ticket scam

Using the tickets he provided, the people who bought them were able to travel one way but could not return, because people whose credit cards had been used to pay for them had notified the card companies that their cards had been used fraudulently, and the cards were cancelled.

Now i don't pretend to be a "Kojak" "Ironside" "Columbo" or "Taggart" here, in fact i'm more like "Deputy Dog" but even i smell a rat on this one.

The "innocent" people who got "scammed" must have known about this. They paid for them using their credit card and then reported them as being used fraudulantly. Doesn't seem to add up

It works like this:-

1. Traveller pays CASH for ticket at superb price.

2. 'Salesman' uses a stolen card number to buy ticket (at full price). Keeps cash and vanishes (or in this case doesn't, idiot).

3. Cardholder realises card misused, informs CC company and return half of ticket is cancelled.

And yes, this plonker makes the rest of us Brits look really bad.

To be honest, the 'victims' (who paid cash) didn't really lose out, they got a one-way first or business flight for the cost of an economy return.

Edited August 30, 2005 by Crossy

[carlthailand]

LOL.

Trying to do as so many other in Thailand. Sell copies. Well TiT.

C

[Potato]

If you are offered a deal in Thailand which seems too good to be true.....Then it usually is.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes,but MAYBE just MAYBE -------------------!

[mrbojangles]

Phuket Gazette:

Briton charged with cheap air ticket scam

Using the tickets he provided, the people who bought them were able to travel one way but could not return, because people whose credit cards had been used to pay for them had notified the card companies that their cards had been used fraudulently, and the cards were cancelled.

Now i don't pretend to be a "Kojak" "Ironside" "Columbo" or "Taggart" here, in fact i'm more like "Deputy Dog" but even i smell a rat on this one.

The "innocent" people who got "scammed" must have known about this. They paid for them using their credit card and then reported them as being used fraudulantly. Doesn't seem to add up

It works like this:-

1. Traveller pays CASH for ticket at superb price.

2. 'Salesman' uses a stolen card number to buy ticket (at full price). Keeps cash and vanishes (or in this case doesn't, idiot).

3. Cardholder realises card misused, informs CC company and return half of ticket is cancelled.

And yes, this plonker makes the rest of us Brits look really bad.

To be honest, the 'victims' (who paid cash) didn't really lose out, they got a one-way first or business flight for the cost of an economy return.

How do you know so much Crossy

Guess i'm not even "Deputy Dog" eh, just "Naive Ned".

[greenwanderer108]

as i stated....

65,000 baht is not economy price ! ! !

http://www.12flight.com/country/sweden.html

If I can get a roundtrip for atleast 28,000 Bkk to Sweden,

then it doesn't really sound impossible that a first class could be 65,000 baht

Has anybody here ever paid 65,000 baht for an economy ticket anywhere?

[ovenman]

If I can get a roundtrip for atleast 28,000 Bkk to Sweden,

then it doesn't really sound impossible that a first class could be 65,000 baht

The 28,000 baht price you quote on that website is the absolute low-ball fare on either Egypt Air and Turkish Airlines, perhaps not every traveler's first choice of carrier. First-class fares are not just double that of the absolute cheapest economy class ticket you can find on a given route. It wouldn't surprise me to find that a BKK-Europe first-class ticket goes for a minimum of 100,000 baht on a reputable carrier, higher than that when you start removing any restrictions on the ticket.

[greenwanderer108]

If I can get a roundtrip for atleast 28,000 Bkk to Sweden,

then it doesn't really sound impossible that a first class could be 65,000 baht

The 28,000 baht price you quote on that website is the absolute low-ball fare on either Egypt Air and Turkish Airlines, perhaps not every traveler's first choice of carrier. First-class fares are not just double that of the absolute cheapest economy class ticket you can find on a given route. It wouldn't surprise me to find that a BKK-Europe first-class ticket goes for a minimum of 100,000 baht on a reputable carrier, higher than that when you start removing any restrictions on the ticket.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok...I've never flew first class and never plan on doing so either...same trip, same distance, same aircraft, why pay more? Whatever, I have an adaptable comfort zone. And every super promotional economy flight I've flown on (which is every time) isn't that bad...free food, LQ, movies, music, and everything. So why should I pay three times more for the same exact flight?

Anyway, the point was that 65,000 baht is not an economy price for roundtrip airfare for any carrier. Unless of course you just don't know how to shop for a ticket. If you looked at the website, the highest fare for the better carriers wasn't even 50,000 baht---which in my oppinion is rediculous already.

[EmptyMind]

"Col Boonlert said, “We want to warn tourists t hat it is impossible to get cheap air tickets. So they should not believe anybody who acts in this manner.”

Exactly LOL, Stupid people, serves them right for buying them lol, on what planet would you get 1st Class for economy prices.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You must have been born with a silver spoon in your ###### or something...but since when is 65,000 baht roundtrip considered an economy price to anywhere from bkk?

Economy promotion deals are atleast half that !!! Sure the price has gone up a little in the past few years, but last time I flew in 2003, I got economy round trip to LAX for 23,000, so I'm sure I could have gotten first class for double that at most, which is still a lot less than 65,000 baht!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok, LOL, sounds like you are stupid enough to buy a ticket from a guy in the street the same as the others did LOL, not much point in replying to that !

Buy crap and get crap LOL, If you cant afford it then don't buy it ! Don't buy a stolen version and expect it to work and then tell people that they were born with a silver spoon in their ***** because they paid for the genuine article and then moan because your street copy didnt work. Uff I wonder why I post on here sometimes, its full of pepole who want something for nothing and abuse Thailand thinking that they can do so,

[cobra]

A red flag should always go up when a deal is "cash only" ...

At least you have some recourse if there's an issue with some transaction when paying via credit card,

IMHO, most people who get conned on a deal that's to good to be true have some idea it isn't completely on the up and up, ... another one bites the dust ...

[khall64au]

This Briton, if the charges are true and he is convicted, gives the rest of us a bad name. 

He is greedy, and essentially stupid.  Perhaps, if convicted, a time in prison will help this young man 'mend his ways' and find a more reputable business to deal in; no doubt outside Thailand!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You guys do this all the time , I knew , probably the same guy who was always trying to sell me Viagra. My friend bought some and didnt do sh&t , I told him see I told you so . Its jus not the Brits its alot of people in Thailand .

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, there's a young Kiwi guy getting around in Kata... "King of Viagra"

... beware!

[john b good]

"Col Boonlert said, “We want to warn tourists t hat it is impossible to get cheap air tickets. So they should not believe anybody who acts in this manner.”

Exactly LOL, Stupid people, serves them right for buying them lol, on what planet would you get 1st Class for economy prices.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You must have been born with a silver spoon in your ###### or something...but since when is 65,000 baht roundtrip considered an economy price to anywhere from bkk?

Economy promotion deals are atleast half that !!! Sure the price has gone up a little in the past few years, but last time I flew in 2003, I got economy round trip to LAX for 23,000, so I'm sure I could have gotten first class for double that at most, which is still a lot less than 65,000 baht!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"no wrong" the guy was selling first class tickets which would cost a helleva lot more than 65,000 return in fact 65,000 would be as bargain if on a long haul

[Phil Clark]

If I can get a roundtrip for atleast 28,000 Bkk to Sweden,

then it doesn't really sound impossible that a first class could be 65,000 baht

The 28,000 baht price you quote on that website is the absolute low-ball fare on either Egypt Air and Turkish Airlines, perhaps not every traveler's first choice of carrier. First-class fares are not just double that of the absolute cheapest economy class ticket you can find on a given route. It wouldn't surprise me to find that a BKK-Europe first-class ticket goes for a minimum of 100,000 baht on a reputable carrier, higher than that when you start removing any restrictions on the ticket.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok...I've never flew first class and never plan on doing so either...same trip, same distance, same aircraft, why pay more? Whatever, I have an adaptable comfort zone. And every super promotional economy flight I've flown on (which is every time) isn't that bad...free food, LQ, movies, music, and everything. So why should I pay three times more for the same exact flight?

Anyway, the point was that 65,000 baht is not an economy price for roundtrip airfare for any carrier. Unless of course you just don't know how to shop for a ticket. If you looked at the website, the highest fare for the better carriers wasn't even 50,000 baht---which in my oppinion is rediculous already.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As a general rule of thumb from what I have seen in Thailand via Travel Agencies, Business Class tickets cost roughly double Economy; First Class tickets are about four times Economy.

[klymr]

as i stated....

65,000 baht is not economy price  !  !  !

http://www.12flight.com/country/sweden.html

If I can get a roundtrip for atleast 28,000 Bkk to Sweden,

then it doesn't really sound impossible that a first class could be 65,000 baht

Has anybody here ever paid 65,000 baht for an economy ticket anywhere?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I traveled Delta and Korea Air to Bangkok and back to Salt Lake City, Utah in April for 37,000 baht economy. With the rise in fuel prices the same ticket now costs around 39,000 baht.

[wilko]

This Briton, if the charges are true and he is convicted, gives the rest of us a bad name. 

He is greedy, and essentially stupid.  Perhaps, if convicted, a time in prison will help this young man 'mend his ways' and find a more reputable business to deal in; no doubt outside Thailand!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And his customers had no idea that they might have being buying dodgy tickets?

Greedy is as greedy does...

[VanZam]

One has to wonder..After selling the tickets and using stolen credit cards to pay...why in the world did this guy hang around or use his real name for anything?

This guy deserves to be caught, I dont know anybody this stupid.

[Dradam]

I see many British responses saying that people like this make them all look bad.

I once had a man tell me a very sad story and ask for money to help him saying, "I wouldn't lie to you, I'm British." Turned out that he had lied.

Hmmm...

I am not making moral judgments here. I am an American and everyone know we are not innocent of our share of wrongs. Maybe he was also an American and faking a British accent.

In any case, nationality should never be used as a measure of morality. Each person is unique.

I certainly consider my past experience with people of that nationality but it is very important to refrain from acting on preconceived notions until you know someone personally.

[rocky]

Thailand a fools paradise......

When ever I have been offered a service by any farang being french german english etc, it is always more expensive than buying from a Thai..

[remmy]

I dont think he gave bad name to anyone other than himself. There are Millions of crooks, fraudsters and liars in all countries and nationalities.

[george]

Update:

Ticket scam suspect makes bail

PATONG: -- British national Jonathan Duncan, charged with selling fraudulently obtained air tickets to tourists, has been released on bail of 50,000 baht after spending five days locked up following his arrest.

Duncan, 24, was arrested August 30 on charges of fraud, following complaints by people who had bought cheap air tickets from him. It is alleged that he bought them by fraudulently using other people’s credit cards.

When the card owners discovered the fraudulent charges, they ordered that the payments be stopped, and the airlines therefore invalidated the tickets.

The offense of fraud carries a maximum punishment of three years in jail.

Pol Lt Col Boonlert Onklang, of Kathu Police Station said that the police investigation is continuing as more victims of Duncan’s alleged scamming come forward.

He added, however, that the police will put their evidence before the co urt by the end of September.

--Phuket Gazette 2005-07-13

[Joey Boy]

time to spend some of his ill gotten gains on a flight to bangkok and a new passport