Aussies Warned About Phuket Scamsters

[webfact]

Aussies warned about Phuket scamsters

BANGKOK: -- Australian tourists in Phuket should be wary of extortion gangs, some of which are in cahoots with local police.

Australian Ambassador James Wise and his British counterpart, Mark Kent, have joined a Thai Ministry of Tourism campaign to tackle tourist scams on Phuket.

Up to 25,000 Australians visit Phuket each month, with Christmas and New Year the peak of the tourism season.

The main scams involve taxi and jet-ski operators in Phuket and the seaside resort town of Pattaya.

Mr Wise said travellers needed to be on their guard when they hired jet-skis or motorcycles.

"Consider the implications if it is stolen or damaged. Foreigners are commonly detained by police until compensation, often thousands of dollars, is negotiated between the parties."

Mr Kent said travellers should be cautious in "crowded markets, tourist sites, bus or train stations and festivals".

"It is best to avoid isolated neighbourhoods, shortcuts, narrow alleys and poorly lit streets, especially late at night," he said.

Larry Cunningham, Australia's honorary consul in Phuket, said scams and criminality had increased to such an extent that expatriates wanted to leave the island.

Mr Cunningham said young travellers were specially targeted by gangs and on occasion by local police.

In one incident, a young Australian man was involved in a minor traffic accident when riding a rental bike. He was told by police an injured man's condition was serious and was forced to pay thousands of dollars in compensation. [more...]

Full story: http://www.smh.com.a...1223-2btzi.html

-- The Sydney Morning Herald 2012-12-24

[scotto]

Yes and all the other scams as well go there at your own peril

i say, have been there for holidays and will not go back

only the newbies go there till they learn then i doubt most would go back

[OzMick]

Good on you SMH and affiliated papers! This article will be read Australia wide - hopefully some will learn from it.

[NamKangMan]

Same old scams.

Same old extortions.

Same old rip offs.

Same old corruption.

Same old lack of action by Government here to fix what is clearly having a negative impact on the tourism industry and on tourists in general.

The Sydney Morning Herald is a very widely read publication and website in Australia. The article doesn't describe Phuket as a great place for a holiday, especially the death statistics towards the end of the article, although some of those deaths would be from natural causes.

If Phuket truly wants to "brand" itself, it needs to raise the quality of the product they are advertising and marketing to the world, or face a declining market share in the future. In fact, I would say they have already lost a lot of the western tourist market to rival places in Thailand, and neighbouring countries.

Through this article, and many other similar articles, the Australian and British Government are informing their citizens that Phuket is not a quality product/place for a holiday, yet nothing has been done at a local level to address the issues that has plagued Phuket for years.

From memory, I can not think of any other tourist desination in the world where the Ambassadors of two countries have to go to the public media to release safety and security warnings to their citizens. The amount of victims here are obviously draining the Embassy's resources to cope.

The general attitude of officials here is it's the tourists fault for getting scammed, robbed, extorted, assualted etc. They view tourists with utter contempt.

I, like many others, have given up hope for positive change here. That said, the only question that remains is, just how bad are they going to allow it to get here????

Sad to see a great place slowly slip down the S bend.

Edited December 24, 2012 by NamKangMan

[BookMan]

So be careful everywhere basically...or just stay in your hotel room

Mr Kent said travellers should be cautious in "crowded markets, tourist sites, bus or train stations and festivals".

"It is best to avoid isolated neighbourhoods, shortcuts, narrow alleys and poorly lit streets, especially late at night," he said.

[Sharp]

Same old scams.

Same old extortions.

Same old rip offs.

Same old corruption.

Same old lack of action by Government here to fix what is clearly having a negative impact on the tourism industry and on tourists in general.

The Sydney Morning Herald is a very widely read publication and website in Australia. The article doesn't describe Phuket as a great place for a holiday, especially the death statistics towards the end of the article, although some of those deaths would be from natural causes.

If Phuket truly wants to "brand" itself, it needs to raise the quality of the product they are advertising and marketing to the world, or face a declining market share in the future. In fact, I would say they have already lost a lot of the western tourist market to rival places in Thailand, and neighbouring countries.

Through this article, and many other similar articles, the Australian and British Government are informing their citizens that Phuket is not a quality product/place for a holiday, yet nothing has been done at a local level to address the issues that has plagued Phuket for years.

From memory, I can not think of any other tourist desination in the world where the Ambassadors of two countries have to go to the public media to release safety and security warnings to their citizens. The amout of victims here are obviously draining the Embassy's resources to cope.

The general attitude of officials here is it's the tourists fault for getting scammed, robbed, extorted, assualted etc. They view tourists with utter contempt.

I, like many others, have given up hope for positive change here. That said, the only question that remains is, just how bad are they going to allow it to get here????

Sad to see a great place slowly slip down the S bend.

Yep spot on I would say ...real shame ...

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[hgma]

Still 23 million new prospects are predicted by TAT.

For sure AMAZING.

[johnnyj]

I've never been to Phuket, and with all the things I've heard I never intend to - it doesn't sound much like the places in thailand I know and love to visit.

its a real shame to see this sort of thing - especially when there are actually wonderful places to visit with lovely people living there.

Phuket just sounds like a cesspool though...

[KKvampire]

Same old thailand.falang = money scam.Law =corruption

Sent from my LG-P350 using Thaivisa Connect App

Edited December 24, 2012 by KKvampire

[simple1]

At a recent expat presentation by a UK Embassy official he mentioned that last year Consular Services provided assistance for 23 rape & sexual assault victims in Thailand, so it would appear there are a lot of crimes against foreigners that are not covered in the local English language media. He didn't breakdown the numbers by location. He also said there were 840k UK visitors to Thailand last year.

Edited December 24, 2012 by simple1

[culicine]

Great article - we need more press like this. At least tourists are aware of the risks. Not much will change in terms of clearing up these gangs/police until tourist numbers drop significantly. Jet skis are out of the question and think I'd rather walk, if possible, and enjoy what scenery is left...

[fiddlehead]

Yes, I view this is a positive article because the only way we are going to see things improve is if various consulates project travelers warnings and people stop coming here.

Only then will the powers that be do something about the problem.

But with tourist numbers continually growing, I doubt anything will be done.

C'mon America, Canada, Western Europe, etc. find some balls and follow in these guy's footsteps.

[Skywalker69]

Australian Ambassador James Wise and his British counterpart, Mark Kent, have joined a Thai Ministry of Tourism campaign to tackle tourist scams on Phuket.

Cilly me thinking it´s allready been done.................by Chalerm.

[edgarfriendly]

Warn the tourists,

promote the crooked,

raise the prices,

bully the compassionate,

extort the weakest,

rape the youngest,

murder the competition,

never lose 'face',

job well done....

so proud to be thai,

everyone else is just scum to be devoured... Yum Yum

dont blame phuket, Bangkok or pattaya........ its just land....

Its the vermin that run it/ruin it that need to be eradicated!!!

Fact!

Edited December 24, 2012 by edgarfriendly

[williewolf]

Went there for a holiday with my Thai g/f. Not impressed. When we go back to Thailand she asked.

[Pib]

Mr Wise said travellers needed to be on their guard when they hired jet-skis or motorcycles.

"Consider the implications if it is stolen or damaged. Foreigners are commonly detained by police until compensation, often thousands of dollars, is negotiated between the parties."

And these type of scams will continue, regardless of politician talk, until the police get serious about shutting down such scams. However, this is unlikely to occur since I expect the police gets part of the negotiated settlement...call it supplemental, non-taxable income.

[chainarong]

This article typifies the direction the country is heading in some parts and the extent people will go to , to make life a misery for others on a holiday, all tourists should be made well aware before they leave their country of origin, of the pitfalls holidaying in L.O.S. something like big notices at the departure lounge, The Shincorp crowd might have to get a little egg on their face before they act, me thinks.

[Songhua]

Having lived in Phuket over twenty years ago and visited almost every year since, it has been very disappointing to see it gradually degenerate into its current state. Certainly not the Phuket we loved and remembered, and we decided on our last visit that it would be exactly that .... our last.

IMO it's probably quite telling of the seriousness of a problem when two ambassadors find it necessary to join forces to bring it to the fore.

Believe it or not, you could have a 'quiet' beer in Bangla once. Now look at it - Thailand should be ashamed of it. Not that you have to go to Bangla to get scammed or harassed anymore - the rust is spreading, and those living on some other parts of the island should already be concerned how their own part of paradise is going to look in another twenty years.

[rubl]

Posted 2012-06-22 16:40:28

Chalerm vows to get rid of mafia in tourism businesses

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung Friday has vowed to get rid of the mafia groups in the tourism business within three months.

http://www.thaivisa....within-3-month/

[Pushit]

The Thai Police are part of the problem, Not part of the solution. Who can wronged visitors turn to for help ??

[jerrysteve]

SAME old same O...No Co-operation from the TOURIST AUTHORITY OF THAILAND, Police, from the Government...

The only thing they are good at is MAKING Sure Tourists do Not Return with those Mighty Tourist Dollars...

Thailand is an EXPERT at doing that.

[sunshine51]

Having lived in Phuket over twenty years ago and visited almost every year since, it has been very disappointing to see it gradually degenerate into its current state. Certainly not the Phuket we loved and remembered, and we decided on our last visit that it would be exactly that .... our last.

IMO it's probably quite telling of the seriousness of a problem when two ambassadors find it necessary to join forces to bring it to the fore.

Believe it or not, you could have a 'quiet' beer in Bangla once. Now look at it - Thailand should be ashamed of it. Not that you have to go to Bangla to get scammed or harassed anymore - the rust is spreading, and those living on some other parts of the island should already be concerned how their own part of paradise is going to look in another twenty years.

Well said Songhua, well said. I finally moved to the mainland 5 years ago....just to get away from the shit

that's spreading like a wildfire. Question is though....wildfires have been known to jump water barriers

so how long will it be until I must move again...5...10 years? I'm not too concerned about 20 years cause

I'll most likely be turned into fertilizer by then being 60+ now. Yes...I remember having cold beers at either

Lada's or West Beach Cafe...without hassles....miss those days.

[moe666]

Ok, how many people visit each month, how many people of those visiting get scammed. Compareing apples to oranges I would say very few because they keep coming. Met a dad and daughter here in Chiang Mai who were going for a wedding, asked the dad and granddad how it went he said they had a great time. I do not know the percentage of tourist that get scammed but would be willing to bet it is less than one percent of total visitors, thats why nothing is done

[bigbamboo]

Having lived in Phuket over twenty years ago and visited almost every year since, it has been very disappointing to see it gradually degenerate into its current state. Certainly not the Phuket we loved and remembered, and we decided on our last visit that it would be exactly that .... our last.

IMO it's probably quite telling of the seriousness of a problem when two ambassadors find it necessary to join forces to bring it to the fore.

Believe it or not, you could have a 'quiet' beer in Bangla once. Now look at it - Thailand should be ashamed of it. Not that you have to go to Bangla to get scammed or harassed anymore - the rust is spreading, and those living on some other parts of the island should already be concerned how their own part of paradise is going to look in another twenty years.

Call some place paradise......... kiss it goodbye.

[BookMan]

Posted 2012-06-22 16:40:28

Chalerm vows to get rid of mafia in tourism businesses

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung Friday has vowed to get rid of the mafia groups in the tourism business within three months.

http://www.thaivisa....within-3-month/

Yes, who could forget that promise?

Perhaps the 3 months has simply not started as yet

[BookMan]

From memory, I can not think of any other tourist desination in the world where the Ambassadors of two countries have to go to the public media to release safety and security warnings to their citizens. The amount of victims here are obviously draining the Embassy's resources to cope.

I think you hit it on the head there NamkangMan.

The resources of both embassies must be stretched thin trying to deal with issues resulting from scams. As the scams continue and become a more brazen free for all it will escalate to a point where the embassies will not be able to cope with the demand on their services. Of course they need to continue to provide services to their citizens, or try and shame the government into acting and restoring some law and order so they can manage okay.

[steelepulse]

I have some friends that live in China visiting this holiday season,where last holiday season they went to Sanya, on Hainan Island. I asked about prices, scams etc. of the two places and they told me that Hainan had a lot more scams and much higher prices than here, so it's not just Phuket trying to squeeze as much out of tourists as possible. Of course I agree that all these ripoffs and scams need to be stopped, but I just can't see it happening given the poor attitude of the "local" Thais which generally aren't local Phuket born Thais at all.

[sunshine51]

I have some friends that live in China visiting this holiday season,where last holiday season they went to Sanya, on Hainan Island. I asked about prices, scams etc. of the two places and they told me that Hainan had a lot more scams and much higher prices than here, so it's not just Phuket trying to squeeze as much out of tourists as possible. Of course I agree that all these ripoffs and scams need to be stopped, but I just can't see it happening given the poor attitude of the "local" Thais which generally aren't local Phuket born Thais at all.

Same same on Bali Steelepulse...Bali has these problems too and they're mainly caused

by Javanese trash coming to make $$$ off of unwitting tourista's. The scams & mafia are

everywhere these days not only on Phuket, Bali or Hainan or Vung Tao or...wherever.

[Songhua]

Ok, how many people visit each month, how many people of those visiting get scammed. Compareing apples to oranges I would say very few because they keep coming. Met a dad and daughter here in Chiang Mai who were going for a wedding, asked the dad and granddad how it went he said they had a great time. I do not know the percentage of tourist that get scammed but would be willing to bet it is less than one percent of total visitors, thats why nothing is done

Agreed moe666, but blatant scamming (jetski's, rental etc) is not the only type of scamming. Unless you are a very, very reserved tourist, somebody naively oblivious to it or an expat living your own quiet life, Phuket is simply not a relaxing destination anymore - every which way you turn, it's ALL about extracting more out of you than you have.

The destination has in itself become one big scam by allowing what happens there to happen. As I said, it should be ashamed of itself for becoming a benchmark by which the TAT could measure what other places should NOT be allowed to become. But it won't.

Most tourists aren't there taking photos of beautiful beaches nowadays .... they're taking photos of what it should not be known for. Animal cruelty, exploited kids, sidewalk approaches by penniless farang, drunken brawls and service with a scowl are not Phuket (well, at least they never used to be).

[johnnyj]

Curiously - I wonder what the stats split like for tourist on tourist vs tourist v local - esp for violence and opportunistic sex crimes

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