King's Palace Scams

[Genericnic]

All those tourists attractions are so boring anyways, download a history channel documentary on BKK, Ankor etc.. and you get to see it all from your sofa with a commentary from someone who actually knows what he is talking about

Maybe watch them as a prelude to visiting the real place. Otherwise it is like watching a documentary about food without ever getting to taste it. Intellectually satisfying maybe but hardly a real experience.

David

[chrisfwilson]

we took some friends who were visiting thailand for the first time,we were with them most of the time otherwise it was the wf's brother,we were stopped outside by a man in a dark suit and what looked like a name id.arround his neck and he said the same thing as it was it was busy so we carried on walking up the road i spotted this bloke on his mobile talking to another pillock who i spotted running from the entrance to the pier,he approached us and he tried the same thing.all this has been going on for donkey's years in full view of the police

at one of the most if not the most visited places in thailand.

I have seem scams in many places and understand the pitfalls.

My issue as you righly state is that this is the most revered place in Thailand and the most visited and you would think that the powers that be would stamp out this unsightly intrusion in what should be a wonderful experience

[Morden]

This very scam was featured on the tv a few months ago. Theg uy at the Palace owns a jewellery shop and the tuk tuks outside the Palace. If you follow his advice, you will end up at his shop in one of his tuk tuks.

[Genericnic]

I am quite well traveled and I have seen most scams in tourist areas over the years. But this technique appears to be unique to Thailand, or I have just been lucky everywhere else.

If you think this scam is unique to Thailand, I doubt that you've been to many places at all.

So true uptheos. Scams, including this flavor, are present in most, if not all, places that attract tourists. What is different here and in many developing countries is the degree to which the government allows it (especially with certain financial incentives) to go essentially unchecked. In this respect, Thailand is no better or worse than others.

David

Edited April 8, 2013 by Genericnic

[Tanuki]

we took some friends who were visiting thailand for the first time,we were with them most of the time otherwise it was the wf's brother,we were stopped outside by a man in a dark suit and what looked like a name id.arround his neck and he said the same thing as it was it was busy so we carried on walking up the road i spotted this bloke on his mobile talking to another pillock who i spotted running from the entrance to the pier,he approached us and he tried the same thing.all this has been going on for donkey's years in full view of the police

at one of the most if not the most visited places in thailand.

Well 'police' has a loose interpretation here right I mean are they really police as we know them? My parents were in town a few weeks back and were wondering why, on Sukhumvit road they have stands selling sex toys, viagra, valium etc., all of which are illegal here, and the police were standing right next to the guys selling this stuff and having a friendly conversation then just walked away...carry on.

[Arkady]

Of course the police are paid off by these dirtbags and the army has no jurisdiction in the matter but must get backhanders, so their guards don't cause trouble. If you agree to go with them you will be taken for scams involving gems or jewellery, tailor shops and God knows what. They also take you to a Lucky Buddha temple that they claim has a special ceremony on that day but, of course, there is no such temple in Bangkok. They will plant English speaking Thais or farangs down on their luck and wiling to rip off other farangs in the places they take you take you to, who will strike up conversation and tell you of some amazing bargain in a jeweller's or tailor's shop. Then you can go off and buy a piece of coloured glass and be laughed at when you try to sell it as a precious stone to jeweller back home.

Edited April 8, 2013 by Arkady

[BuddhaChile]

Recently, I visited Wat Pho and was confronted by a Thai man who noticed the Buddha amulet hanging from my neck. He told me that he could take me to the "Master" who just happened to be there on this day. Wow! Honored by this offer, I was then led through a series of passageways, across a small street and into a temple dwelling of an elderly monk. This was the "Master". I knelt before him and he prayed for me and sprinkled water on my bowed head and he then offered me 3 Buddha amulets. One for me, one for my wife and one for my child. I thanked him and asked how I could contribute to the temple. He said the amulet for the man was 1000 baht, 500 for the one for the woman and another 500 for the child's amulet - so that would be 2000 baht total. I was choked and didn't know how to respond. I had been filled with a sense of reverence and awe for the honor of been prayed for by the "Master" monk and now all I could think of was the money being asked for. I hesitated .... Then, he draped a string around my neck and prayed some more. Again, I felt so blessed. I prayed to Buddha to help me not put so much importance on the money issue and simply be grateful for the blessings of this "Master Monk". I then forked over the requested 2000 baht. After a short conversation with this monk I hastily excused myself from his chambers. I walked away quickly, feeling stupid, duped, angry, confused, disappointed and a bit empty - all the time telling myself to let it go. As I exited the temple area where the monk was, I saw the man who had invited me back there walking in with another farang tourist assumably to be "blessed" by the "Master".

I had always given Buddhist beliefs and temples my deepest respect and reverence but now I felt conned and used. I will take full responsibility for my actions - I didn't have to fork over the 2000 baht - my choice. I will learn from this experience and, in retrospect, my advise to others who may meet one of Buddhas solicitors is to know for sure that you don't have to buy Buddha's love. Simply live in the Buddha Spirit of love, kindness and compassion.

[nosatisfaction]

This is an old ploy that you will see all over BKK.

I am quite well traveled and I have seen most scams in tourist areas over the years. But this technique appears to be unique to Thailand, or I have just been lucky everywhere else.

The scam is basically to 'poach' tourists from one attraction on the 'CLOSED TODAY' pretense, so they now have disappointed tourists in front of them with 'time on their hands'. Time to offer them an alternative of a cheap whizz around BKK where they will hopefully be relieved of cash at every stop with the guide (tuk tuk driver) on a backsheish at every one.

This is all an organized system with most of the tuk tuk drivers working for a big criminal gang, and yes... with big criminal gangs in Thailand, you won't get police assistance.

never been to Shanghai?

[chrisfwilson]

Recently, I visited Wat Pho and was confronted by a Thai man who noticed the Buddha amulet hanging from my neck. He told me that he could take me to the "Master" who just happened to be there on this day. Wow! Honored by this offer, I was then led through a series of passageways, across a small street and into a temple dwelling of an elderly monk. This was the "Master". I knelt before him and he prayed for me and sprinkled water on my bowed head and he then offered me 3 Buddha amulets. One for me, one for my wife and one for my child. I thanked him and asked how I could contribute to the temple. He said the amulet for the man was 1000 baht, 500 for the one for the woman and another 500 for the child's amulet - so that would be 2000 baht total. I was choked and didn't know how to respond. I had been filled with a sense of reverence and awe for the honor of been prayed for by the "Master" monk and now all I could think of was the money being asked for. I hesitated .... Then, he draped a string around my neck and prayed some more. Again, I felt so blessed. I prayed to Buddha to help me not put so much importance on the money issue and simply be grateful for the blessings of this "Master Monk". I then forked over the requested 2000 baht. After a short conversation with this monk I hastily excused myself from his chambers. I walked away quickly, feeling stupid, duped, angry, confused, disappointed and a bit empty - all the time telling myself to let it go. As I exited the temple area where the monk was, I saw the man who had invited me back there walking in with another farang tourist assumably to be "blessed" by the "Master".

I had always given Buddhist beliefs and temples my deepest respect and reverence but now I felt conned and used. I will take full responsibility for my actions - I didn't have to fork over the 2000 baht - my choice. I will learn from this experience and, in retrospect, my advise to others who may meet one of Buddhas solicitors is to know for sure that you don't have to buy Buddha's love. Simply live in the Buddha Spirit of love, kindness and compassion.

I feel much the same way but have been lucky in that respect. Living in a rural environment we meet many devout Buddhists and my wife comes froma big family, some of whom are still monks, one quite respected in the area.

We have never been asked for money when visiting the local temples. My wife, for personal reasons. spent 6 month with a woman monk, who I have grown to respect and adore. I dont know how old this darling lady is but she is always happy to see us, gives us someof her meager posessions as we also give her some money to live. This is the true Thailand..

[GreenSnapper]

The scam goes on at least for 30 years. Wat Po and Royal Palace. And for the same time it is also warned about in the guide books.

You can call it a government scam, because the police is involved and receives commission.

[Tatsujin]

Do people not do any research whatsoever before visting "any" tourist destinations?

In this day and age with Google being so comprehensive, a 5 minute search will uncover ALL of the many scams that abound in ALL countries and let you bypass all of these hassles and enjoy a trip more. Seems common sense to me.

[newermonkey]

have you not seen the t.v program about the con men working outside the tourist places

in bangkok and other big citys around the world i think its called SCAM CITY ,

easy to download from the net .

Yes that prog is on True Visions "just set your PVR to record the series".

What is apparent though is, Thailand is not the worst in the world, I would rate India on a scale of 1 to 10 as an 8.

Would be interesting to run a Scam City level vote on the following:

New Delhi

Mumbai

Rio

San Palo

Bangkok

Pattaya

Moscow

Leningrad

Los Angeles

Etc...

[Arkady]

You should watch this episode on Scam City Discovery Channel, it describes that mafia near the temples.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nRxvFs3DUg

Nice programme. The girl, Tawan, was quite interesting but rather dumpy and obviously not a university student as she claimed. Guess they must have paid her something to compensate for the risk that one or more of her bfs would see the programme and cut off her income or maybe just vanity wanting to be filmed and tell people how clever she is.

The reporter missed the Bossy Pub scam that was staring him in the face in the form of the sticker filmed on the tuk tuk. LoL.

[wprime]

You can hear a booming voice on the microphone every few minutes telling you not to believe them, maybe you should listen to it.

[Evolare]

Yeah the scams are all over the place its a shame indeed. Specially if it happends even around palaces. I have seen it many times around temples but never inside the temples involving monks. The reason for why good thai people in most cases dont get involved is because they are afraid of conflict...they might complain among each other but very rarely anything besides that. When ever I get approached by these criminals i either ignore them or tell them to get lost in thai and "poot chat doai" My fiancees and her brother are two of these good thais however that will and have rescued unsuspecting tourists from this scammers so have I at a few occasions...one time a guy even pulled a knife at me...i suspect he was cambodian though based on his accent and that i was doing a border jump by the cambodian border...

[Misterwhisper]

It might actually help if first-time visitors to an "exotic place" took a little time to read up on the location before heading there. There is no excuse for falling victim to such scams just because you were too lazy to do your homework and wandered off into the blue.

This scam has been around literally for DECADES and there are thousands of travel websites (not to mention good 'ole paper guidebooks) that warn about this scam in exhaustive detail.

Likewise for the "gemstone promotion by government - only today, Sir!" scam and countless others that ALWAYS will find their victims and thus will NEVER abate. As long as there is money to be made from the naive and ignorant, those crooks will be around.

Read up on it BEFORE you come here, is all I'm saying.

[ricardofel]

Welcome to Thailand...the land of scams. Ths has been going on for years and years and what does TAT do about it...NOTHING. They are more worried about the Nok Air calendar. Once a tourist enters Thailand....nobody in the government cares about what happens to them and certainly not the police!

[robertson468]

Hey, same happened to me and My Wife! Only thing was we were in Turkey. Scams are clearly not unique to Thailand and at least the Thais smile whilst scamming you

[FWIW]

I suppose my single rule of thumb, after many years around the world is that nobody, but nobody who approaches me on the street with offers of help, assistence, advice or whatever has my interests at heart.

In close to 30 years of roaming, I may have missed one genuine opportunity, but I am damn sure I have saved myself trouble from thousand of scumbag scammers.

[nycjoe]

When I first went to the king's palace I was confronted by a young man who told me it was closed for holiday. I told him that I was the king of america and they were opening it especially for me

[TheWalkingMan]

Doesn't matter the name of the place... There will always be some scammer trying to grab your cash. I think we all expect a bit of scamming just as we expect some places to be off-limits to scammers.

[bri1guy]

Those people should be reported to the Tourist Police, You should not of taken there word for it the 1st time you were there it is a common as you say Scam..

[ThailandNoob]

These people are probably here to stay for a while, because of how Thai culture values being non-confrontational.

In the meantime, just think of them as part of the scenery, just another facet of the craziness of Bangkok. I personally find them amusing.

I've had people try the gem scam on me, but they weren't very sophisticated. I'm super jealous of my friend who had people try a much slicker version of it on him, getting taken on a tuk-tuk journey to a whole bunch of temples around the city, where at each one he would by chance just happen to bump into someone who had made a huge profit exporting gems. I seriously want to pretend to be a naive tourist and "do" this scam!

[DocN]

1) "Scams happen everywhere, not only in Thailand!" True!

...but maybe I missed it...was this place renamed the EVERYWHERE Visa Forum? Or is it the THAI Visa Forum?

See guys...people here talk about THAIland...the hint is in the name!

2) "Can't you inform yourself about Thailand, before you go sightseeing?" True!

...but, shouldn't the information read:"The Grand Palace is a must see in Bangkok and it is open every day from..."?

And that is the information a tourist reads and needs.

3) I COULD understand the scams at almost any place in Thailand being handled "relaxed", but THIS is the ROYAL PALACE.

As "holy" as everybody is about the institution, shouldn't they take care AT LEAST at this place?

[Genericnic]

1) "Scams happen everywhere, not only in Thailand!" True!

...but maybe I missed it...was this place renamed the EVERYWHERE Visa Forum? Or is it the THAI Visa Forum?

See guys...people here talk about THAIland...the hint is in the name!

2) "Can't you inform yourself about Thailand, before you go sightseeing?" True!

...but, shouldn't the information read:"The Grand Palace is a must see in Bangkok and it is open every day from..."?

And that is the information a tourist reads and needs.

3) I COULD understand the scams at almost any place in Thailand being handled "relaxed", but THIS is the ROYAL PALACE.

As "holy" as everybody is about the institution, shouldn't they take care AT LEAST at this place?

DocN

I think the point about scams being everywhere was merely to point out that Thailand is not any place special in that regard. If there are tourists, there will be scams. I can only imagine what Marco Polo had to endure on his travels on the Silk Road.

As for your second point, what we say here on Thaivisa would only be useful to tourists if they knew about Thaivisa and read the posts. I have talked to way too many tourists in BKK, CM, and other places that have no idea that Thaivisa exists. Even I, as a member, don't read most of the stuff posted here so I doubt that it would be any more helpful to a tourist.

As for the third point, the relative holiness or reverence for a place has no impact on the scams related to it. Ever been to Jerusalem? If not, hold on to your wallet.

David

Edited April 8, 2013 by Genericnic

[HerbalEd]

All those tourists attractions are so boring anyways, download a history channel documentary on BKK, Ankor etc.. and you get to see it all from your sofa with a commentary from someone who actually knows what he is talking about

Yeah ... why ever leave your home? Just watch tv all day and night and experience life that way. It's so much easier.

[DocN]

1) "Scams happen everywhere, not only in Thailand!" True!

...but maybe I missed it...was this place renamed the EVERYWHERE Visa Forum? Or is it the THAI Visa Forum?

See guys...people here talk about THAIland...the hint is in the name!

2) "Can't you inform yourself about Thailand, before you go sightseeing?" True!

...but, shouldn't the information read:"The Grand Palace is a must see in Bangkok and it is open every day from..."?

And that is the information a tourist reads and needs.

3) I COULD understand the scams at almost any place in Thailand being handled "relaxed", but THIS is the ROYAL PALACE.

As "holy" as everybody is about the institution, shouldn't they take care AT LEAST at this place?

DocN

I think the point about scams being everywhere was merely to point out that Thailand is not any place special in that regard. If there are tourists, there will be scams. I can only imagine what Marco Polo had to endure on his travels on the Silk Road.

As for your second point, what we say here on Thaivisa would only be useful to tourists if they knew about Thaivisa and read the posts. I have talked to way too many tourists in BKK, CM, and other places that have no idea that Thaivisa exists. Even I, as a member, don't read most of the stuff posted here so I doubt that it would be any more helpful to a tourist.

As for the third point, the relative holiness or reverence for a place has no impact on the scams related to it. Ever been to Jerusalem? If not, hold on to your wallet.

David

Hi David

point taken...although, I guess you missed out on a point I wanted to make.

We get way too much of this crap about "it happens everywhere" on any subject on any thread on TV.

It seems to be some kind of apologist- movement, that every time someone criticizes Thailand, someone has to pop up, to explain, that corruption/ tourist scams/ abusive taxi- drivers...you name it...are a universal problem.

That is right, of course.

But we (at least I) live in Thailand...are on a Thailand-related forum...discussing things, happening in Thailand...so who cares, if these things happen elsewhere.

I work for a tourism- company and...amn, would I be happy if MANY tourists would get an idea about this country, before they come here.

But to assume, that everybody reads all the fine- print is just ridiculous.

I don't know, maybe it is my mistake, but...if I buy "Lonely Planet" or "Marco Polo" or...whatever...and I read "Grand Palace...must see...open daily" that is the information, I would guess, I would read up to as an average tourist!

To automatically assume, that I will be ripped off everywhere,is somehow fatalistic.

Which brings me to my third point: in every of these guide- books, you will find a section on Thais and their relationship with the Royals. If I would be warned that even mentioning...you know, what I am going at, don't you?

So...knowing basically not much about Thailand, I "sure" would know, how highly revered the monarchy is.

So scams around the GRAND PALACE (again...the hint is in the name) would be the least I would expect.

Nils

[stoli]

This has been going on forever. They are simply shills for the tuk-tuk drivers to take you to the jewelry marts. You have to find the main gate yourself, because they have many people all around to point you in the wrong direction so they can lie to you about a special event going on, palace closed for two hours. Nothing but liars and thieves.

[rbrooks]

Welcome to Thailand, LOS (Land Of Scams)

[kirk0233]

I assume turning visitors away from the royal palace in a con game is as least as disrespectful to the monarchy as refusing to stand up in a movie theater to honor the king. I have heard that the area is a major prostitution area as well. Perhaps another crackdown is in order.