Scammers days are numbered

[homeownership]

Reading the Bangkok post the other day and they said the Thai Goverment are taking scammers on by setting up a task force in Phuket and Pattaya to put out of business scammers who try to dupe tourists using taxi scams and jetski scams etc.

In 7 days tiime this task force will be a visible deterant and will shadow voluntee tourist police claming down on complaints made,

Is this just retoric or is Thailand actually had enough of its visitors being scammed and nothing or little being done about it.

If posted before, my apologies.

[theblether]

Tempted as I am to make a glib comment, I honestly believe that the Chinese government have bitten a serious chunk out of the Thai government, and with that being the Asian superpower, it's caused waves.

There was a report the other day about the Chinese Consul in Phuket reading the riot act.

[homeownership]

Was he a victim or just having a go

[aTomsLife]

Tempted as I am to make a glib comment, I honestly believe that the Chinese government have bitten a serious chunk out of the Thai government, and with that being the Asian superpower, it's caused waves.

There was a report the other day about the Chinese Consul in Phuket reading the riot act.

Wow -- a government that actually flexes its power on behalf of its citizens. Nice concept.

[Songhua]

Even as the most stubborn of officials you might be able to shrug off the first three or four ambassadors, but when you've had up to twenty of them knocking on your door and all asking the same questions, something has to start ticking over in your head.

I believe theblether has probably hit the nail squarely ... the pointy Chinese rocket up your a$$ is gonna hurt you the most.

[homeownership]

Even as the most stubborn of officials you might be able to shrug off the first three or four ambassadors, but when you've had up to twenty of them knocking on your door and all asking the same questions, something has to start ticking over in your head.

I believe theblether has probably hit the nail squarely ... the pointy Chinese rocket up your a$$ is gonna hurt you the most.

Does the rocket come in the form of a string of words like " High Speed Rail Link" if some pain.

[theblether]

I read an excoriating attack by Qin Jian on Phuket in the last few days, ( he's the Chinese Consul responsible for the Island ), forgive me I can't find that article again. However here's an example......

http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-police-must-stamp-out-abuse-of-tourists-says-chinese-envoy-39476.php

I happen to know that the Chinese Consul in Chiang Mai went out to visit Bike rental businesses in the company of the police and instructed them in writing to stop renting bikes to Chinese tourists. Apparently there were 23 accidents involving Chinese tourists in the first week in May. The owner of one of the bike shops told me the consular official said.........

"You know they can't ride motorbikes, so why are you renting them to them?"

The Chinese are proactive in protecting their citizens, and you have to understand one of the primary reasons why. Many of these youngsters you see on the streets are the children of locally powerful people. A single phone call from them and the trees start shaking.

The Chinese Ambassador and Consuls cannot report back that they are powerless to prevent abuse of their citizens. If you think Face is important in Thailand, you ain't seen nothing yet. You can be sure that there is serious and abrupt governmental pressure being applied by China.

In my opinion that is why Phuket has been dropped by TAT this year. If you missed the announcement yesterday, TAT announced ( paraphrase ), " Phuket has been dropped from this years advertising programme by TAT to give it a chance to solve some problems".

What a state of affairs, the Thais are now to embarrassed to advertise the place.

[trainman34014]

Sorry, double

[Payboy]

Scammers days are numbered

Don't need numbers, when they've got names - Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.......Saturday.

[trainman34014]

If it's true that the Chinese have brought this about then they have my respect for bringing about the changes that European/Australian/U.S. diplomats have never been able to. I've always felt that Western Governments could have brought a lot more pressure to bear but for who knows what reasons they have never bothered.

[geriatrickid]

If it's true that the Chinese have brought this about then they have my respect for bringing about the changes that European/Australian/U.S. diplomats have never been able to. I've always felt that Western Governments could have brought a lot more pressure to bear but for who knows what reasons they have never bothered.

Because their nationals refused to heed the warnings. Every western government travel website gives a lengthy advisory about the jetskis and motorbikes. If people refuse to heed the warnings, then they get what they deserve. There is little sympathy in many westerners homelands for the people that rent jetskis in places like Patong. A large number of western consuls crisis response time is taken up by the yobs who cause trouble and it is very difficult for some western consuls to make a fuss when their own nationals are involved in murder, mayhem and organized crime. If you have ever seen the scum that show up for bike week in Phuket, you will understand why some western governments are not going to play hardball.

[aTomsLife]

The Chinese Ambassador and Consuls cannot report back that they are powerless to prevent abuse of their citizens. If you think Face is important in Thailand, you ain't seen nothing yet. You can be sure that there is serious and abrupt governmental pressure being applied by China.

In my opinion that is why Phuket has been dropped by TAT this year. If you missed the announcement yesterday, TAT announced ( paraphrase ), " Phuket has been dropped from this years advertising programme by TAT to give it a chance to solve some problems".

What a state of affairs, the Thais are now to embarrassed to advertise the place.

Outstanding post overall, but wanted to highlight the above in order to, once again, point out the lack of moral imperative western governments show on behalf of their citizens. While China is no saint, particularly with regard to its hundreds of millions of citizens comprising the peasant classes, one must give credit where its due.

These scammers have gone beyond just harassing American and Australian tourists, having numerous times in the past threatened, assaulted and extorted sailors on shore leave. Such acts qualify as international incidents, but are met by the American Ambassador with nothing more than public praise for Phuket's police force.

My point: it's ironic that the U.S. doesn't intervene on such issue because of its "pivot to Asia" and other such militaristic foreign policy initiatives; ironic because such policies, which are meant to strengthen the U.S.'s influence in the region, actually weaken its leverage in practical matters such as ensuring its citizens and military personnel are treated appropriately. It demonstrates that the U.S. is trying to fight an economic war with its military, while China is smartly projecting its influence by making tangible investments.

[chickenslegs]

The jetski scammers already have to share their profits with the jetski owners, the police and the foreign 'negotiators'.

Now that the "Task Force" is getting involved, prices will have to increase.

[bkkgriz]

Will not be enforced. The agency in charge of stopping the scams will be bribed. Business as usual.

[HeijoshinCool]

When they use the term "task force," it just means the bribes need to be higher.

[brabo2180]

Don't hold your breath.

Bla Bla Bla ... and nothing will happen

[jpeg]

I recently heard that the Chinese Government had put pressure on the Thais to deal more swiftly with the rape of one of their citizens by a Thai tuk tuk driver and he's in Court in THREE weeks

My Theft/Fraud case is THREE YEARS and counting. Pity I'm not bloody Chinese