I've Been Scammed

[philipinphuket]

With hindsight, how stupid I was to believe in a Thai girl seeking romance on the internet and allowing myself to be scammed.

Only 5,800 baht but I suspect she is doing this to several people at the same time and making a tidy sum.

Her advert on a dating site looked good, sincere and honest sounding words, attractive girl, good photos, my approach warmly received, bored at home in Changrai, wants to join me in Phuket and look for a job but has no money for the train fare (she wouldn't catch a plane) can I transfer 4,000 baht to her bank account, train to BKK, then Surat Thani, then minibus to Phuket. Communications via the dating site, skype & telephone. Love is blind, I made the transfer, she proudly cancelled her dating site ad as she doesn't need any more. 10 minutes later she was supposedly packed and on a minibus to Changmai to catch the train. Later SMS saying I'm on the train, then it clicked, there is no train from Changmai to BKK at present ..!

Upon questioning by text, she reiterated I'm on the train, there are lots of different routes to BKK, don't worry I will be with you tomorrow. She supposedly arrives BKK railway station, sms to say she lost her purse with the money, she will now get the bus to Phuket, needs 1,800 baht taxi to southern bus station then the fare to Phuket. I made the transfer.

Talk about being caught twice, needless to say she didn't turn up this morning, phone turned off, then saw her briefly come online skype but only to block me. Lot's more detail (she was really convincing, obviously has had practice), what can I do, go to the police? I presume the answer of course is a big no, pass off as a learning experience and forget it. I have her tel number, skype, facebook and bank account. I guess this will give you all a good laugh but maybe a warning to you all in case there are other idiots like me on thaivisa.

[BookMan]

but maybe a warning to you all in case there are other idiots like me on thaivisa.

Most of us idiots are not so honest in our disclosures

[WitawatWatawit]

How many of these made up stories have you posted this week? Wish they were a bit more creative and entertaining, coz I like fiction.

[jvs]

You are lucky your lesson only costs you this amount,many people including me,have lost a lot more.

Do not give up,there are a lot of good and beautiful Thai ladies out there who are not looking to scam you.

Next time tell them to borrow travel money from a friend ans you will pay her back when she shows up.

Good luck.

[trainman34014]

OK; you've been had but not for a lot so count your blessings. It's an early warning of what can happen in the land of scams, so just learn from it and don't get had again !

[philipinphuket]

Thank you witawat, no fiction and this my first ever post on thaivisa

[473geo]

Just a question, you are in Phuket and you are on a dating site looking for women?

[philipinphuket]

Yes, I am

[philipinphuket]

A permanent woman for life, not a bar girl

[jmccarty]

You need to get out more and meet people!

[somchaismith]

What a bummer. Have to call the internet cops!

[sms747]

where in Africa did he come from?

[stoneyboy]

You know what they say,a fool and his money are soon parted.

[CharlieH]

Sorry it happened but not surprised, atleast yiu had the guts to publicise it and hopefully learn from it.

There are some good girls out there but sadly there is a pile of coal to sift before you find the diamond.

She is there cos thats how I met Mrs Charlie, best of luck, dont give up, just learn and on to the next.

But dont ever part with money! If money is mentioned walk away.

[sustento]

Thank you witawat, no fiction and this my first ever post on thaivisa

Apart from the posts in February?

[WitawatWatawit]

Thank you witawat, no fiction and this my first ever post on thaivisa

Codswallop. I know a phony when I see one. Plus your writing style is eerily similar to several other clearly obvious troll posts under other names that have appeared here. I won't go looking for them as you're not worth the effort.

[cpofc]

People use dating sites to prevent them from working in, or drinking in, Bars.

This is a common scam. I know a couple of blokes who have fallen for the same trick. Online dating is like taking a walk in a mine field. The girls pulling this rort are quite clever really. They know what they are doing. Easier than going for the one big hit Not asking for too much. Sums that the average farang will write off, rather than pursue. Easy money with very little chance of getting busted by anyone.

They are nothing but low life thieves, sure it's iillegal but I really don't know what you could do to stop it, or even prosecute it.

One well known Thai Dating site prominently displays a warning about this very scam on its front page.

Yeah mate, you got conned. You are not the first and you certainly won't be the last.

Just hold off on forking out any cash until they actually ring your door bell. That's about all the advice I could offer.

I should tell you the very true story of a VERY close relative of mine, in Australia, who met a lady on an Australian Dating Site. My relative was actually a real, retired Spec Forces Soldier in the Australian Army.

She went to great lengths to establish a relationship with him. Then, after doing so ,she took out a 'hit' on her former husband, wanting him to do it. She pestered hiomn for months, until he eventually took all the evidence, email, SMS etc to the police, where she was promptly arrested.

And all that he could say about her? was that she was a really nice, good cathlolic girl!

yeah right.

[jonesthebaker]

' Love is blind, I made the transfer, she proudly cancelled her dating site......'

so you loved a girl you'd never actually met. i wouldnt call the police if i were you i would seek the advice of a psychologist then again i think your only joking as nobody could be so dumb

[aussieinthailand]

Yes mate there is a few things you could do if you like to put a little effort in, and maybe stop this person and a few others doing this to some other person!!! just a half hour of info collecting and a half hour trip too the police station.

3 key things 1. IP address, 2.sim card if and when the phone is turned back then it's not to hard to track it, 3, the dating sight profile could be bogus, as with the facebook and skyp, but gather that info also, next is YES do go too the police with all the info and let them know if they do not give you the time of day on fraud charges against this person that you will be uploading too utube all info along with the policeman's name and number and the police indifference to do their job, trust me they wont like that!!! and let them know that you will be in constant with them, the more people do this the less people will be SCAMED...

by the way just for the record, no'p I have not fallen for this scam, just hear about it.

Good luck mate.

[cpofc]

the argument as to the Ops identity etc., is quite irrelevant IMHO.

This is a Scam which goes on. EOS.

[theoldgit]

Facebook "name" and phone number removed, as well as a response.

[advancebooking]

I hope OP is not another guy writing a book....

[theoldgit]

Name removed again, please don't post again.

[Prbkk]

5,800 is very cheap relative to what you might have lost ,had you met her for real....

[donniereadit]

Come on man, if your that dumb you have got to learn somehow or you will never make it over here.

If you really wanted to pursue this telling her to come and paying her back once she is here would be an obvious answer.

What country and city did you grow up in, some sheltered life somewhere where there is no crime?

Same thing with the bar girls scams I hear all the time. I'm from a fairly rough area before I came here, but I can't believe how gullible people are over here, especially grown men.

[philipinphuket]

No, I am not writing a book, I am telling you guys the truth and not prepared to get drawn into responses with the negative a**holes on this forum

I've been hurt, but I thank the good guys here who understand and are giving advice not only to me but others who may be reading this with a past, present or future situation the same, thank you.

[Scottythai]

Well take it as a life lesson. Have a laugh about it over beers and smile it could have been way worse!

[Scottythai]

Come on man, if your that dumb you have got to learn somehow or you will never make it over here.

If you really wanted to pursue this telling her to come and paying her back once she is here would be an obvious answer.

What country and city did you grow up in, some sheltered life somewhere where there is no crime?

Same thing with the bar girls scams I hear all the time. I'm from a fairly rough area before I came here, but I can't believe how gullible people are over here, especially grown men.

Little head is easy to get tricked by long dark hair and a small body!

[A1Str8]

Going to the cops is useless. They wouldn't bother with this. Knowing her facebook, skype etc is also useless..I am pretty sure she wasn't that dumb to give away her real info and photos. I mean just think about it, that's what she does for a living, she doesn't wanna get caught so she needs to be careful. Unless she is stupid, she must have used a fake name and somebody else's pictures. That's what they always do. She is probably not even attractive. I picture her as a fatso in her late thirties sitting in her room before the computer and scamming people. However, the bank account must be a real one even if it's not under her name. Report that to the police and tell them you have been scammed. You aren't going to get your money back but they will track the account so you can help others not to get scammed by .....s like this.

[kurnell]

Where is the train station in Phuket?