Pulled aside at immigration airport for questioning

[shina]

So I landed at Don Muang last week and I was pulled aside for questioning.

Immigration was curious to know why I had so much in my bank accounts in Thailand. They had the balances of all my accounts printed out. I was surprised they had access to that information. Since when I have to tell immigration at the airport the reason I have X amount of money.

I could see an extortion attempt coming and I refused to answer any questions and didn't cooperate. They let me go after they realized I was not going to budge.

Other friends warned me before not to keep a lot of money in Thailand because eventually someone will try to extort money, either government official or a combination or government and bank employee.

They can deport me but I will not hand over a penny.

To anyone who may get yourself in this situation, stand your ground. Once they see foreigners are easy targets they will always try these dirty tricks on foreigners. Stay strong and don't budge !! Take out your phone and record everything either video or just voice recorder.

[dageurreotype]

It's not getting any better here, is it. My personal experience is merely the 'ante' has been upped. Bugger all else.

[Bernard Flint]

Checking for money laundering, dont panic.

[Lannig]

Well, you don't give any details on your status here, what kind of visa you're on but probably they suspected that you were working illegally.

Governments around the world have laws that allow revenue departments or criminal investigators to have access to account information of people suspected of breaking the law. If the money flow pattern and volume to your account matches alert rules, your bank probably is required to report it.

Heck, I have to fill out a form to explain why I want to withdraw a bunch of cash here in France for some reason.

Extortion attempt or just people doing their jobs?

[Jip99]

So, why do you have so much money in Thai bank accounts ?

[nev]

If you have nothing to hide why worry, just answer their questions.

[manfredtillmann]

So, why do you have so much money in Thai bank accounts ?

If you have nothing to hide why worry, just answer their questions.

do you really think it is anyones business why and how much money you have in what account? if it was transferred through legit channels...?

[KittenKong]

Out of curiosity, how much is "a lot" anyway?

I have around 3MB here and no one has ever asked me anything about it, nor do I expect them to.

[JOC]

>>Immigration was curious to know why I had so much in my bank accounts in Thailand. They had the balances of all my accounts printed out. << Quote from the OP

And how would immigration know, that you would be passing through Don Muang at that exact time, so your balances of your accounts were pre printed??

Nice try, Mr Troll !! Change username, and try again........................

[chrisinth]

Trying to understand this without calling troll.

You arrive at Don Muang and are pulled aside. The immigration already had all you bank balances printed out without your authorization? After standing your ground saying nothing they let you go and remain in the country?

I would have thought that unless you were on a watch-list or under current investigation, there is no way that immigration (without your authorization) would be able to access any of your accounts. If you were under investigation, they wouldn't have allowed you to leave the country in the first place.

Of course, don't know what your visa/permission to stay status is, but the majority of these checks are done on visa exempt entries; personally never been asked for proof of funds (one way or the other) during the few years i have been here.

Still trying to understand...................

[KhunBENQ]

There must be a story behind which is not told by the OP.

Money laundering suspicion sounds likely.

Maybe there is a (farang) informer/"squealer"/competitor with a strained relation to the OP?

Large (seven digit) cash deposits? Could trigger an automatic report mechanism by AMLO.

And when you are on watchlist then police (which immigration is part of) will quickly know about your assets.

Just today walked past a Bangkok Bank micro branch in the shopping centre and seein a poster ot the anti money laundering office (AMLO) in Thai language.

http://www.amlo.go.th/amlofarm/farm/en/index.php?lang=en

(English site is quite useless/buggy )

So, why do you have so much money in Thai bank accounts ?

If you'd ask me: because I live here and not nervously want to watch the collapse of the Euro.

Proofed a good decision over the last years.

Never been asked anything.

With the laughable some millions I am surely not a richman in smalltown.

The local electronics/homeware dealer changes between Porsche 9xx and Ferrari.

And behind the back there is rumor that there must be another source of wealth

Edited January 5, 2016 by KhunBENQ

[Matej]

There must be a story behind which is not told by the OP.

Money laundering suspicion sounds likely.

Maybe there is a (farang) informer/"squealer"/competitor with a strained relation to the OP?

Large (seven digit) cash deposits? Could trigger an automatic report mechanism by AMLO.

And when you are on watchlist then police (which immigration is part of) will quickly know about your assets.

Just today walked past a Bangkok Bank micro branch in the shopping centre and seein a poster ot the anti money laundering office (AMLO) in Thai language.

http://www.amlo.go.th/amlofarm/farm/en/index.php?lang=en

(English site is quite useless/buggy )

So, why do you have so much money in Thai bank accounts ?

If you'd ask me: because I live here and not nervously want to watch the collapse of the Euro.

Proofed a good decision over the last years.

Never been asked anything.

With the laughable some millions I am surely not a richman in smalltown.

The local electronics/homeware dealer changes between Porsche 9xx and Ferrari.

And behind the back there is rumor that there must be another source of wealth

Nice story bro ...

BTW, collapse of the Euro. I'm afraid you are going to wait long time for that and also I don't think THB is the best choice out there for safe and long term investment. Stop watching Russia Today and you will be all right.

Good luck

[Myran]

Damn those psychic police offers and their pre-printed bank statements!

[whitemouse]

>>Immigration was curious to know why I had so much in my bank accounts in Thailand. They had the balances of all my accounts printed out. << Quote from the OP

And how would immigration know, that you would be passing through Don Muang at that exact time, so your balances of your accounts were pre printed??

Nice try, Mr Troll !! Change username, and try again........................

Not only know that he lands at Don Mueng, but which immigration booth he chooses, unless every IO had pile of printouts ready for him lol

And if he indeed remained mute during questioning, he'd be denied entry.

So altogether lazy effort, OP!

[KittenKong]

And how would immigration know, that you would be passing through Don Muang at that exact time, so your balances of your accounts were pre printed??

Regardless of whether the OP is a troll or not, I'm sure that immigration do know the names, nationalities and passport numbers of everyone on every incoming flight long before they arrive here, just as UK and US immigration knows the same info for incoming flights into their countries.

Whether they have the inclination to act on that is another matter. Getting bank balances would not be very hard if there was some prior suspicion.

[Chivas]

And how would immigration know, that you would be passing through Don Muang at that exact time, so your balances of your accounts were pre printed??

You must be joking !! Twice I have been arrested back in the UK after leaving aircraft after flying in from Thailand... Both times UK Police knew my whereabouts and Boarding activity from ID/Passport...... What possible reason do you believe the Thais cant repeat the same scenario !

[lungbing]

Arrested on arrival? Twice? For what?

[mpa]

Thank God Im on 25k in total right now

[JOC]

And how would immigration know, that you would be passing through Don Muang at that exact time, so your balances of your accounts were pre printed??

You must be joking !! Twice I have been arrested back in the UK after leaving aircraft after flying in from Thailand... Both times UK Police knew my whereabouts and Boarding activity from ID/Passport...... What possible reason do you believe the Thais cant repeat the same scenario !

Unless you are a wanted criminal, what other reason could the police/immigration for following your moves??

Not something that happens to the average traveller................

[Chivas]

And how would immigration know, that you would be passing through Don Muang at that exact time, so your balances of your accounts were pre printed??

You must be joking !! Twice I have been arrested back in the UK after leaving aircraft after flying in from Thailand... Both times UK Police knew my whereabouts and Boarding activity from ID/Passport...... What possible reason do you believe the Thais cant repeat the same scenario !

Unless you are a wanted criminal, what other reason could the police/immigration for following your moves??

Not something that happens to the average traveller................

Once was a very minor incident with many crossed wires and I was "de-arrested" at the Airport. No further issues

First time was not so minor I will admit.

The point of the post was to make people realise they are being tracked all the time. In my case on both times Immigration provided the details I was out of the UK and immediately informed the Police the minute I checked in for both flights home. Met at Airport.

Now Thailands finest are not exactly the Sweeney but nor are they the Keystone Cops...... All the Agencies collate information Revenue, Immigration, Police, Customs, etc etc 24/7 you better believe it. The reason that the vast amount of cross border petty crime is ignored is simply lack of manpower

Edited January 5, 2016 by Chivas

[Chivas]

Arrested on arrival? Twice? For what?

# 23 apologies didnt notice your post

[Enoon]

And how would immigration know, that you would be passing through Don Muang at that exact time, so your balances of your accounts were pre printed??

You must be joking !! Twice I have been arrested back in the UK after leaving aircraft after flying in from Thailand... Both times UK Police knew my whereabouts and Boarding activity from ID/Passport...... What possible reason do you believe the Thais cant repeat the same scenario !

Unless you are a wanted criminal, what other reason could the police/immigration for following your moves??

Not something that happens to the average traveller................

Once was a very minor incident with many crossed wires and I was "de-arrested" at the Airport. No further issues

First time was not so minor I will admit.

The point of the post was to make people realise they are being tracked all the time. In my case on both times Immigration provided the details I was out of the UK and immediately informed the Police the minute I checked in for both flights home. Met at Airport.

Now Thailands finest are not exactly the Sweeney but nor are they the Keystone Cops...... All the Agencies collate information Revenue, Immigration, Police, Customs, etc etc 24/7 you better believe it. The reason that the vast amount of cross border petty crime is ignored is simply lack of manpower

Sounds like you're a "person of interest".

[roo860]

Out of curiosity, how much is "a lot" anyway?

I have around 3MB here and no one has ever asked me anything about it, nor do I expect them to.

Probably coz it's not alot.

[shina]

>>Immigration was curious to know why I had so much in my bank accounts in Thailand. They had the balances of all my accounts printed out. << Quote from the OP

And how would immigration know, that you would be passing through Don Muang at that exact time, so your balances of your accounts were pre printed??

Nice try, Mr Troll !! Change username, and try again........................

Obviously they printed them while I was waiting to be questioned. U really can't be that smart to figure it out? U sound not so smart to have much money in your account anyway. You have nothing to worry about.

To the others who say immigration don't have access to your bank accounts, You are wrong. They showed me how much I had in every account under my name, most likely linked by the passport number.

Edited January 5, 2016 by shina

[Asiantravel]

>>Immigration was curious to know why I had so much in my bank accounts in Thailand. They had the balances of all my accounts printed out. << Quote from the OP

And how would immigration know, that you would be passing through Don Muang at that exact time, so your balances of your accounts were pre printed??

Nice try, Mr Troll !! Change username, and try again........................

Obviously they printed them while I was waiting to be questioned. U really can't be that smart to figure it out? U sound not so smart to have much money in your account anyway. You have nothing to worry about.

To the others who say immigration don't have access to your bank accounts, You are wrong. They showed me how much I had in every account under my name, most likely linked by the passport number.

if bank balances can be that easily printed out then can you please explain why does the same immigration Department force retirement Visa applicants to obtain a letter from their bank showing their bank balance at the date of application when according to you it's already at their fingertips at the press of a button?

[thaibreaker]

>>Immigration was curious to know why I had so much in my bank accounts in Thailand. They had the balances of all my accounts printed out. << Quote from the OP

And how would immigration know, that you would be passing through Don Muang at that exact time, so your balances of your accounts were pre printed??

Nice try, Mr Troll !! Change username, and try again........................

Obviously they printed them while I was waiting to be questioned. U really can't be that smart to figure it out? U sound not so smart to have much money in your account anyway. You have nothing to worry about.

To the others who say immigration don't have access to your bank accounts, You are wrong. They showed me how much I had in every account under my name, most likely linked by the passport number.

if bank balances can be that easily printed out then can you please explain why does the same immigration Department force retirement Visa applicants to obtain a letter from their bank showing their bank balance at the date of application when according to you it's already at their fingertips at the press of a button?

I think I know the obvious answer of this one.

Not all farangs are "persons of interest". These statements should only be obtained this easily in some special cases, in suspicion of any wrong doing (money laundry etc.), probably with consent from a court.

Visa applicants are not in this category, I would think.

Edited January 5, 2016 by thaibreaker

[KittenKong]

Out of curiosity, how much is "a lot" anyway?

I have around 3MB here and no one has ever asked me anything about it, nor do I expect them to.

Probably coz it's not alot.

Indeed. I dont call it a lot either, though some would. Hence my question.

[KittenKong]

Haha referring back to me any of the Agencies can obtain it with Courts consent. Thailand exactly the same

I doubt it.

[Chivas]

Haha referring back to me any of the Agencies can obtain it with Courts consent. Thailand exactly the same

I doubt it.

You're having a larf !!! Course they can and will and do !! Naivety in the extreme

[gk10002000]

On a side note, when I visit the country the little customs form or TM something asks what my income is. While I understand a country wanting to collect such information as it may help define some tourist policies or whatever, I see no reason to tell a lot of people that may have access to such information that one is worth or makes a lot of money. It seems like that could make targeting a person of means a bit easier.