As with pretty much every touristy area, in Thailand scams and safety issues can be directed at the innocent and naive traveller.
That makes it essential to keep your head up and your eyes open for anything that might do you (or your wallet) harm.
Here are some tips for avoiding the most common Thailand scams and having a safe, fun time on your trip.
Is Thailand safe? What to know before you go
- Thailand scams – Rent from the right place
- Thailand traps – Beware of beggars
- Thailand safety – Use cash to make payments
- Stay safe in Thailand – Jewellery and cash
- Keep your phone with you
Avoid Thailand scams – Rent from the right place
When you want to get around, you might look into hiring a scooter or a car. But, be aware that since rentals are quite popular for tourists, some services may seek to take advantage of you, so shop around. This is also advisable for water sports equipment, such as jet skis and boats.
If you are renting a car, it is advisable to stick with a company name that you recognise from back home. AVIS, Europcar, and Hertz all operate in Thailand and have a global presence and a reputation they will want to keep pristine. If you do happen to fall foul of an employee of one of these companies, you will have a lot more options in the way of recourse. Their larger corporate structures mean you can talk to the boss’ boss if you are not happy.
Scooter and sports equipment rental is far less corporate but much more common. That means you have less power as a consumer and have to be wary when giving such operations your money. If they do try to scam you, unfortunately, there is very little you can do.
So, when renting a scooter, car or water sports equipment, consider these points to help you avoid becoming a victim on your otherwise idyllic Thai holiday:
1. Take pictures (or videos) of everything
No matter what you are renting in life, it is a good general rule to document — via photos or even better, video — every fault of the item for proof that any flaws are not there because of you.
This is vital when renting any vehicle in Thailand, as the most common scam is making you hand over extra cash to fix problems that you didn’t cause.
2. Do not leave your vehicle unattended
When you are not in your car or on your scooter or jet ski, keep an eye on it. Another somewhat common scam some rental places try to pull is the fake theft.
When you rent your vehicle, somebody may be sent by the company to follow you and use a spare key to take it and bring it back to the shop. When you notice it is gone and return to the renter, they charge you an extortionate amount of money to replace something that is already in their possession.
If you are worried about this scam, one way to protect yourself is by using your own lock so that only you have the key.
READ MORE: Thailand transportation – The ultimate getting around Thailand guide
Thailand traps – Beware of beggars
Sadly, there is a prevalence of fake beggars on Thailand’s streets. Uninformed tourists tend to be the victims of such scams, which also unfortunately take money away from people who might actually need it and to whom begging is the only option.
The way many of these scammers try to tug on your heartstrings is through the use of children. You should be aware that 90% of child beggars in Thailand are hired out by their parents and exploited (often with drugs) by gangs to take advantage of kindhearted tourists. By giving money, you contribute to this problem and encourage the scam.
Thailand safety – Use cash
While you don’t want to be carrying large sums of money around with you (see below), it is advisable to make most payments, including rentals — be it car, water sports equipment or scooter — with cash instead of a card (most car and scooter rental shops won’t take credit cards anyway).
If you are unfortunate enough to be dealing with a shop of disrepute, then letting them charge your debit/credit card may not be the best idea.
If the cashier disappears with your card into a back room, they may be skimming it, and it can be challenging to track down where that happened before losing a lot of your holiday money.
Since the currency is likely alien to you, it can be quite easy to forget just how much you agreed to pay — especially if your bank only shows you the converted amount. With cash, you will know exactly how much you are giving them, and can make sure that they cannot take more.
READ MORE: Thailand trip cost – How much to budget for your trip to Thailand
Don’t wear expensive jewellery or carry much cash
Common sense comes in to play with this one. If you are walking around unfamiliar streets with a backpack and fancy bling glimmering in the Thai sun, you are more likely to make yourself a target for thieves.
Of course, this is the same for every city in the world; it is always advisable to keep your jewellery in a safe place like in your hotel room or ideally, at home.
You are unlikely to be the victim of a violent mugging in Thailand; pickpocketing and bag snatching are the most common forms of theft — though it should be said that in general, Thailand is pretty safe, and Buddhism dictates that Thais don’t steal.
Still, it’s best to be cautious as you would be in any new city. When on a scooter, for example, keep your bag in the bike seat, rather than over your shoulder, where it could be snatched by a runaway driver in the next lane.
Thailand traps – Keep your phone close
These days our phones are vital parts of our lives, and this is definitely the case when on holiday in a foreign country. Having a device that can give you directions, transport schedules, translations and more can make travelling a whole lot easier. Losing these resources, and all your photos of the beach parties would be devastating if your phone gets stolen.
This is another case where common sense can help you avoid being the victim of a crime. For example, if you are in a restaurant and need to use the toilet, do not leave your phone on the table as it might not be there when you get back. Always make sure you know exactly where your phone is at all times.
Also, be careful not to move a phone if you find it unattended, even if you are trying to help find its owner. Moving somebody’s possessions could put you on the wrong side of Thailand’s laws as one British backpacker found out when he did exactly that.
READ MORE: What not to do in Thailand
It is vital that you keep your wits about you when you are travelling through Thailand, or anywhere for that matter. Not knowing a country or its people can lead you into risky situations.
Scams and theft are common so make sure you take as many steps as you can to avoid being a victim of them. And when you do, you will be free to enjoy your holiday in Thailand, scams and safety issues-free!
Don’t miss out on our Ultimate Thailand Travel Guide for tips on
everything you need to know when planning your trip to Thailand
so you can make the most of your time in the Land of Smiles!
