Be careful

BMK · #1 (**permalink**) 07-30-2009, 05:49 AM

Hi all,

If you are thinking of heading to Thailand or Bali be careful - or better still just give both destinations a miss.

I have just been talking with a friend who was caught up with this new scam called Zig Zaging.

This was also covered recently on Australian TV reports where a couple were split up after being arrested for a theft. No stolen property was found on either of them. They were split up and taken to different locations and money was demanded for their freedom.

Basically, it involves government officials - customs, quarantine and even Police. You are stopped for an infringement or a trumped up charge.

The officials appear very corrupt.

It is a long standing rip off in both countries when you get in a cab on your own. You cannot place the seat belt on as the buckle is on the rear floor or out of reach under the seat.

The driver flashes his headlights at the Police who pull the cab over. You have not got the seat belt on and a demand is made for the amount of $20

The money is split between the Police and the cab driver later.

They have just raised the dollars - the recent television exposure saw a demand for $8,000. involving Police, customs and Government officials.

After talking with my friend who was caught up in a minor demand for money I have both countries on a STAY AWAY ALERT...

For what it is worth....

trularin · #2 (**permalink**) 07-30-2009, 05:59 AM

Thanks for the tip!

Wazza · #3 (**permalink**) 07-30-2009, 07:20 AM

Good on ya Bernie....watching the Footy Show, and checking out the forum with the lap top on my...err...lap....about to go to bed 'cause it's 11-20 at night...and I read this warning of yours!!!!

My twin sons , Michael and Christopher ( a.k.a. Egg one and Egg Two ) are currently on their first overseas trip to....you guessed it...Thailand.

There goes my sleep for the night.

They're due home this weekend after being away two weeks ,,,so fingers crossed.

Cheers,
Warren.

Aussie Mike · #4 (**permalink**) 07-30-2009, 10:37 AM

I'm in Thailand right now and saw some of the corruption today. The guy I was working with was pulled over at a random traffic road block. There was a rapid discussion in Thai which I didn't understand but money changed hands and we were on our way again. My colleague tells me this is a pretty regular thing and he usually gets stopped every couple of days and has to hand over a couple of hundred Baht.

Bribery and corruption, the grease that make the government wheels go round.

I'm home on Saturday arvo, cant wait.

Cheers

Merv and Sharon · #5 (**permalink**) 07-30-2009, 02:09 PM

Thailand is becoming a problem since their political troubles.

Bali and Indonesia - well, I have been working their for more than 30 years and most recently in (indonesian) West Papua. I have never had a problem in all that time. The establishment of a national crime and corruption commission has made big changes. The old way was if you wanted to a new law you could try to slip each provincial parliamentarian an amount of money and you usually had your law. Police could be bribed and so on. Recently, a whole government of over 300 elected members in one province was arrested and jailed in a 'sting' operation.

Things are pretty tight there now and, aside from some extremists around the place, I am heading back next month.

Merv

sambo · #6 (**permalink**) 07-30-2009, 03:39 PM

Bernie, it's true these things do happen but you hear similar stories from over the world, wherever you have hoards of relatively wealthy tourists in a foreign country. I heard countless tales from fellow backpackers in western Europe and during my visits to Thailand and Cambodia.

The advice I received from an ex-pat running a bar in Koh Phangan (Thailand) was to pay them off at your first opportunity, otherwise the longer it drags on, the higher it goes and the more it will cost you - and not to be aggressive.

But just remember that the majority of people in Thailand are Buddhists - very kind, peaceful people who make you feel genuinely welcome. My advice is once you've seen the sights in Bangkok, head up north to Chiang Mai or out to the islands where there are less of these "scammers". Once you get out to the villages and less populated areas (within reason - stay clear of the Thai south border), the dollar signs disappear from their eyes and their smiles change accordingly.

And the food changes from region to region too. Ah, take me back...

My 2 cents!

Zedn · #7 (**permalink**) 07-30-2009, 04:36 PM

Sambo is right. I have done a lot of travelling around the world and i have been to Thailand on more than one occasion. It all depends where you go and how you act. I have been to the islands of Thailand and it is absolutely beautiful. They dont call it the land of smiles for nothing.

My tip is keep to yourself, dont be a loud and obnoxious tourist and respect that you are in another country where English is not the first language and you should be pretty right.

Wazza, i am only a young bloke. Well most likely the youngest on here and i dont have children so its hard for me to understand. But try not to worry about the boys. If you get caught speeding in any foreign country you pay the fine on the spot. It is just that it sometimes gets inflated, but at the end of the day it is usually cheaper than what our fines are. Thousands of tourist frequent Thailand and there are only a handful of cases like what was on TV the other night. Im sure your boys will be home safe on the weekend and have some great stories to tell.

Liam

BMK · #8 (**permalink**) 07-30-2009, 05:07 PM

Hi all,

Mmmm, did not want to alarm or scare but this is happening.

My wife has business friends in Thailand and is a frequent visitor to the Sukamvit Road and market areas etc.

I agree that being loud and throwing money and abuse around will draw attention.

Guess you could add many more locations to the list - Fiji etc. etc.

Having travelled through Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand I have been aware of the shady areas and stayed well away.

I'm sure that if you are careful and stay together you will be right. However the Australian Embassy spends considerable time negotiating Australian tourists out of these situations....

As I said my choice - I will not be going there.

Cheers

Bernie

macloft · #9 (**permalink**) 07-30-2009, 09:03 PM

Try Mexico guys now we are talking. Been here for a year crossing from Texas every day
Keep your head down be very alert and only stay long enough to do what you need and in the day time. Drive an old truck.
If you have some free time (away from Club Cobra) look up El Paso and Juarez.

PCC · #10 (**permalink**) 07-30-2009, 09:57 PM

Another one to add to the beware list - Eygpt!

This has to be the leading Country for day to day scams.

The local's involved in tourism are scammers and the Tourist Police who see the scammers making money request that they be paid too.

Most common word in Eygpt - Backshish - Give me Money!

A common occurence at Giza is for a Camel owner to offer a free photo of his camel and then entice you sit on the camel and he'll take another photo - next thing you know you end up 3 miles away in the desert (behind the Pyramids) with the Camel owner insisting you pay him a fair amount of money otherwise you have to walk back!

Another one is a Pyramid / Temple Security Guard telling you to step away from the crowds and take a photo of something special only for him to ask for money. If you don't pay he'll take your camera away and hand it into his superiors (with the evidence plain to see). If you have a $5,000 camera something you want to avoid.

Other than the scams, Egypt is up there on the to do list!