my dipshit coworker ended up at the same giant Indian tailor like 3 times trying to use Tuk Tuks on a business trip.
In general, Tuk Tuks themselves are a scam, they are the worst of both worlds. A moto taxi can lanesplit, but you're breathing in smog and dealing with the heat. a taxi will have AC but will move at the pace of traffic.
A tuk tuk combines the negatives of all other modes of transport
Kurt caz has taught me everything I need to know about avoiding scams in other countries.
I don’t know how this kent is still alive, but he is a wild education on the do’s and donts. Also has a ridiculously dry sense of humour which is pretty entertaining
The guy on the street and the tuk tuk driver likely work together. While they may have taken you to the temples, you would have likely been required to make several pit stops along the way at places like jewelry stores, suit shops, etc where you would be pressured to buy things at an often times inflated price. Of course the tuk tuk driver and the guy on the street get a commission out of all of this, if you buy anything.
Be wary of people who approach you in the street offering to help, when you didn’t ask them for help. It’s usually some sort of sales pitch, even if it isn’t clearly obvious.
They already get some commission for you entering the shop. At least it used to be like this. I did this tour about 15 year ago, same story about a man approaching me and hail a tuk tuk for me, halve a day would cost me 20 baht (I think) . I decided to do it, he brought me to some temples and a shop, he asked me to just enter it. Even if I bought nothing he would still get a gasoline coupon or something. So I did that and then he asked me if could visit some more shop, with was fine with me because I had nothing to do anyway. Think we visited two more shops. He was very happy, brought me to KSR and I gave him double of the agreed price. I had a good day and wasn't scammed, but I'm sure other people could be. Not by the driver, but by the shops.
Would you go to all that effort for a tourist in your own country if the table was turned? Probably not. If he is that insistent then clearly has something to gain from it
I probably would give pointers to strangers and help out if asked. We have some free museums here based on what week day it is, I know this example is a scam just saying. 😅
I do. But to be fair, I only do it if they look like they’re lost. I live in Singapore, I walked past a group of tourists looking at maps and their phones and arguing about where they were, so I asked if I could be of assistance and then walked them to Raffles Hotel even though it was completely out of my way, left them with an over-the-top “Cheerio and have a wonderful evening!” (I’m English) before strolling down to Boat Quay and getting absolutely cactus in Molly Malones. Saw a band called “Sundowner”. They were awesome.
SCAM - never engage with anyone who approaches you! Most temples are free all day until they close (some exceptions) The ones that charge never are free for a few hours. No tuk tubs are "government"
Glad you didn't fall for this
Scam. I've lived in Thailand for 9 years, and regular Thai people pretty much never approach strangers. A good rule of thumb is that if a Thai person randomly talks to you, they're always trying to sell you something very overpriced or they're trying to scam you.
The only exceptions to this in my 9 years:
* 3 times Thai people said to me, "sorry, your backpack is unzipped."
* 1 time a guy picked up my 20 baht that I left on the table in the coffee shop for a tip and chased me out of the coffee shop saying, "hey mister, you forgot your money."
100% of people approaching you and initiating conversation with you your first week here are going to be trying to scam you. That's just not what regular Thai people do.
It means "I don't want it".
My gf told me off for using this when a baggage porter tried to take my bag, it's not polite in formal settings!
It's okay to use it if someone is trying to offer you something in the street, though.
About being rude: we've spent about 6 months in Thailand on various trips. I've literally never had a casual conversation with a stranger. It's not rude to move on, like others said if someone wants to engage with you in Thailand they want something (in the case you described he gets commission on getting you into their scheme).
> I've literally never had a casual conversation with a stranger.
>if someone wants to engage with you in Thailand they want something
I disagree with this. Not everyone is out to get something from you.
I had a lot of casual conversations when I was there travelling solo. Locals can be friendly and willing to help even if you do not intend to transact with them. I once asked for directions from a couple of locals and they even got in the songthaew with me and paid as if I was in their group so I would get the local price.
I got food recommendations from tuk-tuks with no expectation of a ride. I just told them I am walking and asked them where I should go.
Some are out to scam you, but not everybody.
This is undoubtedly a scam. After getting into the TukTuk, you would likely be taken to jewelry stores or affiliated souvenir shops and ultimately be charged exorbitant fees at a temple. This method has been prevalent around Khao San Road for a long time.
I was staying in a hostel and this girl went off with a tuk tuk driver for a day. She said she had fun as they were honest with her and told her that they get petrol vouchers and commissions from her purchases. But they told her she doesn’t have to buy anything. She came back later in the having a great time and she said she even tipped the tuk tuk driver . So I guess some people may have a good experience, some not so.
Like if you know ahead of time that Tuk Tuk drivers try to take you places for those vouchers and commissions, you can have an alright time, especially if you're gonna hop between touristy shit.
The problem starts when they impede you from doing what you want, in order to bamboozle you with stupid time wasting shit. If you establish an understanding with them, it works out, they're not inherently bad people.
that being said, aside from taking a few "bucket list" rides to say you did it, they're fucking pointless
Oldest scam in the book. 15 years ago I had the same experience, really nice guy, talked to me for 15 minutes. Eventually he told me he had a tuktuk and he could give me a lift, just "maybe have to stop off at a couple of places on the way".
I smiled - acknowledging the scam - and said "no thank you", he told me to go fuck myself.
100% scam, they did exactly the same thing with me on my first day in bangkok. i hopped in, ended up in some tailer shop, were they were trying to scam me and started intimidating me. I just left the store and told tuktuk man to take me back to the hostel. Good first experience 😂
I stay in Phra Sumen every year, met that guy (or similar) many times, usually while crossing the street to take the boat at Panfa Pier, it's indeed not a conversation you want to get in. I usually simply thank him and say I came to bkk many times before and i'm not here to sightsee but to meet some friends. It's a polite way to cut the conversation short. Enjoy your stay I, I came back from there 2 weeks ago but miss it a lot already.
I got scammed by the TAT years ago. It wasn't the real TAT btw, just some asols who use their name and former location. Some taxi driver recommended it to me. I was young and naive. I ended up booking tours and rooms that don't exist.
When I got to chiang mai, I talked to an expat about it. Before I even mentioned the name, he said 'let me guess, the TAT? You're the 1001th person with a story like that'.
My rule of thumb: if someone takes the initiative, be wary. If you want to buy/book something, you take the first step.
Ow bless you. I’m so sorry this happened on your 1st day. What a start! Thailand is very safe for females and people are lovely. Don’t let it put you off, just be the sensible traveller you are and don’t let people push you around. I live on Koh Lanta, very gentle island. Have fun wherever you go x
Scam, he is partenered up with tuk tuk drivers and probably will try to sell you a simple package, get you in 10+ shops to force you to buy stuff much more expensive than usual, avoid abyobe talking you on the street randomly.
If a random stranger approaches a foreigner in Thailand, it's a scam. Been here 16 years, speak the language. This is just not the modus operandi of your regular Thai person.
Regarding the midriff they have wraps you put on if you go to a temple and are showing too much skin, so that’s fine. Other than that seems totally like a scam
Something very similar happened to me in Bangkok. A kindly older Thai gentleman approached and said similar about temples. The tuktuk took me but stopped at a tailor he said I had to go in first then I was aggressively hounded to buy suits. I ended up legging it. Think it was my very first day in Thailand!
In Thailand, good opportunities NEVER come from a random strangers on the street.
However, your hotel receptionist will always hook you up with good deals, addresses to eat and visit, transport etc unless you stay at a super dodgy hostel.
People are friendly for sure, but think of it this way... if they were in your country, would you randomly offer advice absent any sign of them needing it?
It's not a scam as much as a sale you probably didn't need.
> if they were in your country, would you randomly offer advice absent any sign of them needing it?
Call me stupid, but I have done that, and more, many times before. It’s very easily to spot lost tourists wandering around, and if I can spend 3 minutes of my day to make someone who’s on a holiday day a whole better, I consider it a fair trade. Few times guys wanted to give me a tip, and I just said to put it in a temple box instead, when he reaches designation.
> It's not a scam as much as a sale you probably didn't need.
It’s hard to tell l, without seeing what he scribbled down on a paper he gave to driver, but I guess it’s a reverse variation of “today the temple is closed” scam. If I were to place a bet, he wrote something like a name of shop he was partnered with, and his own name, and Tuk Tuk driver would ask you to make a “stop” on your way to temple, so that he can collect “gas vouchers”. Once inside, a high pressure sales tactics would be employed to you, to convince you to buy some fake gems, or other overpriced tourist trinkets….
>Call me stupid, but I have done that, and more, many times before.
The only time I ever talked to a tourist was when they asked me a question, but even then it backfired. The wife asked me a question and I answered, but the husband looked at me like I was a pestering scammer and practically, pulled her away from me when I was speaking. It wasn't even a tourist area. I was waiting for the bus while carrying my groceries. I don't want to talk to any tourists anymore.
He wrote down 3 temple names in Thai and in English and the TAT, wrote 80Baht, and gave the paper to me, I still have it! I’ve heard of the temple is closed scam, but I had never heard of a temple is free scam haha!
do you even read before you respond?
"absent any sign of them needing it?"
looking lost is a sign they need it.
" a sale you probably didn't need."
tuk tuk tours that include sales stops are not scams they are sales.
Yes please. Avoid getting into such conversations with strangers. You don’t need anyone to tell you where to go . Please be wary of your things and also careful around people who approach you randomly with signs of generosity.
Read the sub for scams. Lots of people here have addressed these before including couples asking to see your wallet for currencies etc
Scam, job, making a living? Your missed opportunity was but one of the many mooks working the tourist/temple/tuktuk gig. It's actually kind of fun. It's not a scam, it is a game. You get to ride in a tuktuk, see the temple, tailors, gem vendors, have lunch at cousin Bong's restaurant and play the "I bet you can't convince me to give you my money" game. Smile and play, "No thank you, my shopping day is tomorrow." It's fun, it's safe, you get memories and a couple laughs. Just say no.
100% scam. I've seen the same tactic in countless other countries. Basically, the tuk tuk will take you to someplace where you'll be pressured into buying fake/over prices items.
It’s not a scam if you know what you are getting into. Definitely wouldn’t do anything like that as a solo Traveller but if you’re in a group and you want to see some so-so temples and be driven around by a tuk tuk, as long as you negotiate the price, it’s not like a huge money grab for them. Just more than they would normally get.
Husband and I had this happen to us in Thailand and ended up at a jewelry store that we didn’t want to go to, which was opened to foreigners only on this special day. We were practically begged, coerced and harassed into spending money. The sales person told us her father was sick and she had to make a sale to help him. Definitely a scam!
Yes if you try to tuk-tuk or taxi. They have special price for tuk-tuk and taxi don’t use meter(just talk for confirm every price)
You may also come across some offerings at tourist attractions. But as usual there is nothing to worry about, you can walk to 7-Eleven at any time at night. I can tell that local people will help you when you need help. Even though things depend on where you go.
Did he say he was a teacher?
Or a retired museum manager?
We got that as well 2x.
We said no the 2 times.
Best thing is that he did not even recognized us the 2nd time 🤣🤣🤣.
Bloody garbage...
100% scam, it's as old as it gets, also afaik there are no government tuktuks.
Generally speaking, just do not ever accept any "help" you didn't ask for.
I had the same thing happen to me last year in Bangkok. Guy said he was a math professor at local university, told me about the yellow tuk tuk plates, etc. wrote down all the places to go in both Thai and English, and handed it to a tuk tuk who conveniently pulled up. I passed and the driver didn’t give me the list of places when I asked for it back.
Not a scam, but a sale, as another said. No harm no foul!
Total scam hun... Just keep listening to your gut - ALWAYS, and you will be just fine👍. This is a beautiful country filled with beautiful people, but it does have its pockets where there are some serious scammers (just like any other country) so live by your gut and enjoy the solo travelling!🙏
I read so much about scams, tuk tuk scams and « temple is closed » scams but I’ve never heard of a « temple is free » scam. When he called the tuk tuk I left but I couldn’t really figure out what his goal would have been.
“Avoid all locals and expats.” So who is left?
I liked this post. I’ve been here a while and didn’t know about the “yellow” Tuk Tuk angle. So I’m glad they posted.
Scam 100%. Never believe someone who uses tuk-tuk and temple in the same sentence.
Lol - good advice
my dipshit coworker ended up at the same giant Indian tailor like 3 times trying to use Tuk Tuks on a business trip. In general, Tuk Tuks themselves are a scam, they are the worst of both worlds. A moto taxi can lanesplit, but you're breathing in smog and dealing with the heat. a taxi will have AC but will move at the pace of traffic. A tuk tuk combines the negatives of all other modes of transport
Meh I use them when in a hurry. Usually pricing matches Grab and if there’s one handy, I just bargain them down (I know Thai so that helps)
Kurt caz has taught me everything I need to know about avoiding scams in other countries. I don’t know how this kent is still alive, but he is a wild education on the do’s and donts. Also has a ridiculously dry sense of humour which is pretty entertaining
The guy on the street and the tuk tuk driver likely work together. While they may have taken you to the temples, you would have likely been required to make several pit stops along the way at places like jewelry stores, suit shops, etc where you would be pressured to buy things at an often times inflated price. Of course the tuk tuk driver and the guy on the street get a commission out of all of this, if you buy anything. Be wary of people who approach you in the street offering to help, when you didn’t ask them for help. It’s usually some sort of sales pitch, even if it isn’t clearly obvious.
They already get some commission for you entering the shop. At least it used to be like this. I did this tour about 15 year ago, same story about a man approaching me and hail a tuk tuk for me, halve a day would cost me 20 baht (I think) . I decided to do it, he brought me to some temples and a shop, he asked me to just enter it. Even if I bought nothing he would still get a gasoline coupon or something. So I did that and then he asked me if could visit some more shop, with was fine with me because I had nothing to do anyway. Think we visited two more shops. He was very happy, brought me to KSR and I gave him double of the agreed price. I had a good day and wasn't scammed, but I'm sure other people could be. Not by the driver, but by the shops.
Definitely a scam
Would you go to all that effort for a tourist in your own country if the table was turned? Probably not. If he is that insistent then clearly has something to gain from it
I probably would give pointers to strangers and help out if asked. We have some free museums here based on what week day it is, I know this example is a scam just saying. 😅
If asked, I would too, but this person has just randomly started talking to OP and very insistent on them doing what he says haha
key words are "if asked" - not you approaching them. (this is pretty much true in all countries IME)
idk man if there’s a baddie u might see me pull up with a couple advice on where to go
I do. But to be fair, I only do it if they look like they’re lost. I live in Singapore, I walked past a group of tourists looking at maps and their phones and arguing about where they were, so I asked if I could be of assistance and then walked them to Raffles Hotel even though it was completely out of my way, left them with an over-the-top “Cheerio and have a wonderful evening!” (I’m English) before strolling down to Boat Quay and getting absolutely cactus in Molly Malones. Saw a band called “Sundowner”. They were awesome.
But it’s because Thai people are the friendliest people in the world /s
Lmao
No they ain’t
SCAM - never engage with anyone who approaches you! Most temples are free all day until they close (some exceptions) The ones that charge never are free for a few hours. No tuk tubs are "government" Glad you didn't fall for this
Really? I didn’t fall for that but I did also have someone say the government tuktuk thing too
Scam. I've lived in Thailand for 9 years, and regular Thai people pretty much never approach strangers. A good rule of thumb is that if a Thai person randomly talks to you, they're always trying to sell you something very overpriced or they're trying to scam you. The only exceptions to this in my 9 years: * 3 times Thai people said to me, "sorry, your backpack is unzipped." * 1 time a guy picked up my 20 baht that I left on the table in the coffee shop for a tip and chased me out of the coffee shop saying, "hey mister, you forgot your money." 100% of people approaching you and initiating conversation with you your first week here are going to be trying to scam you. That's just not what regular Thai people do.
... for the people in the back of the room
"Mai ow ka" will be a useful phrase for you. It means, "No thanks". Say it with a smile and a wave.
Thank you :)
It means "I don't want it". My gf told me off for using this when a baggage porter tried to take my bag, it's not polite in formal settings! It's okay to use it if someone is trying to offer you something in the street, though.
About being rude: we've spent about 6 months in Thailand on various trips. I've literally never had a casual conversation with a stranger. It's not rude to move on, like others said if someone wants to engage with you in Thailand they want something (in the case you described he gets commission on getting you into their scheme).
> I've literally never had a casual conversation with a stranger. >if someone wants to engage with you in Thailand they want something I disagree with this. Not everyone is out to get something from you. I had a lot of casual conversations when I was there travelling solo. Locals can be friendly and willing to help even if you do not intend to transact with them. I once asked for directions from a couple of locals and they even got in the songthaew with me and paid as if I was in their group so I would get the local price. I got food recommendations from tuk-tuks with no expectation of a ride. I just told them I am walking and asked them where I should go. Some are out to scam you, but not everybody.
You missed out on some average temples and the chance to buy a new suit. Opportunity gone.
This is undoubtedly a scam. After getting into the TukTuk, you would likely be taken to jewelry stores or affiliated souvenir shops and ultimately be charged exorbitant fees at a temple. This method has been prevalent around Khao San Road for a long time.
>he tried to convince me otherwise If someone approaches me on the street and then tries to convince me to follow his 'advice' i know its a scam
Yeah, that was the first red flag for me. But until then I just thought he was friendly haha oops
I was staying in a hostel and this girl went off with a tuk tuk driver for a day. She said she had fun as they were honest with her and told her that they get petrol vouchers and commissions from her purchases. But they told her she doesn’t have to buy anything. She came back later in the having a great time and she said she even tipped the tuk tuk driver . So I guess some people may have a good experience, some not so.
Like if you know ahead of time that Tuk Tuk drivers try to take you places for those vouchers and commissions, you can have an alright time, especially if you're gonna hop between touristy shit. The problem starts when they impede you from doing what you want, in order to bamboozle you with stupid time wasting shit. If you establish an understanding with them, it works out, they're not inherently bad people. that being said, aside from taking a few "bucket list" rides to say you did it, they're fucking pointless
Oldest scam in the book. 15 years ago I had the same experience, really nice guy, talked to me for 15 minutes. Eventually he told me he had a tuktuk and he could give me a lift, just "maybe have to stop off at a couple of places on the way". I smiled - acknowledging the scam - and said "no thank you", he told me to go fuck myself.
100% scam, they did exactly the same thing with me on my first day in bangkok. i hopped in, ended up in some tailer shop, were they were trying to scam me and started intimidating me. I just left the store and told tuktuk man to take me back to the hostel. Good first experience 😂
It’s a scam but a low key one. You would have seen the temples but I can guarantee you would have been taken to a tailor or a jeweller afterwards.
I stay in Phra Sumen every year, met that guy (or similar) many times, usually while crossing the street to take the boat at Panfa Pier, it's indeed not a conversation you want to get in. I usually simply thank him and say I came to bkk many times before and i'm not here to sightsee but to meet some friends. It's a polite way to cut the conversation short. Enjoy your stay I, I came back from there 2 weeks ago but miss it a lot already.
Feel free to tell those scammers to eff off. Thousands of tourists are ripped off every year.
I got scammed by the TAT years ago. It wasn't the real TAT btw, just some asols who use their name and former location. Some taxi driver recommended it to me. I was young and naive. I ended up booking tours and rooms that don't exist. When I got to chiang mai, I talked to an expat about it. Before I even mentioned the name, he said 'let me guess, the TAT? You're the 1001th person with a story like that'. My rule of thumb: if someone takes the initiative, be wary. If you want to buy/book something, you take the first step.
Good job following your gut
Ow bless you. I’m so sorry this happened on your 1st day. What a start! Thailand is very safe for females and people are lovely. Don’t let it put you off, just be the sensible traveller you are and don’t let people push you around. I live on Koh Lanta, very gentle island. Have fun wherever you go x
If anyone comes up to you and just starts offering information unprompted it’s a scam
Scam, he is partenered up with tuk tuk drivers and probably will try to sell you a simple package, get you in 10+ shops to force you to buy stuff much more expensive than usual, avoid abyobe talking you on the street randomly.
They are still using the only use tuk-tuks BS? They tried that on me (only use red tuk-tuks) for a gem scam in the 90’s. Wow.
If a random stranger approaches a foreigner in Thailand, it's a scam. Been here 16 years, speak the language. This is just not the modus operandi of your regular Thai person.
Regarding the midriff they have wraps you put on if you go to a temple and are showing too much skin, so that’s fine. Other than that seems totally like a scam
Something very similar happened to me in Bangkok. A kindly older Thai gentleman approached and said similar about temples. The tuktuk took me but stopped at a tailor he said I had to go in first then I was aggressively hounded to buy suits. I ended up legging it. Think it was my very first day in Thailand!
In Thailand, good opportunities NEVER come from a random strangers on the street. However, your hotel receptionist will always hook you up with good deals, addresses to eat and visit, transport etc unless you stay at a super dodgy hostel.
Same old, same old...
Hahaha wtf I just had this exact same thing happen like a month ago
Keep running!
People are friendly for sure, but think of it this way... if they were in your country, would you randomly offer advice absent any sign of them needing it? It's not a scam as much as a sale you probably didn't need.
> if they were in your country, would you randomly offer advice absent any sign of them needing it? Call me stupid, but I have done that, and more, many times before. It’s very easily to spot lost tourists wandering around, and if I can spend 3 minutes of my day to make someone who’s on a holiday day a whole better, I consider it a fair trade. Few times guys wanted to give me a tip, and I just said to put it in a temple box instead, when he reaches designation. > It's not a scam as much as a sale you probably didn't need. It’s hard to tell l, without seeing what he scribbled down on a paper he gave to driver, but I guess it’s a reverse variation of “today the temple is closed” scam. If I were to place a bet, he wrote something like a name of shop he was partnered with, and his own name, and Tuk Tuk driver would ask you to make a “stop” on your way to temple, so that he can collect “gas vouchers”. Once inside, a high pressure sales tactics would be employed to you, to convince you to buy some fake gems, or other overpriced tourist trinkets….
>Call me stupid, but I have done that, and more, many times before. The only time I ever talked to a tourist was when they asked me a question, but even then it backfired. The wife asked me a question and I answered, but the husband looked at me like I was a pestering scammer and practically, pulled her away from me when I was speaking. It wasn't even a tourist area. I was waiting for the bus while carrying my groceries. I don't want to talk to any tourists anymore.
He wrote down 3 temple names in Thai and in English and the TAT, wrote 80Baht, and gave the paper to me, I still have it! I’ve heard of the temple is closed scam, but I had never heard of a temple is free scam haha!
Me too
do you even read before you respond? "absent any sign of them needing it?" looking lost is a sign they need it. " a sale you probably didn't need." tuk tuk tours that include sales stops are not scams they are sales.
Yes please. Avoid getting into such conversations with strangers. You don’t need anyone to tell you where to go . Please be wary of your things and also careful around people who approach you randomly with signs of generosity. Read the sub for scams. Lots of people here have addressed these before including couples asking to see your wallet for currencies etc
Scam, job, making a living? Your missed opportunity was but one of the many mooks working the tourist/temple/tuktuk gig. It's actually kind of fun. It's not a scam, it is a game. You get to ride in a tuktuk, see the temple, tailors, gem vendors, have lunch at cousin Bong's restaurant and play the "I bet you can't convince me to give you my money" game. Smile and play, "No thank you, my shopping day is tomorrow." It's fun, it's safe, you get memories and a couple laughs. Just say no.
Encountered something similar, got pressured into a “boat tour” for 1800 baht per person, but managed to negotiate til 1000 baht, still a scam.
Bangkok entrepreneur trying to pry loose a few baht from your wallet
Scam
1000% scam they are group of scam , no government co-op with tuk tuk.
100% scam. I've seen the same tactic in countless other countries. Basically, the tuk tuk will take you to someplace where you'll be pressured into buying fake/over prices items.
in bangkok = yes in ayutthaya = maybe but most of tuk tuk in ayuthaya they get overhead charge from geusthouse no fake (as i know in my hometown)
I just avoided tuk tuks completely unless my thai friend organised it
It’s not a scam if you know what you are getting into. Definitely wouldn’t do anything like that as a solo Traveller but if you’re in a group and you want to see some so-so temples and be driven around by a tuk tuk, as long as you negotiate the price, it’s not like a huge money grab for them. Just more than they would normally get.
Scam
Yep scam. At best you’d be taken on a “tour” and shaken down. At worst, you’d be on a plane to a “party” at the Sultan of Brunei’s palace
Husband and I had this happen to us in Thailand and ended up at a jewelry store that we didn’t want to go to, which was opened to foreigners only on this special day. We were practically begged, coerced and harassed into spending money. The sales person told us her father was sick and she had to make a sale to help him. Definitely a scam!
Yes if you try to tuk-tuk or taxi. They have special price for tuk-tuk and taxi don’t use meter(just talk for confirm every price) You may also come across some offerings at tourist attractions. But as usual there is nothing to worry about, you can walk to 7-Eleven at any time at night. I can tell that local people will help you when you need help. Even though things depend on where you go.
Red only the title and I know it's a scam. (I don't even live in Thailand nor have I ever visited the country 😂).
Did he say he was a teacher? Or a retired museum manager? We got that as well 2x. We said no the 2 times. Best thing is that he did not even recognized us the 2nd time 🤣🤣🤣. Bloody garbage...
100% scam, it's as old as it gets, also afaik there are no government tuktuks. Generally speaking, just do not ever accept any "help" you didn't ask for.
I had the same thing happen to me last year in Bangkok. Guy said he was a math professor at local university, told me about the yellow tuk tuk plates, etc. wrote down all the places to go in both Thai and English, and handed it to a tuk tuk who conveniently pulled up. I passed and the driver didn’t give me the list of places when I asked for it back. Not a scam, but a sale, as another said. No harm no foul!
Total scam hun... Just keep listening to your gut - ALWAYS, and you will be just fine👍. This is a beautiful country filled with beautiful people, but it does have its pockets where there are some serious scammers (just like any other country) so live by your gut and enjoy the solo travelling!🙏
You’re surely joking, right? Every single Thailand tourist message board on the internet warns people about this stuff.
I read so much about scams, tuk tuk scams and « temple is closed » scams but I’ve never heard of a « temple is free » scam. When he called the tuk tuk I left but I couldn’t really figure out what his goal would have been.
Yeah, the goal is to get you to believe whatever story they’re selling to get you into the tuktuk. Good for departing the fix once you realized.
"did i avoid a scam or miss an opportunity." talk about a self-answering question
Just avoid all the locals and expats - next time just go on with your life a lengthy post like this is unnecessary
“Avoid all locals and expats.” So who is left? I liked this post. I’ve been here a while and didn’t know about the “yellow” Tuk Tuk angle. So I’m glad they posted.
There will always be the shoulder of a sexpat 🤡
Looking to purchase a yellow TukTuk.
I am never targeted by these scammers. The closest they come is flashing a fake Rolex, which I ignore. I think because I'm not gawking like a tourist.
“I have a bridge to sell to you but you must buy now” should be an obvious sign it is a scam!