Browse 8 verified travel scam reports from Bangkok, Thailand, submitted by real travelers. Know the local scams before you visit.
🗓️ Scam date: 18 December 2025
📝 Reported: 22 September 2026
A tuk-tuk took us to a "nice show" bar in Patpong. Two beers and a "cover charge" later, the bill was 12,000 baht and two large men stood by the door. We paid. This is the most famous racket in Bangkok.
🗓️ Scam date: 3 November 2025
📝 Reported: 19 September 2026
A friendly man near the Grand Palace gate told us it was "closed for a Buddhist ceremony" and suggested a tuk-tuk tour to other temples "plus one special stop". The special stop was a jewelry shop where the driver gets fuel vouchers. The palace was open.
🗓️ Scam date: 22 September 2025
📝 Reported: 18 September 2026
A "Tourist Authority of Thailand" office near Khao San sold us VIP bus tickets to Chiang Mai for 1,500 baht each. The real price at the bus station was 400. The office was fake, the "VIP bus" was a local one. Buy at the official station.
🗓️ Scam date: 20 January 2026
📝 Reported: 14 September 2026
A tuk-tuk driver near Khao San Road offered a 20-baht "city tour". Twenty minutes later we were parked in front of a "government gem factory" with the engine off, and he refused to leave until we "just looked" for ten minutes. The gems were glass. Walk away from any too-cheap tuk-tuk offer.
🗓️ Scam date: 5 March 2026
📝 Reported: 31 August 2026
On Sukhumvit, a friendly ladyboy asked to take a photo with me. After the photo, two friends appeared demanding 2,000 baht "for the show". It ended at 500 to make them leave. Photos in tourist areas are never free.
🗓️ Scam date: 7 October 2025
📝 Reported: 28 August 2026
The ATM kept my card for ten minutes and then spat it back. Three days later, €700 was withdrawn in Malaysia. A skimmer was on the machine. Use ATMs inside bank branches and cover the keypad.
🗓️ Scam date: 11 February 2026
📝 Reported: 28 August 2026
Landed at Suvarnabhumi around midnight and queued at the official taxi stand. The driver refused to start the meter, said "night rate, airport fee, highway" and demanded 1,600 baht — the metered fare is around 300. We paid because there was no other queue at that hour. Always insist on the meter or order a Grab.
🗓️ Scam date: 25 March 2026
📝 Reported: 15 August 2026
A WhatsApp message from "our hotel": "Confirm your booking to get a free airport transfer" with a link to a booking.com lookalike. We entered our card details. The bank blocked three transactions before we froze the card.