bucknaway

Well they may be in other places but these shops in thailand in a mall will appear on the up and up to the first time traveler. It's best to let them know they stand a good chance of getting scammed. They got me and my friends and we were looking out for the scam but they were too well practiced in their art of deception.

Still a scam. I didn't buy from someone in the back in the corner in the dark behind a bush with hushed voices. I purchased from an established shop with a sign permanent display cases like any other shop. Everything about them appeared professional. It just turns out they were professional cheats. Reputable dealers that sell gems in Thailand? I'm not taking any chances.

A scam is a scam. I purchased a shirt that says Polo on it and I know it's not authentic and got the shirt I picked. A copy of the original and I didn't get scammed. I did get scammed when I baught a phone. My sister asked me to buy a few thousand dollars worth of gems for her when I go to thailand. I laughed and told her they would sell me paste and glass or scam me in some way. I didn't want to take the chance with her money.

I was stopped by customs that trip but they didn't take anything from my bags. I think he was looking for drugs. As a matter of fact, I've been stopped by customs on my last few trips and I expect to be stopped again. I think I fit a certain profile.

Why not? I'm thinking of doing a similar post for another forum of first time visitors to my state here in the usa.

Maybe I will start a thread on what the first time visitor should be aware of when in thailand.

Yep, over the years apple replaced the screen, helped me with a software upgrade issue and installed a new battery for me. I've gotten other great deals using craigslist, offer up and eBay. Also at mall clearance sales. I can't remember the last time I got scammed here in the USA. But even when I am showing a new person around in thailand I'm also warning them about the scams and the scams that got me on my first trip.

I got an iPhone here in the usa off of craigslist for $125 when they were going for $600. Came unlocked and with the oem box. No scam there.

Christian gets around more than I but I'm sure we both try to do, see and experience the most. We also tend to do things alone without others handle our purchases. But yes, I have been scammed around thailand even when I was on guard....

Anyone care to know how the scam worked or how they pulled it off?

I just remembered another scam. Two Americans and one Philippine walk into Pantip plaza...... (This is a synopsis of a post I posted on sawatdee during my 2015 trip) We decided we would buy copy phones. To make a long story short, they switched the phones with the lower quality copy and not the higher quality copy we paid for. It's difficult to tell from the outside unless you look at it with a fine tooth comb. ... I still have the phone. I'm afraid to sell it or give it away. I think someone will try to pass it off as the real thing and try to sell it.

The best scams are those that happen without the victim knowing they were cheated or scammed. When you spot the scam and avoid it, it's not a good scam.

Do I need to comment? No..... I just gave the facts to be interpreted any way the reader chooses.

I was trying to find a post by smiles that told the story of how he met his husband. I hope it is not a post that got deleted along the way. If anyone saved it, it would be great if they could post it.

When I was in Pattaya, a friend was staying in a condo at View Talay 7C and their safe stopped working. The safe had a keypad and a place for an key. The renter would not find the key and called someone to open the safe. I was there when 2 guys arrived. One looked to be a teenager and the other in his early 20's. They kicked off their shoes, went to the safe. Pulled off the plastic casing. Took a punch and a hammer and in 5 minutes they safe was open and it took them 5 more minutes to put everything back and make it look as if they were never there.

I have been visiting Thailand for about 15 years, 4 weeks at a time. For the last few years I have been coming twice a year for a total of 6 weeks at a time. Enough about me... The topic is about scams....

Deleted.

I went to sawatdee and looked up some of my old posts and a few reminded me on how much fun I had on these forums and talking about thailand. My challenge is for each of you to find one old post you enjoyed and created and share it here for us new people to read. Come on! Let the copy and pasting begin!

No. Your reply was about me being un lucky and on and on. I guess this is going to be the 2nd thread you haunt and try to destroy. This was a fun place till you got on this crusade. Well I'm moving on and hoping for a thread without debate or board member drama.

I live life to the fullest. I do as much as I can and go where the wind blows me. I meet many people and find myself in countless situations. You want to make this about me but I'm not going to get baited into an argument about me. These are my life experiences and I am thankful to have them. And these events have been documenTed over the years and can be found on the sawatdee network under my name bucknaway or my old screen name blkcuteguy.

I just remembered 2 more events. Pattaya. I invited a guy from the beach to my condo. He needed to use the bathroom. My bathroom had 2 doors. One that is at the front of the condo facing the kitchen and another door leading to the bedroom. He entered the bathroom and I started to settle in. I walked around the dividing wall to the bedroom and found him with his hand on the closet sliding door. He jumped when he saw me and beat it back to the bathroom. When he came out I asked him to leave. Another. I knew a guy from Dj station in Bangkok. We talked once and I bought him a drink with my extra drink ticket. When I was in pattaya I saw him on the beach and we talked. He told me a sad story and we made plans to go shopping the next day at the tesco lotus. We met and i baught him clothes, backpack, shoes, medication and massage supplies as well as giving him money. Once done shopping we ended up in my room. Something didn't seem right with him. I remember he came out of the bathroom in a towel and laid across my bed. I was fully dressed and declined his advances. Instantly his face showed anger and I think after some thought it instantly changed back. He went into the bathroom as I straightened my bed. I found him dressed with the backpack I bought him in the kitchen drinking a glass of water. He was keen to leave and we said goodbye. Later that day I decided to organize my bags to make room for the things I purchased. I went to pack the bottle of 100 pipers I purchased for my boss as a gift and found the box it came in was empty. It took me a second to realize my friend had stuffed it in his backpack when he was in the kitchen. I saw him on the beach. He flirted and I asked him why he took the bottle. He told me it was only little baht for me. I run into him often and he always begs for my generosity and I continue to tell him I can't help him.

At this point what is there to gain by arguing more? Has anyone ever won a message board fight? Has anyone ever changed his mind due to stubborn posts from either viewpoint? This was an awesome thread and look what we did with it....

The other scam that seems to be reported often is boy meets girl, boy gets drugged by girl, girl steals from boy. Police look for girl who turns out to be a boy..... This one may not be a scam but when I was in pattaya riding on a baht bus, I remember seeing cars for rent and the sign touted they can be insured! Then I pass another one that said they rent cars with PROPER insurance! And cheating in bars? I love that Dreamboys announces that they will not cheat you!

I'm not trying to get into a argument and I am not going to reply to your innuendo. It seems like you have something to prove in this thread and I am not going to guess or insinuate what I think it may be. I only hope that we can avoid personal attacks, it's just a message board where we share thoughts related to Thailand. This thread isn't about me or you. It's about scams in Thailand.