On-Line Hookup Warning

[Guest BKKvisitor]

The following item is reported on the Bangkok of the Mind site. It describes the arrest of an enterprising young lad who hooks up with gays on line and then steals their valuables:

 

http://bkkmindscape.blogspot.com/2007/04/gay-chat-fiend.html

[2lz2p]

"If his gay victims were carrying an ATM card, he would call them and ask for an extra B2000 - the price of getting their cellphone back.

 

He would ask them for the PIN number, then withdraw the B2000 cash, though one news report said he did not bother to return the cellphones, but sell them."

 

Just ripped off by this guy and you give him your ATM PIN

[Guest JoeM]

He would ask them for the PIN number, then withdraw the B2000 cash, though one news report said he did not bother to return the cellphones, but sell them."

 

Cute little viper...

[Guest wowpow]

I suspect that it should read 20,000 baht. The maximum most machines/banks allow.

 

I don't know of any Thai banks who will indemnify you if you give out your pin number no matter how much pressure. Most Western banks will replace the money.

[Guest Steve1903]

If this guy ripped you off would your first thought not be to search for him again online, chat him up, set up another meeting using a different name and address and then when he shows up to meet, you ....and a few friends....give him the choice of police or reimbursement. I reckon he'd go for the reimbursement in which case once you get it back you then go to the police and fick him both ways.

[Guest kenrfc]

....give him the choice of police or reimbursement. ...

 

I remember a scene in the movie "Casino" where they caught 2 card sharks scamming the blakjack table. They took them to a back room, picked up a ball-peen hammer and broke the fingers of one of the guys - bam, bam, bam, bam, bam.

Then the manager looked at the other with an evil grin and said "ok, you have a choice. You can have the money or the hammer."

 

A much better solution, IMHO

[Gaybutton]

The underlying and, I believe, the most important point is that you have to be very careful of online hookups. While most are probably perfectly safe, there are always a few criminals around, ready to take full advantage of people who are doing their thinking with their crotch rather than their brains.

 

If you are going to meet someone through an online hookup, then it can't hurt to be as safe as possible about it. After all, you don't know who these people really are or even if they are giving you their correct name. If it were me, I would want to take all the usual precautions, such as seeing his ID card and first making sure of his age. I would have all of my valuables, wallet, credit cards, ATM cards, passport, airline tickets, etc. stored in a room safe or lobby safe before he ever enters my room. I would have only as much cash on me as I would need. If it is to be a situation in which you are paying the boy, then I would have the amount you are going to give him available without having to go into my wallet to get it.

 

I would ask the hotel desk staff to check the ID card and make sure that it is really his. I would also have the hotel staff hold his ID card until I personally accompany him to retrieve it or they call my room and talk to me before they give it back to him. I would also make sure he understands from the outset that I intend to have the hotel staff hold his ID card. If he balks or gives you the "I lost the ID card" or the "I forgot to bring it with me" story, then I'd tell him sorry, but no dice. No ID card, as far as I'm concerned, equals 'forget it.'

 

Also, there is no way I would let him sleep in my room unless I knew him really well. Quite often, the boys who are there to be thieves make off with what they can get while you are asleep. Then there is the shower routine. If you are going to shower before getting into the reason why you brought him to your room in the first place, I would have him shower first. It's a lot harder to make an escape while you're still wet from a shower without arousing suspicion. When you're done with your sexual encounter, if he starts trying to get you to take another shower, tell him you'll do that after he leaves.

 

Don't forget, a boy from an online hookup is even more of a stranger than a boy you "offed" from a bar. If there is a problem with a bar boy, then you at least have a chance of tracking him down. If a boy from an online hookup steals from you, then you have almost no chance at all of ever finding him again or doing anything about the theft even if you do succeed in finding him again.

 

A line I liked from the film, "The Guns of Navarone" was when David Niven said to Anthony Quinn, "You don't trust anyone." Anthony Quinn's response was, "That is why I have lived so long."

 

 

 

[Guest BKKvisitor]

Some great advice here, particularly Gay Button's cautions. While roaming through personal adds, It's not uncommon to find the same guy posting totally different profiles (and intentions) with photos that look "somewhat" alike. I've communicated with some and a few came back with the same email address. Some Thai posters, with very good command of English, will try to disguise their knowledge to appear more innocent. Others, with limited English skills, will have a Thai friend do the communicating for them. Having said that, it's still possible to meet people this way as long as you exercise caution. Arrange the first meeting in a public place (coffee shop, etc.) and (as GB says) never take anyone back to your room or a romp without having ID held at hotel desk. Many of the more popular hotels (ie.e, Tarntawan Place) provide this service professionally and respectfully.