This is Part 2 of my scam series. Click here for Part 1 - The 34 Most Common Scams in Thailand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s_-GFbC7RQ&t=341s

Basically in bangkok, don't trust anyone who approaches you

Another potentially dangerous scam i encountered. You arrive late at night at the Bangkok airport and try to order a Bolt taxi to Pattaya. The car arrives but the license plate does not match the Bolt app. The driver claims his other car is being repaired. I declined. I ordered 9 more taxi’s in a row in one night and 100% of them pulled the same scam. Would they have kidnapped or robbed me? Maybe. This only seems to be prevalent late at night at the Bangkok airport. I waited 6 hours until morning and took the bus instead just to be safe.

Just did 40 days in Thailand.  All of your videos were very helpful.  Encountered a scammer  near Terminal 21.  Was approached with a suggestion to use coconut oil for my hairline.  A nearby American yelled out, "SCAMMER."   The scammer disappeared into the crowd.  It turns out that my fellow countryman was almost scammed by the same guy. The scam is to get the mark to a store, where they upsell hair care products for 10k+ Baht.

The constant taxi scams my wife and I experienced in Bangkok when were there in February 2024 completely turned us off from going back.

The most knowledgeable video on YouTube when it comes to travel scams

Thanks for the good points raised Cal 😅 my motto in tourist areas never engage with anybody who approaches you.   If you want something you’ll ask them 😊👍

Hi Cal, we are in Bangkok since 3 days and was approched by a tourist (Arabic couple), exactly like you said. Starting by asking a question ablut a product in a 7 eleven, then saying he will visit Toronto next week, asking for US exchangebrate and wanted to see my money. I said I have no more CAD money on me and left. Luckily I saw your video before arrival! Thanks!

Just two weeks ago, while we were driving, a car behind us started flashing its lights like a police vehicle and followed us closely. Thinking it was the police, we pulled over. But when the people got out, we realized they weren’t police officers. We kept the doors locked, and one of the men began hitting our window repeatedly. It was so scary. It was in Hua Hin.

2 other scams
First , if you see a motorcycle or scooter laying on its side , TURN AROUND AND WALK AWAY . If you try to upright it , several locals will leap out of the shadows either claiming you were trying to steal it or YOU were the one who knocked it over in the first place. Then they will try to extort money from you .
Another is if you rent a  scooter  or motorcycle , often these machines  are very worn out . Cam chains have stretched  and are loose  , valve lash is excessive ... the engine is on its last legs and rattles . The renter will  put an oil thickening additive in the engine to quiet the rattle . It sounds fine when he first starts it for you , but as soon as the oil gets hot  , the bike is rattling  like crazy.... Later , if the engine doesn't self destruct  and you make it back , the renter will claim you abused it and are responsible for the cost of repairs  OR  if the engine fails on you ( and you don't get killed when it locks up suddenly ) he will claim you owe him the cost of a new bike.
This  nearly happened to myself and my ,then Thai fiancée , now wife. We rented a Honda XL 250 R  near the main gates in Chaing mai . . Sounded fine when we rented it but after leaving from the renter  it started developing a lot of mechanical clatter. Being a former mechanic  it was clear then engine was on its last legs . ( the oil in the motor was also a bit low but within the marks ). I stopped a couple of kms from the rental place and we had a meal at a restaurant . I told my wife to ask the nice lady running the  place if she could place one of her fans  by the bike to cool the engine  for a few baht. She did  and we then went on a boat tour  to another restaurant and got Khao soi. . After getting off the boat  we went to an auto parts store and I purchased  a small bottle of thick viscosity oil . We returned a couple of hours later  and retrieved the now completely cold bike.   I added the oil i had and topped it off to the full mark and then we pushed the bike to within a block of the rental place , started it up and rode gingerly back. The scammer looked confused when he restarted it ( now sounding fine ) and reluctantly let us go on our way...But he was persistent. About 4 days later my wife got a message on her phone ( we gave her number when we rented it ) claiming we damaged the engine  and he wanted money. She simply blocked him and that was the end of it. So be vigilant and smart .

Thanks for this series, the 34 most common scams and the 31 new scams. I have my own strategy for avoiding the 65 scams: never set foot in Thailand.

Hi Cal! I am traveling to Bangkok for the first time this Thursday and I can’t be more excited. Huge thank you for the amazing information in all your videos, it’s beyond useful! I won’t let all that ruin this vacation with my small family 😊 “Fortunately”, all of these scams I know from my homeland in South America 😄 I will nevertheless be very careful.
Thanks again!

Wow, this was a wild ride 😮 I’ve been living in Thailand for years and still learned a few new scams I hadn’t heard of! Love how you broke it all down so clearly — entertaining and useful. That fake arrival card one is sneaky! Gotta stay sharp out here 😂 Thanks for doing the legwork so we can all avoid the tourist traps 🙌

Was great to bump into you yesterday at the mall! Thanks for all the fantastic videos and advice and keep doing what you are doing mate

Additionally on motorcycle scams: Bikes carry GPS and they tow your bike saying it was parked illegally .  You have to go to the holding yard and pay the fine to get the bike back, the rental shop disconnects a wire and you will have to call them to repair it.  They will then claim that you damaged the bike and must pay for the repair.  Some will watch GPS trackers and fine you for going outside city limits saying they are not permitted to go out of town.  I've witnessed both personally.  Good luck.

Another informative video.  Have been following your videos for the last couple of years.  Your videos made our transitioning living as retirees here in Thailand very enjoyable.  Keep up the good work.  That was fun running into you last night at Ratchada in front of Big C.

I've lived in Thailand for nearly 20 years, and I still learn from your videos. Thanks, Cal!

Excellent video .....
Unbiased, telling it the way it is
Thank you

Aloha Cal,  so many scams to keep an eye out. I will be very cautious with those friendly expat or strangers in the streets. Thank you Cal

As always great information thank you so much for your insight. Hope the family is doing well.!!