How to Avoid Scams in Thailand in 2025: My Honest Guide For Every Traveler

Thailand is one of my favorite travel destinations in Asia. As I write this article, I’m actually in Chiang Mai, which is the largest city in the northern region of Thailand. I have been to so many parts of the country and it is honestly one of the most beautiful countries on earth but I will be honest with you. As beautiful and amazing as this country is, there are a few scams that catch tourists off guard every single day. These scams do not define Thailand at all, but they do exist, and knowing them before you land will save you from stress, embarrassment, and most importantly unnecessary spending.

In this guide, my primary goal is to explain to readers in a simple and practical way the most important things to keep an eye out of when it comes to scams in Thailand. If you are visiting Thailand for the first time, this is the information you should have in your back pocket.

The Most Common Scams in Thailand and How To Avoid Them

Below are the scams that happen again and again. I have grouped them in a way that is easy for any traveler to understand.

1. Tuk Tuk Scams

Tuk tuks are very fun to be in. Based on my experience they are honestly a big part of the Bangkok experience. But some dishonest drivers unfortunately create trouble for tourists.

How the Scam Works

So this is how the scam usually unfolds. A driver quotes a price that sounds super cheap to you. You are naturally excited and get in. Then your ride suddenly becomes a “tour”. They stop at gem shops, suit shops, travel agencies, or souvenir stores that pressure you to buy something. The driver gets a commission just for taking you there.

Other times they give you a price that sounds normal but becomes very high when you reach your destination.

How to Avoid It

• Always agree on a price before sitting down.
• If the price feels too low, it is too good to be true.
• If you want a reliable ride, just use Grab or Bolt.
• Do not agree to “city tours” from random tuk tuk drivers. It has happened to me personally on multiple occasions and on each occasion I regretted it.

If you simply want the tuk tuk experience, I recommend you choose a short ride in a crowded area and fix the price before the ride starts.

2. Jet Ski Scams

This one is famous in places such as Phuket and Pattaya.

How the Scam Works

You rent a jet ski for a short period. When you return, the owner claims you damaged it. The sad part is that the damage in question is usually pre-existing. They pressure you to pay thousands of baht. Some even call their “boss” or pretend to call police to scare you.

I know someone who fell victim to this. A close friend of mine visited Phuket a few years ago, and he was so excited to try a jet ski for the first time. He rented one on a quiet stretch of beach because the price looked “too good”. The staff were friendly at the beginning, which made him trust them. He rode the jet ski for less than twenty minutes and returned without any issues. The moment he stepped off, everything changed. The same friendly owner suddenly became serious. He pointed to a long scratch on the side of the jet ski and claimed my friend caused it. My friend insisted it was not him because he didn’t hit anything, and he would have felt it if he had crashed.

But of course they did not care.

They surrounded him and showed him a “price list” for repairs. It looked official enough to scare anyone. Then they said the damage would cost 18,000 baht. They repeated the amount in an aggressive tone and told him that if he did not pay, they would call the police. One man pretended to make a phone call, talking loudly in Thai to make the situation seem even more serious.

My friend panicked. He had no idea what to do. He was alone, he did not want trouble in a foreign country, and none of the staff were willing to listen to him. After almost thirty minutes of pressure, according to him, he ended up paying 7,000 baht just to walk away. Later, when he posted about it online, many people told him this exact scam happened to them too.

My Advice

That experience stayed with me. It is the reason I always warn travelers about these jet ski operators. It is very important to take note of the fact that it is not every operator who is involved in this shady business. However, the ones who scam tourists are extremely convincing, and by the time you realize what is happening, the stress alone makes you want to just pay and leave.

If you really want to try a jet ski, always inspect it carefully, record a full video from every angle before riding, and choose a well-reviewed operator. And if anything feels off or too desperate for your business, walk away immediately.

How to Avoid It

• Avoid jet ski rentals in tourist-heavy beach areas.
• If you still want to try it, record a video showing all scratches before riding.
• Use only well-reviewed operators.
• If the owner seems aggressive or desperate for customers, walk away.

3. Taxi Meter Scams

Bangkok’s taxis are comfortable and affordable. The problem is not the taxis. It is the few dishonest drivers who refuse to use the meter.

How the Scam Works

A driver tells you that the meter is “broken” or that traffic is too heavy. They want you to agree on a fixed price instead. The fixed price is always much higher.

And let me share something personal. This did not happen to me once. It happened to me twice at the airport, both times right after landing, when all I wanted was a smooth ride to my hotel. At Suvarnabhumi Airport, the system is supposed to be simple. You take a ticket from the machine, it prints your taxi lane number, and you walk to the taxi assigned to you. Everything is organized, and in theory, very reliable.

But on two different trips, when I walked to my assigned taxi with my ticket in hand, the driver immediately told me his meter was “broken”. No explanation of course. Just “meter not working” and then a flat fee that was clearly inflated. One driver quoted 600 baht including a toll fee 50 baht. Another one quoted 700 baht. Both prices were far higher than what the trip normally costs with a working meter.

What surprised me was that this happened right at the official taxi area, not with random drivers outside. They knew tourists were tired from long flights and likely to accept any price just to get moving.

Unfortunately both times I was too tired to refuse. The best thing to have done was to have requested a new taxi. These situations taught me something. Even when a system is organized, individual drivers can still try their luck.

How to Avoid It

• If the driver tells you the meter is broken, leave immediately and request a new taxi.
• Do not feel guilty. You are not the problem.
• Use Grab or Bolt if you want complete price transparency.
• At the airport, keep your printed ticket so you can report the driver if necessary.
• Never agree to a fixed price unless you know the exact cost of the trip.

Once you know these tricks, getting around Bangkok becomes simple and stress free. The good drivers are the majority, but the few bad ones are loud enough to spoil a trip if you are not prepared.

4. The Grand Palace “Closed” Scam

This is one of the most famous and persistent scams in Bangkok. Almost every first-time visitor has heard of it, and yet people still fall for it every single day because it is extremely convincing.

How the Scam Works

A well-dressed man approaches you outside the Grand Palace. He looks respectable, confident, and friendly. He tells you that the palace is “closed for a ceremony” or “open only to Thai citizens today”. In the end, he would suggest you take a tuk tuk for a special “temple tour” instead.

He recommends a driver standing close by, as if he is helping you. But this is where the real scam begins. The tuk tuk driver takes you to various shops instead of tourist attractions. These include:

• overpriced souvenir shops
• gem shops with aggressive sales staff
• tailor shops
• travel agencies offering “special prices”

They pressure you to buy things, and some shops even close the door behind you to make the situation feel more serious.

How It Actually Happened to Me

I will be honest. I experienced this scam myself. And it is only after the ride ended that I realized what was really happening. The first time I visited the Grand Palace, a man approached me outside and told me the palace was closed because of a ceremony. He looked believable, and he spoke with so much confidence that I did not doubt him. Within seconds, he introduced me to a tuk tuk driver who offered to take me to “other important temples” for a very cheap price.

I accepted because I did not want my day to go to waste.

The tuk tuk took me around Bangkok, but not to the places I expected. Instead of beautiful temples, I was taken to a few shops where people tried very hard to sell me things I did not need. I knew something was wrong, but at that point I had already paid for the tour, so I decided to just go along with it.

The good part is that I still got to see parts of Bangkok that I probably would not have explored on my own. I saw neighborhoods, small temples, and street corners I might have missed. So the day was not completely wasted.

But I paid more than I should have. The “cheap” tour quietly became expensive. And when I finally made it back to the Grand Palace later that day, it was open as usual. That experience taught me a lesson. Not every friendly stranger outside a tourist site is trying to help you. Some are simply very skilled at redirecting you into their business network.

How to Avoid It

• The Grand Palace is always opened from 8:30 in the morning all the way to 4:30 in the evening.
• Always walk directly to the main entrance and check for yourself.
• Ignore anyone standing outside telling you the palace is closed or offering alternative tours.
• Do not follow strangers to tuk tuks, “special temple tours”, or “one day deals”.
• If someone approaches you with too much friendliness, too quickly, and with too much information, keep walking.

Once you know this trick, it becomes very easy to avoid. Just remember that official staff stand inside the palace grounds, not on the street.

5. The Cheap Gem Scam

This scam has been around for decades, and tourists still fall for it today.

How the Scam Works

You are told about a “once in a lifetime gem sale” where you can buy high-quality gems for a low price and sell them in your home country for a big profit. The gems are fake or extremely low quality. Once you buy them, you cannot return them.

How to Avoid It

• Do not buy gems from shops recommended by tuk tuk drivers or random people.
• If you want to buy jewelry, go to established, certified shops with real reviews.
• Never believe anyone who tells you that you can make money reselling gems abroad.

If it sounds like profit, it is a scam.

6. Bar Scams on Khao San Road and Soi Cowboy

Thailand’s nightlife is incredible, but this is where a tourist can easily get tricked. Areas like Khao San Road, Soi Cowboy, and especially Nana Plaza attract huge crowds every night, and that mix of alcohol, loud music, bright lights, and tourists who are relaxed and having fun creates the perfect environment for certain people to take advantage of visitors. These places are exciting and worth experiencing, but they are also where many of the classic bar scams, drink scams, and hidden charges happen if you are not paying attention.

How the Scam Works

There are several versions:

• Some bars add hidden charges to your bill like “lady drink fees” or “performance fees”.
• Some invite you in with cheap drink promotions and switch the menu later.
• Some hostesses push tourists to buy overpriced drinks.

In rare cases, people get their drinks spiked, or their phones snatched after they become intoxicated.

How to Avoid It

• Check menu prices before ordering.
• Do not follow men handing out cards for “special shows”.
• Do not accept drinks from strangers.
• Keep your wallet and phone in your front pockets.
• Stick to well-lit, busy bars.

Nightlife in Thailand is fun when you choose your spots wisely.

Thailand Is Safe, But Awareness Is Important

Thailand remains one of the best countries in the world for food, culture, travel, and value for money. Most locals are honest and kind. But like every major tourist destination, a few people take advantage of travelers who do not know the system.

And let me make something very clear. These scams are not unique to Thailand at all. Every country with heavy tourism has its own version of them. I have personally experienced similar tricks in other places. In Dubai, for example, I once came across “tour guides” near popular souks who tried to redirect me into specific shops where they clearly had commission deals. They were friendly at first, but the moment you walked into the wrong shop, you could feel the pressure to buy something.

In Paris, outside some major attractions, there were people pretending to offer “free” friendship bracelets or “free” signatures for petitions. The moment you accepted, they surrounded you and demanded money. It happened to me near Montmartre. One man tried to tie a bracelet on my wrist without asking. I pulled my hand back just in time because I already knew that scam.

What I learned from all these experiences is that scams in tourist cities follow the same pattern. They rely on friendly strangers approaching you when your guard is down.

Thailand is incredibly safe, and most people you meet will treat you with respect and hospitality. If you go in with a bit of awareness, you will enjoy this country fully without falling for the few tricks that target first-time visitors. Travel is always better when you are informed, not afraid.