Tourists warned of Thailand airport scam

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BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Tourists warned of Thailand airport scam

Bangkok's showcase new international airport is no stranger to controversy.

Built between 2002 and 2006, under the governments of then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the opening date was repeatedly delayed.


It has been dogged by allegations of corruption, as well as criticism of the design and poor quality of construction.


Then, at the end of last year, the airport was shut down for a week after being occupied by anti-government protesters.


Now new allegations have been made that a number of passengers are being detained every month in the duty free area on suspicion of shoplifting, and then held by the police until they pay large sums of money to buy their freedom.
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Sometimes you don't know what to believe. The video on the KingPower website of the incident (here: King Power International Co., Ltd. ) shows to me very strongly that a wallet was moved, and later could have been put into her bag.

I don't really trust the contents of the 'statement' on the website about what happened though - but do we know it's false?

As per a lot of 'issues' that occur in Thailand, where things are referred to police, it can become a little nasty due to their legal system, and widespread corruption.

What's the moral of the story? Keep sticky fingers to yourself while in Thailand and don't do anything to attract the attention of police.
 
It never ceases to amaze me the "scams" Thai police come up with to try and get money. Corruption is in their blood.

I sincerely hope these stories are put out everywhere for people to read. I don't want to play their games so I will make sure I don't go anywhere near a duty free store at the airport. Let's see what "scam" they will think of next....
 
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I guess it's lucky that I'm not a shopper - when I have my transit in BKK later this year, I will go straight to the lounge from and to the gate and put padlocks on all of my bags and zippers and don't you even try and stop me until I am in either one of these safe locations...

Phew! Is that a bit extreme? (I have been to other countries where corruption is rife, too, but at least it seems they don't do it in the airport)
 
Perhaps things need to be kept in perspective & compare the number of allegations by passengers against the total number of passengers travelling through the airport.
I am sure we can recall alleged scams in many countries including tourists being charged to take photos of Bondi & Surfers Paradise.
 
Ooops, I am going to takes my girls away from duty free for sure, we are due to land in BKK in few days:(
 
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