(Or perhaps you thought it an accident that “rich” Westerners on itineraries taking them through duty-fee paradises in the Middle East were disproportionally singled out for bag inspections at customs?)

And do yourself a favor and avoid completing the back of the arrival card where it asks about income. By the letter of the law it is optional. But if an Immigration official insists, choose one of the lower income brackets.

I have several friends who have traveled to Thailand without any problems. Just because you have had bad experiences, doesn’t mean everyone will.

But thanks for the advice anyway.

OK, so your’re not Caucasian, so you’re hoping that some of the Thai scammers will not target you because they will think that you are a local?

That might work – in fact, it will work, in some cases.

But once others work out that you are NOT a local, e.g. when they see you looking lost at the airport not knowing how to handle the taxis, AND discover that you don’t speak one word of the language, (which they will), you will become just one more duped statistic.

Like I said – you are too naive for Thailand. They will chew you up and spit you out. Stick to much safer parts of Asia. There are some.

Okay.

I see your point for sure.

But I still really want to go.

I am hoping it can’t be as bad as you paint it.

I have traveled to India, and not once did I get scammed by scum. Mind you, I traveled with an Australian group over there, so maybe that’s what I need to do this time.

I live here in Singapre, and get cabs everywhere. Not once, and I mean not once, have I ever been scammed out here. Not even in a restaurant.

Come to think of it Singapore is not a bad place to live. If you can get over the expense of the place, there are no tsunamis out this way, no earthquakes (touch wood) and no terror*st attacks either. Unlike Indonesia and other parts of Asia.

I will heed what you say, but I am still going. Just will have to try and be less, as you put it, innocent and gullible, and less of a “cherry.”

Oh another thing.

I am not Caucasian.

So I think I will fit right in there. And probably be less likely to be scammed, because the thais will think I am a local. Although I don’t speak the language at all.

Avoid Thailand like the plague.

You appear, from your posts, to be just the sort of fresh-off-the-boat, innocent, gullible person who would be ripe for the plucking for these scum – sorry, scam – merchants in Thailand.

Anyone who has to ask how to avoid taxi scams is a cherry ripe for picking. I could tell you to take an airport bus but you probably wouldn’t be able to handle that simple task.

What would you do if the salesgirl in King Power at BKK airport, for example, slipped an extra item in your Duty Free plastic bag, without your knowledge, only for you to be arrested outside by security?

This actually happened to me – only that I saw her slipping the item into my bag whilst I was still in the shop (carton of cigarettes).

When I confronted her, still in the shop, she replied “free gift.” I asked for some written proof of this, whereupon the carton was taken back from me and the girl refused to speak to me any more, claiming “no English.”

I left with what was in my bag actually tallying with my receipt.

Boy, were those security guards outside the shop pi**ed off – a nice little earner for them and the cops up the swaneee …

No … if it’s not too late take my advice and avoid Thailand. Pity, but there it is.

I hadn’t taken note of it back then because one couldn’t know if it’s true ought to be just another hoax.

Now, with this BBC report, we know. Sad kingdom. It’s people were once respected.

This is bad, very bad news.

BBC is doing follow ups on the airport extortion story.

This will cost million and millions to the Thai tourism industry:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8154497.stm

The question is, was this handled properly or are the police playing games and terrorizing people for fun and profit.

A threat of a year in jail?

A Sri Lankan intermediary posing as a lawyer from an embassy?

Kept in a short time room at a sleazy hotel?

Is that a proper sentence or a special just for tourists?

What happens to Thai person that takes something?

Were talking an international airport here.

If she’s a shoplifter then I am Osama Bin Laden.