Bangkok - Scam Alert - Nov 2009
by greengrasser@yahoo.com


Last night, Nov 5, 2009, about 7:30 pm, I was walking on Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok headed towards the Nana Entertainment Plaza on Soi 4. In front of the park between Soi 10 and Soi 8, a young guy stopped me. He looked early 20's, Arab/Mediterrean face, dark hair, light complexion. He spoke fluent English with an accent that was not Indian, not Israeli, not Filipino, not Italian, not Spanish, not French. So, I am guessing his accent was Arabic. He was about 5'6", medium to slim built, casual clean shirt and slacks.

He asked me, if I knew of a money exchange place?

I was puzzled at his question and answered, there are many of them around.

He said that none was opened. He asked me, what country I was from?

I said USA.

He said that he has US dollars and asked, what was the exchange rate?

I said, about 33 baht. I was thinking about what exchange booths would be opened at that time?

He pulled out his wallet. He said that he has US dollars. He opened his wallet to show many bills stuffed inside.

I looked down and saw 60 - 70 bills. I thought this young guy must be stupid to flash so much money and to be carrying around so much money.

I said, try exchange booths on Soi 11. I gestured in that direction, which was eastward. I was going to walk to the pedestrian overpass and point him towards Soi 11.

He said, Soi 11 exchange places were closed.

He asked, what does Thai money look like? He said, can you show it to me?

My immediate thought was that I was not showing my money. I walked off and waved at him to shove off.

As I walked away, I thought the guy was stupid or he was doing a scam.

As I walked pass the park, the next building was a bank. Its sidewalk exchange booth was lit, opened, and somebody was exchanging money. This was only 50 feet away from where I was talking to the young guy.

In fact, unless the young guy had crossed Sukhumvit without using the pedestrian overpass, which was further eastward, he had to have passed this opened exchange booth.

Conclusion: the young guy had tried to scam me out of my genuine Thai baht currency with some counterfeit US bills.

I was pissed that someone had tried to take advantage of my goodwill. Then I thought, I wondered if this was a new scam being worked in Bangkok?

By the way, Thermae at 9:30 pm was good. About 40 girls and about 10 guys. Some girls were young and medium built, and looked fresh.

Keep on mowing.
Green Grasser

There`s another scam in BKK where if you throw rubbish on the floor an official looking person will approach you asking for an "on the spot fine".Ignore him, If he persist then ask to see his ID or tell him your going to ring the Tourist police.

Or, you can act like a guest in their country, not like an arrogant foreigner and just not throw trash on the floor.

Good move walking away.
Y'know, you are not obliged to give honest answers to strangers who stop you on the street. I wonder if you would have said UK if he would have pulled out a wallet with sterling.
I guess some sort of grab was in the plan, with a helper watching the whole thing ready to make his move -- your instinct against pulling $$ out on the street was spot on. "Show me what Thai money looks like" ding ding ding...

Should have thrown some trash on the ground in front of him

(Message edited by bendejo on November 06, 2009)

good to know and know what to look for. but as always hombres, be on guard. btw, where is Thermae?

Sukhumvit Road, north side of the street, between soi 15 and soi 17.

Look for Ruamchitt Hotel. Thermae is in the basement of the same building and its entrance is down a small flight of steps from the sidewalk.

Opens about 8 pm - 1 am.

It used to be a famous coffeehouse opened 24 hours and used to be located a block or two away on Sukhumvit in the direction of Soi 3.

Other places where streetwalkers gather are: Soi 7 beer garden, in front of Tony Roma's, and on the sidewalk in front of Nana Hotel.

I bet if you ask your question on Chat, you will get more answers. There are many places to find street girls in Bangkok. The ones I listed are on/near Sukhumvit Road.

Enjoy.

By the way, I stopped by Thermae again.

I have to check my notes for which night and at what time. I am guessing it was later in the week about 11 pm.

Thermae was not as good. There were about 50 girls and 30 guys with more guys coming in. I did not see any young, fresh girl like I did a few nights earlier.

On the other hand, a guy still had better odds at a girl than at other free-lance places, like Soi 7 beer garden. But, some of those Thermae women were middle-aged and older -- not my type.