More on the 'Tourist Survey' scam

Replies: 38 - Last Post: 22-Nov-2007 00:51 Last Post By: wandertheglobe

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BP007

21-Mar-2004 23:19
Posts: 276

More on the 'Tourist Survey' scam

In mid Feb someone posted a question on this Branch asking what the 'Tourist Survey' scam was all about. One respondant suggested it may have something to do with Timeshare Apartments, but there was no conclusive reply.

Well I arrived in Bangkok yesterday, and was only on the street in Silom for 20 minutes before a lovely young girl asked me for a few minutes of my time (your place or mine ?). The 'Survey' only took about 2 minutes, and I was told my name would go into a draw for a first prize of a trip for two from wherever I live to anywhere in Thailand for 2 weeks, all expenses paid. Second and Third prizes were B1000 and a Bangkok River Cruise for two people respectively.

This morning I received a phonecall in my Hotel from a chap with an English accent congratulating me on winning the First Prize in that days draw. Explaining further that because of SARS, Terrorism and now Bird Flu, 'we' have to run these competitions to encourage tourists to return to Thailand a second or third time. He went on to say a young girl will come to my Hotel at a certain time to pick me up and take me to their Office nearby in Suriwong Road where I can complete the formalities.

What I had failed to mention was that I have been traveling to Thailand for 20 years, and this certainly isn't the first time someone's tried to seperate me from my hard earned. I've been subjected to the Gambling scam, numerous gem scams, the adoption scam, the lost passport/tickets scam, the Boy Scout Jamboree scam, the lost car keys scam and probably one or two others I've long forgotten.

And less than 24 hours after stepping off a plane from 2 months traveling around India, my 'scam radar' was still on high alert. But I must admit this 'Tourist Survey' is a new one on me. I've asked the Hotel Staff to tell my visitor I'm no longer interested, but I am curious as to the 'modus operandi' of the scam.

The staff at my Hotel thought I would be required to pay some sort of deposit for 'Administrative' reasons, but surely people wouldn't easily fall for that . . . . . or would they ?

LittleKangaro

22-Mar-2004 00:27
Posts: 1

On behalf of Thais I think you should report to TAT office for this sort behavior. I am pretty sure that there are alot of these people around town and bothering tourists and created a bad reputation. YOur reprot to TAT office will also help others as well.

Chanchao

22-Mar-2004 01:23
Posts: 6,715

Are you kidding.. these survey-kids are all over the place. You find them at damned near every Skytrain station as well as other tourist locations. It's rather brilliant because the kids actually doing the survey probably ARE regular students on a parttime job. Then some other scammer scum takes over in following up.

It is probably that you are required to sign up for overpriced additional things that aren't included in the 'free' tour you won.

Cheers,
Chanchao

Check out pics and reviews of all kinds of food at chanchao.fotopages.com. Get the Thai Travel Menu, a printable bilingual menu to help you order great food off the beaten path.

westwood

22-Mar-2004 02:59
Posts: 10,544

The "survey kids" on Phuket and Koh samui arent kids as such, but usually Brits on holiday.

We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

Emperor_Tud

22-Mar-2004 04:06
Posts: 1,211

It's timeshare and it's the same scum from places like Tenegrief in Spain.
You 'win a prize' which is non existant, in order to encourage you to listen to the scam. What happens, is you are contacted by a rep, that says you have to go to look at a timeshare (he won't call it that probably) in order to claim the prize. Always wanting something for nothing, the unwitting victim will proceed and allow himself/herself (it's always the woman that the scammers are told to target as they are easier led - apparently) to be shown the property and be coerced into buying a couple of weeks.
It's very clever, all totally set up from the outset and they provide finance and a means for idiotic dreamers to part with their cash.
A starry eyed tourist in Asia for only a few weeks, sick and tired of a boring job in the West is easy prey for these illegal workers.
Spain had a Hell of a job cracking down on them, I expect Thailand to be even worse/lenient, considering the lack of effort they put into prosecuting the Boiler Room Scammer scumbags.

For Gun Lover in Thailand

klaush

22-Mar-2004 14:16
Posts: 4,659

There used to be legitimate students doing their homework by asking questions to tourists. Those usually are in small groups, wear school uniforms, are young and extremely shy and speak bad english. Questions are "what do you like about thai food" etc.

The existence of a scam variant of this interview is very sad, as it will make those students' life harder.

As the OP said he was called in his hotel... a question asking for the name of your hotel is certainly an alarm sign. I would never give a true answer to that.

RUHR.2010 European cultural capital · Mainz · Medellin · Bogota · Caral · Chankillo · Callao

timo

22-Mar-2004 16:04
Posts: 116

I just returned from another visist to Thailand. Didn't come across any of the above scam in BKK - but they are ALL OVER Koh Samui. I don't mind an attempted scam by a Thai - it's all in a day's work! Good luck to them if they reckon they can seperate me from my cash!

But, I DO take exception to an attempted scam from English blokes! All the one's who stopped me lately were British, or I was led to British guys buy the usual cute Thai girl. I went that far, because I was curious as to the workings of it all.

These people are ruining Koh Samui. Obviously they are not up to running a credible scam in their home country, so they head abroad and prey on people there. Or they just can't face going home to get a proper job. Do what I do guys - spend some time with them, waste a bit of their time, then tell them what you think!

Leave the scamming to the Thai's!!!

"Of all things I have lost - I miss my mind the most".
Check out The Wander Years!

Thawit76

22-Mar-2004 19:12
Posts: 5

Sounds like the time-share scams in Cabo San Lucas (Baja Calif) Mexico. I find it's just easier to ignore the people give the surveys. I don't think it's a good idea to egg on the scammers and piss off people involved in quasi-illegal activities, no need to ruin your vacation.

traveler_andy

22-Mar-2004 23:27
Posts: 5

I ran across a similar scam on Phuket last year. An Australian girl was trying to make me believe I had won a video camera and was supposed to pick it up at a ceremony in a hotel (guess.....right, it was a timeshare hotel). She said I would have to bring my credit card because the event was sponsored by VISA and they would only give that price to people who had credit cards. She wanted to get my name and where I stayed. I gave her the wrong name and the wrong hotel, and of course I never went there.

NormC

23-Mar-2004 01:17
Posts: 1,792

Well I knew what it was and went to one in Australia. I picked out my gift before we started and let the woman know what I wanted. She was all happy and said ok. By the end of the session she was not that happy however I did walk out with my CD. Timeshare are not all scams. It is ok if you can afford the money to fly to wherever your timeshare is and also have to money to pay for the week or weeks you brought. A lot of people like going back to the same place for their holidays - bet there are a lot on this site that are like that.It is usually that you are talked into buying one because the eyes light up and you cannot say no.
When I first ran into timeshares the cost was from AUS$8000 down to AUS$6000. Now 20 years later they are from AUS$40,000 down to AUS$15,000. I would have thought that one has done their homework if they are talked into parting with this much cash.

Touch my heart and you can have my body. Find my soul and I am yours for life.

RinaB

23-Mar-2004 04:52
Posts: 10

I encountered the same scam in Bali 2 yrs ago... didn't realise what was involved.. but ended up sitting there with some hotel rep for over 2 hrs, whilst he drivelled on.. would not want to go through that again...!!

anjuna

23-Mar-2004 05:19
Posts: 21

I have come across these scams a couple of times. The first time was outside the World Trade Centre, I answered a few questions and was told I had won a prize. We were then ushered into an office inside to see what our prize was. Another British guy tried to sell us some package where we could stay at a chain of 5 star hotels all around the world. So we chatted for half an hour explaining that we would rather stay in cheap bungalows etc. Then he said that we could now and take a free overnight travel bag (on wheels) or talk for 2 hours and win a holiday. We took the bag and left. So at least we got something for our trouble!

We had a similar thing happen to a previous poster around Christmas time in Silom with another quick survey and then the next day being told we'd won a prize, but we had to go to their office for a 'chat' first - needless to say we didn't bother with the chat!!

charleyboy

23-Mar-2004 07:33
Posts: 117

The time share scammers were on Phuket about two years ago, quite a few Farrangs reported this to the Tourist Police.
Hey presto....All kicked out of the country.

Go to the local Tourist Police and report them!

As for the pretty young things on Sukhumvit, fill in the questionaire and give them the run around in the morning, very funny making them wait in the coffee shop for an hour or two, only to be told....I can't be arsed old boy!

Tony.

Yabba Dabba, Don't!

BP007

24-Mar-2004 21:07
Posts: 276

Thanks to all respondants, my idle curiosity has been well satisfied. And my 'scam radar' re-tuned.

hankrearden

12-Nov-2004 13:51
Posts: 96

The reason these scammers are tolerated by the police in Bangkok is that they are scamming farangs - and the police are getting a share of the proceeds. (Every good scammer knows that it is necessary to take care of the men in brown!) It is the same with the boiler room scams. There was an agreement with the police. As long as they didn't scam Thais - AND they shared the profits with the police - they could continue their business.

My greatest skill has been to want but little. -Henry David Thoreau, naturalist and author (1817-1862)

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