Brunei tourist scammed of 80k baht at Thai floating market
A dream holiday turned sour for a Brunei tourist after falling victim to a floating market scam in Thailand, leaving him over 80,000 baht out of pocket. The tourist’s viral warning clip has sparked outrage and debate across social media.
The drama unfolded on January 2 when the tourist booked an extravagant package at a floating market for 160 Brunei dollars (approximately 4,000 baht). It included a private boat ride, elephant trekking, and tiger photography. Eager to pay, he handed over his debit card to the vendor. Moments later, a staggering charge of 83,460 baht appeared on his receipt—10 times the expected amount.
“At first, the vendor refused to admit the error but I showed the receipt as proof. Eventually, she agreed to refund me.”
The ordeal didn’t end there. The tourist had to contact banks in Brunei and Thailand, learning it would take up to 14 days to reverse the transaction.
“Imagine travelling with 80,000 baht frozen. If this were my only card, I’d be stuck.
“Always verify the price before paying. Carry emergency cash and avoid relying on just one card. Book tours through reputable platforms.”
Thai netizens have expressed outrage, condemning the scam and its potential impact on Thailand’s tourism reputation.
“This kind of behaviour destroys the country’s image. Police must act immediately.”
The incident has drawn calls for stricter enforcement by tourism authorities to safeguard Thailand’s international standing as a top destination, reported KhaoSod.
In related news, three Thai ladyboys offered an Indian man a seemingly friendly hug before stealing his gold necklace, worth about 132,000 baht, from him on Pattaya Beach. The 42 year old Indian businessman filed a theft complaint with officers at Mueang Pattaya Police Station on Monday, January 20. The victim reported that he had lost a 40-gramme gold necklace while enjoying the atmosphere on Pattaya Beach.
In other news, a man posing as the owner of a popular café in the Maharaj area has been arrested after deceiving a group of Chinese tourists before fleeing with their money.
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