Travelers warned about visa scams - don't fall for any

[Gaybutton]

Also, regarding any kind of scam attempt, if the offer seems too good to be true - it isn't.

One type of scam is parking lots. At parking lots where parking is free, scammers attempt to collect parking fees. Don't fall for that one if you drive. Pay them nothing and instead call police.

And when using a motorbike taxi or baht bus as a private taxi, it is best to negotiate the price before accepting the ride. That prevents the driver from trying to charge an exorbitant fee upon arrival at the destination. Ride share apps such as BOLT show the fee before the ride. I always tip the driver a little extra.
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Thai travellers warned over rise of visa scams

by Molpasorn Shoowong

January 23, 2026

Travellers are advised to be alert to visa application scams, such as false appointment letters or requests for additional payment for fast-track visa guarantees, as outbound travel grows.

"With increasing outbound travel from Thailand, demand for visa appointments is rising," said Simon Peachey, chief operating officer for Australasia, China, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States at visa outsourcing firm VFS Global.

"The increased demand can unfortunately create opportunities for scammers to target applicants by making false promises or attempting to profit illegally."

According to VFS Global, a common fraud effort in the region is the promise of fast-track visa processing in exchange for extra fees.

Many fraudsters also target individuals by selling fake appointment letters.

VFS Global does not sell visa appointments. Appointments are free and can be booked via its website or relevant government portals.

The company also does not offer priority access or sell appointment slots.

Some applicants have been asked by fraudsters to transfer upfront payments to personal accounts.

Payments should only be made through the official VFS website, www.vfsglobal.com, or at visa application centres.

VFS Global does not work in association with any third-party entity for appointment allocation, he said.

Neither the company nor any third party can influence visa decisions, as all decisions lie solely with its client governments, said Mr Peachey.

He said the company provides an official link through which the public can directly report any suspicious fraud or scam activity to the VFS website.

VFS Global monitors suspicious activity, including reporting and taking down websites that impersonate the company.

If a crime has already been committed, applicants should also file a police report so the case can be processed.

According to VFS Global, fraud cases against visa applicants in Thailand are less common than in other Asian markets such as India, due to the latter's much larger population.

Mr Peachey said the company does not provide immigration or overseas job services, as some scammers claim.

Travellers are advised to apply for a visa as soon as flights and accommodation are booked, as some countries accept visa applications up to 180 days before the date of travel.

For this year, he said outbound travel from Thailand should continue to grow, driven by work, study and tourism. A strong baht also helps support demand for overseas travel.

Last year, the top five destinations for visa applications from Thai travellers at VFS were the UK, Australia, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

VFS Global insists data protection and information security remain its top priorities.

Mr Peachey said the company uses personal data solely for visa processing and deletes it once the application process is completed.

In Thailand, VFS Global serves 26 governments, including Germany, Canada, Japan and New Zealand, through 38 visa application centres in three cities: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... visa-scams

[Jun]

One type of scam is parking lots. At parking lots where parking is free, scammers attempt to collect parking fees. Don't fall for that one if you drive. Pay them nothing and instead call police.

Other than a couple of recent car hires, I haven't been driving in Thailand. At what kind of parking lots is this common ?

And when using a motorbike taxi or baht bus as a private taxi, it is best to negotiate the price before accepting the ride. That prevents the driver from trying to charge an exorbitant fee upon arrival at the destination. Ride share apps such as BOLT show the fee before the ride. I always tip the driver a little extra.

I agree on negotiating prices, but I prefer to avoid taxis totally.
The last time I hailed a meter taxi in Bangkok was to go to DMK airport shortly after it reopened. Probably around 2008 ? The driver insisted I should go to BKK airport. Only when I threatened to get out did he relent and drive me to DMK. I haven't touched one of them since. As it happens, the bus service to DMK is cheap and convenient. The staff on buses are also nice honest people who charge the correct fare & are quite helpful.

I don't recall ever hailing a metered taxi in Pattaya. I have used Bolt and I have occasionally used motorcycle taxi drivers, the latter after reading the price list and confirming the price in Thai before departing. The last time was probably November 2024, along Pattaya Tai, which no longer seems to have a reliable Songthaew service. Having luggage tipped the balance against walking.

[Gaybutton]

At what kind of parking lots is this common ?

Usually, but not limited to, public parking lots. There has been a lot of trouble with that especially at Bali Hai Pier, to the point he police had to intervene. They are clever. Often they dress to appear as if they are officials. Some even give receipts! People refusing to pay have been threatened with having their cars towed, key scratched, tires slashed, and told if they don't pay then the police will lock their tires.

In my opinion the scammers themselves are only part of the problem. I think the main problem is the way they keep coming up with new ways to scam people out of their money. They're constantly thinking up new ideas. After all, that's their job.

Also, do NOT give any money to beggars, not even the ones who appear to be pathetic indigent mothers with babies. That is a notorious scam. All too often the babies are not even their own. Have you noticed that when you do see beggars, they are almost always women? That is no accident.

They are transported to their locations and picked up later after their day's work. How do you think they get there or even know where to go to be in locations where they are likely to be able to collect the most money? Your guess is as good as mine as to where they eat, sleep, use a toilet, or how they are treated if they haven't managed to collect enough money to satisfy whoever ends up with it. I guarantee they don't get to keep much of it for themselves. The only way to stop it, despite police crackdowns, is to refuse to give them any money. Then they'll disappear. Remember, if you give them money, you are not helping them, but what your good intentions are actually doing is supporting exploitation.

[Jun]

Also, do NOT give any money to beggars, not even the ones who appear to be pathetic indigent mothers with babies. That is a notorious scam. All too often the babies are not even their own. Have you noticed that when you do see beggars, they are almost always women? That is no accident.

I see beggars of both genders.
I've never given a penny to a beggar anywhere in the world and intend to keep it that way.

Oddly enough, there are far more people camping out on the streets now than during the covid pandemic.
Or to put that another way, when the supply of daft tourists dried up, they found somewhere else to go.

[Gaybutton]

I've never given a penny to a beggar anywhere in the world and intend to keep it that way.

And at least in Pattaya, if everybody did that, there wouldn't be any beggars and people to exploit them. I hate to think what becomes of the babies.

[Jun]

And at least in Pattaya, if everybody did that, there wouldn't be any beggars and people to exploit them. I hate to think what becomes of the babies.

Well, in London I've seen homeless in sleeping bags outside stations. Yet somehow, these "homeless" have managed to charge up their iPhones. I'm not going to be one of the suckers giving money to fake homeless people.

[Gaybutton]

Yet somehow, these "homeless" have managed to charge up their iPhones.

If they even have a phone, that tells me all I need to know.

I agree, but homeless and beggars are not necessarily the same thing. The ones I'm talking about are the ones who set themselves up on the walkways, wai, and hold out their cups in hopes people will drop money into them. The ones that have babies and very young children with them, even if they are their own, obviously use them as props, trying to garner sympathy donations.

Since Thailand is trying to move toward becoming a cashless society, I'm waiting to see beggars who, along with their cups, also have QR codes for donations . . .

[Jun]

The best way to encourage begging is to give money to beggars. If no one gave them money, there would be no beggars. That's simple economics.

I don't believe it's good for anyone to have children out on the streets begging. So they won't get any money out of me.

[Gaybutton]

I don't believe it's good for anyone to have children out on the streets begging.

It is sheer exploitation and cruelty to children.

[christianpfc]

Every car park that has a fee has a booth to collect the fee at entrance or exit and a barrier. I have never seen a car park where staff walks around to collect money. That would only work with people who are new to Thailand, but who new to Thailand would rent a car and drive?

I vaguely remember seeing beggars in places not frequented by tourists. Certainly there are homeless all over the country. Giving money to beggars just perpetuates their situation. I don't know how a beggar got into that situation, and if he is genuine or operated by others. Several good reasons for me not to give money.