These are the tourist scams Trzly has documented across 泰国, grouped by destination. Each one is real, with a clear way to stay safe. Read before you land.
手法: A friendly tuk-tuk driver offers a whole-city tour for a suspiciously cheap 20-40 baht. Instead of sightseeing, he takes you to a string of gem shops, tailors and souvenir stores where high-pressure salespeople push overpriced or fake goods, and the driver earns a commission on anything you buy.
如何避免: Never accept an unusually cheap all-day tour. For a simple A-to-B ride, agree a firm price first (around 100-150 baht for a short hop) and flatly refuse any suggestion to 'just stop at one shop'. Use the Grab app, the BTS or the river boats to sightsee instead.
'The temple is closed today' diversion
手法: Near the Grand Palace or other big temples, a well-dressed stranger or a tuk-tuk driver tells you the site is closed for a holiday, a ceremony or lunch, then kindly offers to take you on a tour of 'other temples' — which turns into the gem-shop and tailor circuit above.
如何避免: The Grand Palace is open every day from 8:30am to 3:30pm, and real temples do not send touts to redirect you. Ignore anyone who intercepts you outside, walk to the official ticket gate and check for yourself.
Taxi meter refusal and flat-rate overcharge
手法: In tourist areas some taxi drivers refuse to switch on the meter (which the law requires) and instead quote a fixed, inflated flat fare, or claim the meter is broken, especially for short trips or at night.
如何避免: Ask 'meter?' before getting in, and if the driver refuses, simply close the door and take the next one — there are plenty. Better still, use the Grab app so the price is fixed and shown upfront, removing the argument entirely.
Jet-ski and rental damage scam
手法: At nearby beach resorts like Pattaya and Phuket, you rent a jet-ski or motorbike, return it undamaged, and the operator then points to pre-existing scratches and demands a large cash payment for 'damage', sometimes backed by intimidation.
如何避免: Before you ride, photograph and video the whole vehicle from every angle with the operator present, and keep your passport rather than surrendering it as a deposit. If you can, rent only from operators with clearly good, recent reviews.
Tailor and 'ping-pong show' touts
手法: Touts approach with an offer of a bargain tailored suit or a cheap-drinks 'special show' in an upstairs bar around areas like Patpong or Sukhumvit. The suit is poorly made and overpriced, or the bar hits you with a huge, padded bill and blocks the exit until you pay.
如何避免: Ignore street offers for suits and 'shows'. If you want tailoring, choose a well-reviewed shop yourself and get quotes in writing; never follow a promoter into an upstairs bar, and always check drink prices before ordering.