The UK Foreign Office notes that violent crime rarely involves tourists in Thailand. Judging by what people post in Phuket expat groups, visitors are far more likely to lose money to small cons. Below are the schemes documented by official sources (TAT, the Tourist Police, the Bank of Thailand, the UK FCDO), plus what travellers report in chat groups, marked as such. Checked on 17 October 2026.
Who to call
| Service | Number | When |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Police | 1155 | scams, theft, disputes with shops or rentals |
| Police | 191 | any incident |
| Ambulance | 1669 | injury or illness |
| Department of Land Transport | 1584 | taxi and public transport complaints |
The Tourist Police also run the Thailand Tourist Police app, which works without a Thai SIM card.
Common scams at a glance
| Scam | What it looks like | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chat-group money changer | «great rate», pay first, a «Bank of Thailand licence» | change at a bank or a licensed changer | Bank of Thailand; traveller reports |
| Passport as deposit | rental keeps your passport over «scratches» | never leave it, film the vehicle | FCDO; traveller reports |
| Gems and jewellery | «one-day government sale», driver takes you to «his» shop | do not buy on a tip, ask for a lab report | TAT |
| Street tour sales | «today only» discount, prepayment to a stranger | check who runs the tour, get it in writing | TAT; traveller reports |
| ATM skimming | card copied at a machine | use ATMs inside bank branches, cover your PIN | FCDO |
| Job offers abroad | high salary in a neighbouring country | decline and report it | FCDO |
| Fake TDAC sites | arrival card «for a fee» | use the official site only | see our TDAC answer |
Money changers and Telegram exchanges
Changing foreign cash in Thailand is limited to banks and licensed companies. The Bank of Thailand publishes a list of licensed money changers (PDF, last updated 24 September 2026), and its BOT License Check service covers other regulated financial businesses.
Traveller reports from Phuket chat groups: a Telegram «exchange» showed a Bank of Thailand licence that did not exist; others get private messages offering «exchange via QR through a trusted changer» that vanish once questions are asked. Crypto is not on the money changer list, so swapping USDT for baht with people from chat groups has no protection: if the baht never arrive, getting money back is nearly impossible.
What works: cash, in person, at a bank or a licensed changer, in smaller batches. For which notes to bring see which US dollar bills to bring to Thailand; for paying without cash see paying by QR in Thailand.
Scooter and jet-ski rentals: passports and «damage»
The FCDO is explicit: do not hand over your passport as a guarantee to motorcycle or jet-ski rental businesses, because companies may hold on to it against claimed damage.
What travellers in chat groups suggest:
- film the scooter or jet ski from every side with the owner before you leave
- leave a cash deposit, not your passport
- get a written agreement with the deposit amount and return date
A separate risk is riding without a motorcycle licence: see can you ride a scooter in Thailand with a car licence.
Street tour sellers and «special sales»
TAT advises against buying from strangers who pose as government representatives and promise a one-day sale, and the same goes for taxi and tuk-tuk drivers with similar offers. Pressure to decide «today» is the main warning sign.
Traveller reports: a cheap tour from a street stand can turn out different from what was sold (another boat, another route, extra charges on the day). Before paying, ask who operates the tour and what the price includes, and get confirmation in writing. Our guide to Phuket excursions covers how to choose one.
The gem scam
TAT describes it this way: a street tout or driver tells you about a shop where you can buy stones cheaply and resell them at a profit at home. TAT calls this «almost always a scam». TAT’s advice:
- do not buy on the spot or trust a price far below market
- look at the stone in daylight, not under the shop lamp
- get a receipt listing stone type, colour, weight, size and cut
- for expensive pieces, ask for a recent report from GIT (Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand) or AIGS
- look for shops with the Jewel Fest Club (JFC) logo
Taxis without a meter
Traveller reports: drivers refuse to use the meter and quote a fixed fare above the usual rate. The Department of Land Transport takes taxi complaints on 1584. Our guide to taxis in Phuket explains fares and fixed-price app rides.
Cards and ATMs
The FCDO warns of ATM skimming: keep your card in sight when paying, use ATMs inside bank branches and cover your PIN. For which foreign cards work and what ATMs charge, see paying with foreign cards in Thailand.
Job offers in a neighbouring country
The FCDO describes people who arrived in Thailand on the promise of high-paying jobs and were illegally moved to neighbouring countries. Reported outcomes include confiscated passports, poor living conditions, coercion into online scam work and demands for large payments to be released. On re-entering Thailand, victims may be detained while their immigration status is validated.
Be wary of salaries far above market, hiring done only over messaging apps and a plan to cross into a neighbouring country right after landing. If you or someone you know receives such an offer, decline and report it to the Tourist Police on 1155 and to your embassy.
Fake police calls and «virtual kidnapping»
In June 2026 TAT and the Royal Thai Police described the case of a Chinese student: scammers persuaded her to ask her father for money as «proof of funds» for overseas study, the family transferred HK$1.4 million (about THB 5.8 million), and relatives were then told she had been kidnapped. TAT urges travellers to verify suspicious calls and messages with the police rather than follow callers’ demands.
What not to do
- Pay upfront to people who message you privately, even if they were «recommended in the group»
- Pay a rental deposit based on photos without seeing the flat and the owner
- Leave your passport as a deposit
- Fill in the arrival card on paid sites: see how to fill in the TDAC
- Bring or buy vapes: fines and detention, see are vapes legal in Thailand
FAQ
Should I leave my passport as a deposit for a scooter or jet ski?
No. The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advises against handing over your passport to motorcycle or jet-ski rental businesses, because some keep it against claimed damage. Travellers on expat forums suggest leaving a cash deposit instead and filming the vehicle from every side with the owner before you set off.
Is the Thailand gem scam still a thing?
Yes. TAT warns against strangers posing as officials who promise a one-day government sale, and against taxi or tuk-tuk drivers who take you to a «special» gem shop. TAT calls the promise of stones you can resell at a big profit back home «almost always a scam». For expensive pieces, ask for a recent GIT or AIGS laboratory report.
How do I check a money changer I found on Telegram?
The Bank of Thailand publishes a PDF list of companies licensed to buy and sell foreign banknotes; look for the name there. Crypto is not covered by that list, so swapping USDT for baht with someone from a chat group has no protection at all. Change cash in person at a bank or a licensed booth.
I was offered a well-paid job in Myanmar or Cambodia. Is it a scam?
Almost certainly. The FCDO describes people lured to Thailand by high-paying job offers and illegally moved to neighbouring countries, where passports are confiscated and victims are forced into online scam work. On re-entering Thailand, victims may be detained while their immigration status is checked.
Who do I call if I get scammed in Thailand?
The Tourist Police on 1155; the Thailand Tourist Police app also works without a Thai SIM. General police are on 191. Complaints about taxis and public transport go to the Department of Land Transport on 1584.
Do I have to carry my passport, or is a copy enough?
According to the FCDO, police may ask to see your passport, and if you do not have it you could be asked to bring it to a police station within 24 hours. Usually a copy of the photo page is enough. Keep the original in a safe place rather than with a rental shop.
How safe is Thailand, do phones and bags get stolen?
Serious crime against tourists is rare, but petty theft happens: bag snatching from passing motorbikes, and things going missing on beaches and in crowds. Keep your phone and bag on the side away from the road, and do not leave valuables on the beach or in a scooter basket. If something is stolen, call the Tourist Police on 1155: you will need a police report for insurance.
Sources
- UK FCDO. Thailand travel advice: Safety and security (updated 12 Oct 2026)
- UK FCDO. Thailand travel advice: Getting help
- Bank of Thailand. List of licensed money changers (PDF, 24 Sep 2026)
- Bank of Thailand. Foreign exchange licences page
- Bank of Thailand. BOT License Check
- Tourist Police Bureau. Official site, hotline 1155
- Department of Land Transport (DLT). Hotline 1584
- TAT Newsroom. Buying gems and jewellery in Thailand: top tips (9 Jun 2017)
- TAT Newsroom. Virtual kidnapping case (5 Jun 2026)
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