Destinations › Thailand › Phuket › Scams
Phuket, Thailand
7 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Phuket, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Jet-ski and scooter rental operators claim pre-existing damage at return and demand large cash "repair" fees, sometimes with intimidation — photograph every scratch with the operator present before setting off.
Unmetered taxis and tuk-tuks at the airport or Patong Beach quoting heavily inflated flat fares.
Beach vendors or "helpful" locals pressuring tourists into overpriced boat trips or excursions.
"Free prize" timeshare pitches in Patong, Kata, and Karon require sitting through a 90-minute presentation in exchange for a "prize" that turns out to be a worthless contract or unusable voucher.
Some jet-ski operators rent out a unit with a nearly empty tank while the fuel gauge is rigged to display full.
Beachfront restaurants adding unlisted charges or rounding bills up without itemization.
Bag-snatching by motorbike passengers targeting phones and bags on busy Patong streets.
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