Scams in Phuket
Phuket is a safe place on the map, and the crime rate here is minimal. But even here, tourists get “scammed” when renting accommodation, motorbikes or cars, exchanging currency, and booking excursions. There’s especially a lot of scamming specifically in apartment or villa rentals: you can lose quite a bit of money (and nerves!). We’re telling you about the main fraud schemes in Phuket so that you’ll be fully prepared and won’t let yourself be deceived.
Accommodation Rental
The most popular scam in Phuket is in the real estate rental sector. Here, fraudsters can profit well, and therefore are super inventive: even vigilant tourists fall for their sophisticated schemes. Scammers use real photos/videos of properties and even forge passports to gain trust.
There’s especially a lot of scamming when looking for accommodation on Facebook Marketplace or in Telegram chats. We personally know many cases where people wanted to rent housing in Phuket remotely, paid a deposit for it, and the scammers simply disappeared. Even we fell for it at the very beginning of our life in Phuket! The scammer was so convincing that he sent his passport as proof. As it turned out later, buying photos of other people’s documents is not a problem, and this is by no means a guarantee of transaction transparency.
What to do:
- Meet in person to transfer the deposit.
- Ask to see property documents.
- Use services of verified agencies only.
We’ve checked and selected the best rental companies in Phuket. If you need Apartments Rental or Villas Rental, leave a request on these pages, and managers will contact you to offer the best options.
If you managed to rent accommodation, you’ll need to pay a deposit, or even two. According to the contract, it should be returned when the contract ends, but unfortunately, this is not always easy. For example, the property owner might claim that you broke some furniture, damaged the walls, etc. In short, any excuses are used to avoid returning your money.
It also happens that you didn’t read the contract carefully: often it states (in the smallest font, of course) that the deposit is returned within two weeks after the end of the rental period. This scheme counts on the fact that you’ll need to fly out and won’t wait for the deposit to be returned.
Important point: the contract must be drawn up in Thai language, because only this version has legal force. For obvious reasons, it’s not easy to compare complex Thai text with English – so it’s doubly important that the person renting you real estate is verified and reliable.
What to do:
- Read the contract carefully.
- Describe the presence of specific appliances and furniture in it.
- Document the initial condition of the housing (photos, videos) so you cannot be accused of damaging/losing property.
Vehicle Rental
It’s difficult to get around Phuket without personal transport, so renting a bike or car rental is a must-have. There are many rental places on the island, but not all of them can be trusted. There are not only problems with the condition of the transport, but also outright scams. The most popular one is: “this scratch on the car wasn’t there before!”
There can also be problems with jet ski rentals. When returning to the owner, they may suddenly discover “hidden damage” on the bottom (which is difficult to check in advance, of course).
What to do:
- Before taking the vehicle, record it in detail on video to capture its initial condition. This way you’ll have proof if you’re later charged for “suddenly appearing” damage.
- Only use verified transport rental companies – you can contact them by selecting the section you’re interested in on the Transport page.
- If someone is openly “pressuring” you and scamming you for money, call the tourist police – scammers won’t want to deal with them.
- Never leave your passport as a deposit! Otherwise, they may start blackmailing you with documents and not return your passport until you pay for damage allegedly caused by you.
Taxi and Tuk-tuk Scams
If you decide to catch a taxi or tuk-tuk on the street, be prepared for potential fraud. Some unscrupulous drivers quote one price, and at the end of the trip they “change their tune” and name another price, several times higher.
You might think that solving this issue would be calling a taxi through an app – Grab, Indrive, Maxim, or Bolt. But unfortunately, Phuket taxi drivers try to cheat here too: they accept the ride for the fixed amount in the app, but upon arrival, they message that you need to pay extra.
What to do:
- Don’t fall for these manipulations and cancel the order. And if you do catch a taxi on the street, agree on the cost of the trip in advance.
Fake Excursions
Excursion fraud is a very common issue in Phuket. Yes, you won’t lose too much money here, but it will definitely spoil your vacation. Scammers have several schemes.
“Cheap” tours. Sellers approach you offering excursions at prices 30-50% below market rates, promising “exclusive” places that “aren’t shown to ordinary tourists” and demanding immediate cash payment, creating an illusion of urgency. In reality, you’ll get an excursion that doesn’t match what was promised, instead of lunch at a restaurant you’ll get an ordinary snack, and the “VIP boat” turns out to be an old speedboat.
Additional expenses. Entry to the national park costs 400 baht, but for some reason they charge you 800, the transfer is promised to be free, but they demand 500-1000 baht “for fuel,” kayaking is included in the program, but you need to pay extra for a life jacket 200 baht, etc. You have no choice but to pay extra, since you’ve already spent time and arrived for the excursion.
Forced shopping. Such excursions include “mandatory” shopping stops: jewelry factories with a “museum,” leather and fur shops, latex factories, shops with super natural cosmetics, and more. As a result, instead of an interesting excursion, you spend time on unnecessary purchases at prices inflated several times.
What to do:
- Don’t fall for offers significantly below market rates and purchase excursions only from verified agencies. You’ll find them in the Excursions section.
Scams in Bars and Restaurants
Various schemes to scam tourists operate in some questionable establishments. For example, they add dishes to your bill that you didn’t order at all, or inflate prices on them. If a service charge is included in the bill, this should be indicated in the menu/receipt.
What to do:
- Ask for a menu with prices, check the bill before paying, and keep the receipt.
- Only visit Cafes and restaurants that are on our website (there are many of them!), avoiding questionable establishments.
What can’t be taken away from scammers is their ingenuity – new fraud schemes appear regularly, and it’s impossible to keep track of all the “innovations.” Be vigilant! Don’t let yourself be deceived and ruin your vacation in Phuket! Well, and we will update this material.
