Bangkok scams to avoid: tuk-tuks, the "temple is closed" trick and safety

Is Bangkok dangerous?

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs places Bangkok, like most of the country, under "heightened vigilance", with no area of the city advised against: the regions to avoid are the far south (Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Songkhla provinces) and the border areas with Cambodia, several hundred kilometres away. The UK authorities point out that violent crime rarely involves tourists.

The problems reported by consulates are mostly theft, commercial scams and trouble with local law, which is stricter than in Europe on several points. You are also advised to stay away from political demonstrations and gatherings.

Finally, the rainy season (roughly May to October) can bring flooding: at the end of September 2026, heavy rain flooded parts of Bangkok, and all 50 of its districts were declared disaster areas on 26 September; the government then described the situation as stabilised, but further flooding remains possible until the end of the rainy season, especially along the Chao Phraya. Check the alerts of the Thai Meteorological Department and official travel advice before you leave.

The "Grand Palace is closed" scam

This is Bangkok's best-known scam, and it almost always starts near the Grand Palace, Wat Pho or Wat Arun. A well-dressed stranger, often friendly and fluent in English, sometimes introduced as a student, teacher or employee, approaches you in the street: the palace is supposedly closed this morning for a ceremony, a Buddhist holiday or a day reserved for Thais. Instead, he offers you a tuk-tuk tour of "open" temples for a ridiculously low price, often a few dozen baht.

In reality the tour stops at a jewellery shop, a tailor or a travel agency, which pay the driver a commission. The temple visited on the way does exist, but the shop is the real goal.

What you need to know:

• The Grand Palace is open every day from 8:30 to 16:30, with tickets sold from 8:30 to 15:30 (500 baht for foreign visitors, checked in October 2026). The rare closures for royal ceremonies are announced in advance by the palace.
• Only trust what you see at the official entrance: walk to the gate and the ticket office without stopping for people standing on the pavement.
• Someone who strikes up a conversation to steer you towards a particular tuk-tuk is not an official guide.

The same scenario exists in a "the temple is closed for lunch" or "the old town is closed today" version. The answer is always the same: a smile, a no thank you, and you keep walking.

Gems, jewellery and tailors

The tuk-tuk tour often ends in a jewellery shop that sells stones as an investment: you could, you are told, resell them for twice the price in Europe, thanks to a tax exemption "valid today only". Other customers, in fact accomplices, vouch for their great deal.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes this exact case: the jewellery is genuine but sold at two to three times the market price, and Thai law considers that the price was freely accepted by the buyer. In practice there is therefore no recourse once your card has been charged. Never buy gems on the recommendation of a stranger, a tuk-tuk driver or a taxi driver.

"Factory price" tailors work the same way: a suit promised in 24 hours, a large deposit, disappointing quality. If you really want a made-to-measure garment, choose the workshop yourself, in advance, and never the one you were taken to.

Taxis and tuk-tuks: the meter, Grab and Bolt

Bangkok taxis have a meter, with a flag fare of 35 baht (checked in October 2026). The classic trap: the driver quotes a flat fare, often well above the metered price, especially outside hotels, at tourist sites and on Khao San. Ask "meter, please" before getting in; if the driver refuses, get out and take the next one. To complain, the Department of Land Transport answers on 1584: note the licence plate and the taxi number displayed inside.

The ride-hailing apps Grab and Bolt operate in Bangkok: the price is shown before the ride, the journey is recorded and there is nothing to negotiate. It is the simplest way to avoid disputes, especially in the evening. For journeys from Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, follow the official taxi queues described in our guide to Bangkok's airports.

Tuk-tuks have no meter: agree on the price before getting in, for a specific destination, and refuse any stop "on the way". The UK authorities also advise keeping your bag inside these open vehicles, which are exposed to snatch thefts. For getting around day to day, the BTS Skytrain, the MRT and the river boats avoid any haggling: see our guide to getting around Bangkok.

Khao San Road and nightlife

Khao San Road and the neighbouring streets of Banglamphu are packed with backpackers and bars, and therefore with a few night-time traps:

• Buckets: strong spirits mixed with soda, served in a small bucket to share. Drinks served in Thai bars are often stronger than in Europe, and the UK authorities report deaths from methanol poisoning linked to adulterated alcohol in Thailand. Prefer drinks where you can see the bottle.
• Spiked drinks: French and UK official advice reports cases in tourist areas. Never leave your glass unattended and do not accept a drink from a stranger.
• "Ping-pong show" touts: they promise free entry or a cheap beer, then the bill arrives inflated, sometimes with intimidation. The Canadian government warns about bars that charge exorbitant prices. Do not follow a tout into an upstairs venue.
• Fake degrees and cards: stalls offer fake degrees, press cards or licences. Using a fake document is an offence, in Thailand as in France.

Also worth knowing: alcohol sales are banned from midnight to 11:00, except in hotels, international airport terminals and licensed venues. According to the French ministry, drinking in a public place during these hours has carried a fine of at least 10,000 baht since 8 November 2025.

Fake monks, fake compatriots and other approaches

People in saffron robes sometimes sell amulets or bracelets in the street, or insistently ask for money. Buddhist monks receive offerings, mostly food during the morning alms round, but a monk who demands a specific sum or sells an object in exchange for a "blessing" should put you on your guard. If you wish to make an offering, do so in a temple. Remember: women must not touch a monk or hand him an object directly.

The French ministry also reports a scam that exploits generosity and targets French people directly: a foreigner, sometimes French, claims to be in serious difficulty and gives you the number of a supposed embassy duty officer, who is in fact an accomplice. If in doubt, call the French embassy yourself on its official number.

Another trap that goes beyond Bangkok: well-paid job offers posted on social media, used to forcibly recruit workers for online scam centres on the Burmese and Cambodian borders.

Theft, currency exchange and bank cards

Theft remains the most common risk. The French authorities report snatch thefts by two people on a motorbike, notably in Bangkok: carry your bag on the side away from the road and do not walk along the kerb with your phone in your hand. In crowded markets and on public transport, keep your bag closed and your wallet in an inside pocket.

For money:

• Withdraw cash from an ATM inside a bank branch and hide your PIN: cases of card skimming have been reported.
• Change money at an official exchange office, count the notes at the counter and refuse any offer to change money in the street.
• Do not lose sight of your card when paying.

ATM fees, currency exchange and tipping are covered in our guide to paying in Bangkok.

Keep a copy of your passport and the original somewhere safe. The police may ask to see your passport; if you do not have it on you, a copy of the photo page is usually enough, but you may be required to show the original within 24 hours. Never leave your passport as a deposit with a scooter or jet-ski rental business: some keep it to claim for imaginary damage. This jet-ski scam mostly happens in Pattaya and Phuket, not in Bangkok itself.

The laws that surprise visitors

Vapes and e-cigarettes: banned

Possessing or using an e-cigarette, pod, e-liquid or heat-not-burn device is illegal in Thailand, with no exception for tourists. The UK authorities cite fines typically ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 baht, with confiscation, possible detention and the obligation to stay in Thailand until the case is judged. The French ministry points out that the law provides for up to 5 years in prison for possession and 10 years for importing. Leave your vape at home. Smoking in public places is also banned, with a fine of up to 5,000 baht.

Cannabis: no more over-the-counter sales since June 2025

After decriminalisation in 2022, many cannabis shops opened, notably around Khao San. At the end of June 2025, the government once again restricted cannabis to medical use: you need a prescription issued in Thailand, limited to a 30-day supply, to buy or possess it. Recreational use is illegal, and smoking in public remains banned even with a prescription (a fine of 25,000 baht and three months in prison, according to the French ministry).

Taking cannabis out of the country is strictly forbidden: since 18 June 2026, customs apply a fine of 30,000 baht per kilo seized, and the penalties range from 2 to 10 years in prison. It is also illegal in most transit and destination countries.

Drugs

Other drugs are punished very severely: even a small quantity leads to a prison sentence, and possession of category 1 narcotics (heroin, ecstasy, methamphetamine, LSD) can be treated as trafficking, punishable by life imprisonment and the death penalty.

The King and the monarchy

The crime of lèse-majesté (Article 112 of the Criminal Code) carries 3 to 15 years in prison, per offence, for any word or post deemed insulting to the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent. The law is interpreted broadly, including for a simple share on social media. Respect the King's image, including on banknotes: do not step on a fallen note or coin.

Theft, found objects and deportation

Theft, even attempted or of low value, is punished with prison: French nationals have been sentenced for shoplifting in an airport shop, or for keeping a found object while intending to return it. Leave a lost item where it is or hand it straight to staff. Since 28 August 2026, the authorities can also deport a foreigner whose conduct is deemed contrary to public order or public morals, without a prior conviction.

Temples, traffic and health

Dress code in temples

Temples are active places of worship. At the Grand Palace the rules are strict: no sleeveless, cropped or see-through tops, shorts, miniskirts, torn or tight trousers. Cover your shoulders and knees, take your shoes off before entering a shrine, do not point your feet towards a Buddha statue and never climb on one for a photo.

Crossing the road and getting around

The French ministry points out that Thailand's road accident rate is one of the highest in the world and that 90 % of fatal accidents involve two-wheelers. On foot, look both ways even in a one-way street, watch out for scooters on the pavements and use the footbridges. On a motorbike taxi, insist on a helmet, which is compulsory. To drive you need an International Driving Permit, and a rented scooter is often poorly insured or not insured at all.

Water and heat

Bangkok's water company (the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority) states that the water it produces meets World Health Organization standards, but pipes and rooftop tanks in buildings can degrade it. In practice, drink bottled or filtered water, sold everywhere. The heat, and air pollution that is high on some days, quickly wear you out: drink regularly and plan air-conditioned breaks.

Numbers to know

Numbers checked in October 2026 in French, UK and Canadian travel advice. The Tourist Police also offer an app, Thailand Tourist Police, which works without a Thai SIM card. Before you leave, register with your government's traveller alert service (Ariane for French citizens).

The scams at a glance

Further reading

To visit the Grand Palace without any middleman, our page details tickets, opening hours and dress code. Our guide to getting around Bangkok explains how to travel by BTS, MRT and boat without haggling, and our guide to Banglamphu and the old town covers the Khao San area by day and by night.