The scary visit to Bangkok bank after closing time....................

Isaanfarang wrote:

Hello and Sawasdee khrap,

                      I just came back from my Bangkok bank where I only wanted to update my bank book. Unfortunately, were they not able to fix the machine within three days and I thought I was lucky that many employees were still inside, obviously working overtime.

Another foreigner, no idea what nationality he was seemed to have an issue and was talking to the bank employees through the security gutter.

  When I mentioned the update machine that didn't work, they told me to come inside by using the back door. I had already given my bank book with a good amount of money to an employee when the foreigner, really hard to say what nationality he was, all in a sudden was standing in front of a counter where I was not allowed to go to in the first place.

   But when I saw that they wanted to give him my bankbook, I walked to the same counter and stood behind the guy who really looked like a gangster. They told him that they couldn't help him today and he'd have to come back tomorrow but HANDED HIM MY BANK BOOK OUT.

   hE SAW ME STANDING RIGHT BEHIND HIM WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE REASON THAT HE SAID IT WASN'T HIS. And he left the bank, would have been easy to leave with my bank book, create a fake ID, somehow based on my information of the book and could have emptied my account.

   When I told them in their language that they've made a huge mistake, they only said: "kothoot na ka" which means sorry. These people are they way they are because the education is in no way better.

They do not have common sense and from now on, I'll be more careful. Please use ATM's inside a bank, there are scammers who put a unit on the ATM that can read your information with a camera where they see when you type your PIN.

  Be careful out there, it's getting more and more dangerous. not only on the roads, people have no money.

Sir,  your story is a unique, and isolated scenario, indeed. Yet, considering that you allude to "yourself" as being an experienced, basic Thai speaking foreigner, then I am hard pressed to believe,...the paranoia...generating gist of your story,...in the least. 

FYI ~ Your ATM scammer-type story was dealt with, by the RTP, more than 7-years ago. In addition,  Bangkok Bank is one of the more sophisticated (business) banking institutions in Asia. They are wide awake.

Thus, kindly do us all (on the forum) a future favor, by relegating such angry diatribes to those several other SE Asian locations, that are definitely far more deserving of your berating comments. Thailand,...  ain't one of "those" places,...just in case you've failed to notice, during your farang tenure. Thank you, sir...

I’m often wondering why people like you post such personal attacks in the anonymity of the internet while hiding behind a keyboard. I was only trying to let others know what happened to me and I’d have been very happy if I’d have had such warnings before and when I settled down.

I’d consider my Thai intermediate and I’m certain that things would have been totally different without my- perhaps intermediate- Thai speaking skills and my bank book would have changed the owner within a blink of an eye. My post was only a warning to others who’re customers at Thai banks because I’ve made quite a lot of very unpleasant experiences with banks in my time in Thailand.

Where have you read about my paranoia, I’ve just recently looked at a gun, that a teenager on a motorbike was pointing at my wife and me when we were waiting at a traffic light. I’ve even overlooked the middle finger that was shown to us, knowing that I’d have had no chance at all.

Even if my story might sound unique to you, similar incidents seem to happen all over the country, especially to people who are not familiar with this country. I’m amazed to read that the ATM scammer problem in Thailand was solved seven years ago.? That’s in no way true and my post was only a warning to better use an ATM inside a bank to prevent such scams from happening.

Finally, please do not use your own personal opinion as a guideline for other members of this forum. IMO, such warnings are very important for newbies and tourists, and ATM scammers are still very active. My bank book story was just an example of what could happen, I wasn’t posting an angry diatribe, so please keep your personal dislikes to yourself. I’d love to hear a Moderator of this forum if my post was as you’ve described it. There's a well-known website/forum, where people like you seem to enjoy it to criticise others.

Please don't bring such negativity into this forum where people are only trying to help others, or those who're seeking advice. Thank you very much for your kind consideration.

Excuse me, sir! Many of us (Thai people), anymore, can actually "comprehend", and speak the English language.

Fyi,...the negativity was definitely on your OP part. Kindly READ your own,...angry spirited post.

You, sir,...could have simply ignored my not "honey-coated" reply comment,..instead...eh?

Thus, your verbose, one-upmanship reply,...indeed,...comes across,...as a "deflection" tactic only.

May I suggest, that you follow your own advice,...regarding that "well-known" website/forum,...
you've mentioned. Surely, your particular OP content "substance",...would find a far more (appropriately) receptive audience "there",...instead,...guaranteed. 

Now,...I'm done with this debate. So, have a happy,...one...sir!...you have the soapbox......

Hello everyone,

It has become a bit heated here, however, it is an interesting debate. I would suggest that we keep aside any generalisation and finger pointing. Jana611, the OP is just trying to share his experience so that others may take some caution.

Let us think about what you both posters and other members can benefit from discussing and understanding the topic.

All the best,
Bhavna

I can’t imagine why anyone would think it a good idea to try banking after-hours through a closed security gate or a back door.  Accusing them of not having common sense sounds a little like the pot calling the kettle black.  My advice would be to not do what the OP did.  Instead, bank during normal hours and wait in line so there is no mixup.

Where I live they do not place the ATM inside the bank where they would not be accessible after hours.  I do agree, however, that it is wise to use ATM machines located just outside the banks instead of those placed in remote locations where it might be easier to tamper with them.

I don’t agree with the notion that things are getting more and more dangerous.  I do agree that people are often not very bright or responsible for their own actions.

Most of the bank staff was still working at 5.50 pm when I wanted to update my bankbook, but one book got caught in the machine and the security door locked it down. It was the only possible place at this time, and I needed the information because of an important transaction.

   Two employees were near the main door and told me to take the back door, into the bank. Until this point, there's nothing wrong. I wasn't allowed to go straight to the counter and one of the ladies took my book when the other foreigner started talking to her.

  There's something they couldn't help him with, but he didn't understand them and there's nobody who could speak English.

  I was helping them and explained to the foreigner that he'll have to come back the next day when another employee all in a sudden decided to give my bank book to the other guy.

Regarding safety, please do not mix up any tourist areas with an Isaan city/ village/area at night. Most people at night are either drunk, looking for problems, or causing other, usually very unpleasant events.

  Would a foreign woman walk around at night, she'd ask for huge problems. There's no police around all night. One day when I wanted to call them, but nobody picked up the phone and it is way better to be wise enough not to be out at night at all.

Just a week ago and not even late, we were at a traffic light waiting for the green light. Four motorbike drivers, all with pillion drivers were also waiting. When none of them took off when it was green, I was using my horn for a nanosecond, to wake them up.

Only three of them continued their ride, but the fourth was a bit different. He crossed the way that I couldn't leave, pointed at the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a gun. He then drove to the left side and when I started, he turned around and showed me his middle finger. What a nice guy he was!

My wife was actually the one who saw the gun, I was busy watching the traffic and finally made my right turn.  All I could do was to accelerate and I luckily lost him when I was doing 95 km/h. +.... We didn't even go to the restaurant where we wanted to eat, because we were really scared that the guy would come back. I'm not in the mood to try and find out if it's a real gun.

  BTW, my wife almost got raped and eventually killed some years back, when she wanted to drive home and our bike had some technical issues. A guy who's wearing a facemask was then following her when she's trying to get to a friend's house. She'd called me but I needed eight minutes to get there, even when speeding.

  She tried to call the cops, but nobody picked up the phone. When I finally arrived, I could still see the guy who's hiding behind a building when he heard my car. Wifey was still shaking and we then decided to better stay at home if we don't have to go out at night.

I used to live in Ubon for a couple of years where I had a house on the campus of a school. I can assure you that also there are various areas you should never visit at night, especially when you're female and alone. My whole point is to be careful before the shite hits the fan.

  I've had my own lesson when one man started a fight with me and got knocked out by five others. Even laying on the road and bleeding like a pig was no reason for them to stop.

  A couple of broken ribs,  a broken nose, and a few other injuries made it to a bloody incident. And I hadn't done anything wrong. But I've learned another very bitter lesson, they never fight alone.

  I hope that it's not considered as a scene of a science fiction movie, it really happened to us and most Thais would agree that it's not a good idea to go out at night. Stay safe, wherever you are!

Bhavna wrote:

Hello everyone,

It has become a bit heated here, however, it is an interesting debate. I would suggest that we keep aside any generalisation and finger pointing. Jana611, the OP is just trying to share his experience so that others may take some caution.

Let us think about what you both posters and other members can benefit from discussing and understanding the topic.

All the best,
Bhavna

"the OP is just trying to share his experience so that others may take some caution."


And I've got some oceanfront property 4-Sale, in Mandalay, as well. Anyway, my mistake   I concede,...to having been duly corrected, It will never happen again.

However, as a Thai national, I take personal exception to the OP's allusion, that his negative personal experiences are the "norm" in Thailand. Thus, the generalizations and finger-pointing comments were not "originally" made, on my part,...

Indeed,...instead of clicking "the report" button, and whining about an undeserved "bad-press" statement about Thailand, being posted by another subscriber, on an internationally viewed expat platform, I elected to directly put the OP "in check", regarding the matter,...without getting a forum moderator involved.

Really, I'm just a girl on the forum, and was only attempting to treat the OP, as a reasonably intelligent adult, and was not deliberately berating him, in the least. Obviously, that ^ particular gesture was an effort in futility. Again, sorry about that.

Anyway,...the OP has confirmed the validity of my original reply "point of view", with post #7. 

Regards... .

jana611 wrote:

Bhavna wrote:

Hello everyone,

It has become a bit heated here, however, it is an interesting debate. I would suggest that we keep aside any generalisation and finger pointing. Jana611, the OP is just trying to share his experience so that others may take some caution.

Let us think about what you both posters and other members can benefit from discussing and understanding the topic.

All the best,
Bhavna

"the OP is just trying to share his experience so that others may take some caution."


And I've got some oceanfront property 4-Sale, in Mandalay, as well. Anyway, my mistake   I concede,...to having been duly corrected, It will never happen again.

However, as a Thai national, I take personal exception to the OP's allusion, that his negative personal experiences are the "norm" in Thailand. Thus, the generalizations and finger-pointing comments were not "originally" made, on my part,...

Indeed,...instead of clicking "the report" button, and whining about an undeserved "bad-press" statement about Thailand, being posted by another subscriber, on an internationally viewed expat platform, I elected to directly put the OP "in check", regarding the matter,...without getting a forum moderator involved.

Really, I'm just a girl on the forum, and was only attempting to treat the OP, as a reasonably intelligent adult, and was not deliberately berating him, in the least. Obviously, that ^ particular gesture was an effort in futility. Again, sorry about that.

Anyway,...the OP has confirmed the validity of my original reply "point of view", with post #7. 


Regards... .

I'm just an innocent foreigner on this forum who's trying to help others with my post and would like to thank you for your critical review of my OP without the interference of a Moderator.

May God bless you, the Lord Buddha dress you and hopefully not let Shiva mess with you. Peace.

Kindest regards,

Don Migolito

One often reads the words  “I’m just an innocent foreigner”  or  “I did nothing wrong”  but I have yet to meet one of these innocent foreigners in my forty plus years living here.  People always contribute to what befalls them, in one way or another, in my opinion. 

It is always the same people who traverse life under a cloud of adversity, moving from one calamity to the next.  Others go through life without encountering such misfortune.  I am always suspicious of people who compile lists and try to make people believe the worst of others.

Scammers work in many ingenious and ever-evolving ways, methods, tactics, trickery, so Heads up. You, me, he and she, and they the bank staff have been being duped together, so join the club. They've been bilking seniors and newcomers to where I am at this moment in Canada to the tune of $500,000,000 a year. The scammers are very good at what they do. You met one in person. There is no need to come down on the bank staff and, with broad stroke of your brush, all of the citizens of your host nation. Go home.  dcb

villagefarang wrote:

One often reads the words  “I’m just an innocent foreigner”  or  “I did nothing wrong”  but I have yet to meet one of these innocent foreigners in my forty plus years living here.  People always contribute to what befalls them, in one way or another, in my opinion. 

It is always the same people who traverse life under a cloud of adversity, moving from one calamity to the next.  Others go through life without encountering such misfortune.  I am always suspicious of people who compile lists and try to make people believe the worst of others.

Thanks, for the lecture, sir! My post was more a part of sarcasm as a result of the "girl's post."

Let me repeat her words:" Really, "Im just a girl on the forum," which let me to my "statement" that I'm just an innocent foreigner.

   Your words, it's always the same people and the rest and the ending " who make people believe the worst of others? Did you somehow not understand the original post? Have you met me before to be able to make such statements about me, generalizing all and everything?

You have yet to meet such a foreigner? What's the purpose of a forum for expats if there are some posters who're adding stuff to a post that didn't exist in its original?

Do you even see a difference in "just a girl "and  "innocent foreigner?" It was my pleasure trying to help, but it was obviously the wrong forum. My sincere apo9logies. It seems to be true that foreigners, in general, are the biggest enemies to other foreigners. You seem to be the best of them. Congrats!

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