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Although the Thai gem scam has been going on in Bangkok for many years, it is now a worrying trend that the scammers have changed their tactics in order to take advantage of the present political unrest.

Judging by the recent scam reports we are receiving at www.BangkokScams.com, tourists are now being warned about avoiding the Grand Palace area altogether. People who are told this on the last day of their holiday in Thailand will never get an opportunity to visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

The Tourist Police that we spoke to said that there was nothing that they could do about the scam artists outside the Grand Palace as it is not a crime to tell a lie. Even if they don't care about the reputation of Thailand then the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) should.

This year, on our website, we have seen a 60 per cent increase in the number of scams being reported. The TAT is fighting a battle at the moment trying to persuade holidaymakers that Thailand is a safe destination to visit. But unless they can actually do something about putting these scammers out of business, the reputation of Thailand could be damaged irrevocably.

People like Victor Tan are going home and telling all of their friends how their holiday in Thailand was spoiled by the scammers.

Richard Barrow

Senior Editor, BangkokScams.com

Samut Prakan

Con victims show worrying lack of common sense

The writer tells us that a stranger walked up to him at Pratunam Complex and told him that the Grand Palace was closed because the mobs were running wild in that area, suggesting instead that he go to the Lucky Buddha Temple, stopping by the jewellery shop on the way for the deal of a lifetime. The gentleman went ahead and ended up purchasing overpriced jewels, later realising the error of his ways after a Net search. This was certainly terrible and shameful behaviour on the part of the scammers. In fact, saying that the Grand Palace is unsafe to visit sounds almost treasonable to my ears. But I have to wonder at the common-sense reasoning abilities of people who fall for doozies like this.

Let's say you land in Paris, and some guy saunters up to you and tells you that the Louvre is closed, but that he knows of another museum that's just as good. On the way he takes you to a place where he says they sell rare paintings for a dirt-cheap price and that you can unload these when you get home for a handsome profit. If you would do anything other than laugh in this person's face, then you are a pigeon, and my sympathy for you is minimal.

A couple of weeks ago it was reported that a Nigerian minister was calling for action to be taken against the victims of fraudsters from his country, claiming that they were greedy people with no sense. Now I'm starting to see his point. In this world, nothing is free. Some of life's simplest lessons are its most valuable.

Ted

Bangkok

Biofuel surge may kick off |a food-supply crisis

Even though Vijo Varghese's article (September 25) "Clearing the Air on Global Fuel Crisis" provides a layman's perspectives on the cause and effect of the current global energy crisis and its effects on Thailand, it does not take into account the fundamental issue associated with using agricultural products to produce alternative fuels. That fundamental issue is food versus fuel.

If the majority of the agricultural sector starts to produce agricultural plants solely for alternative-fuel production, this will certainly affect people. Certain export commodities such as sugar and cassava may have to be imported, and we would then have to become dependent on foreign imports. Responsible government agencies must work together with local research agencies such as universities and national research agencies (Biotec, etc) to produce a closed energy cycle plan that takes into account the issue of food versus fuel.

Ramjitti Indaraprasirt

Pathum Thani