I fell for the Suit Tuk Tuk scam

Yesterday I was walking through the art district next to my hostel when a nice man approached me and asked where I was from, this was not in a touristy area of town so my guard was down. He asked where I was from and said his cousin/uncle/niece/nephew was a bank manager in Melbourne (yes, I fell for it). He seemed very interested and told me about his wife and his life in Bangkok, very believable I might add. He then told me that I should get a suit as today was a special religious day. I’d found the Thai to be extremely polite and friendly people up till now, so I thought this was maybe just a nice gesture.

He then told me that there are government issued tuk-tuks that would take me wherever for 50 baht an hour (bargain right). Before I knew what was happening the local Thai man (who spoke very good English) has hailed a tuk tuk with a government sticker on it and told him where to take me. We first stopped off at the “oldest temple” in Bangkok. My tuk tuk driver waited for me as I entered the religious area. Out of nowhere ANOTHER very friendly, very adequate English speaking Thai man told me to follow him to the temple. He said he worked for the Thai government (see where this is going), and took me into the prayer room with the other monks. He then taught me how to pray and prayed with me in the mosk with the other Buddha’s. After this he shook my hand and led me on my way, he didn’t even take me back to the tuk tuk, he turned left before I left the site.

When I’ve travelled I’ve had unusual experiences with cultures that turn into crazy stories, so I thought I would go along with this one, anyway, which Thai man would “scam me” whilst also praying to the gods with me on a religious day? Right?

Afterwards the tuk tuk driver drove me around the corner to the tailor store. I was ushered in and told to sit down by Paul. Paul then told me that he would make me a suit that was of good material that would be ready tomorrow. First of all, they needed payment. I felt that this had all been a Devine 43 minutes which had led me to this tailor out of the generosity and recommendation of a Thai national, so I went along with it and bought a suit. I felt pressured into buying the suit as I had been quickly told to sit down as Paul had already cracked open a beer for me. (I am a 21 year old solo traveller who has never been to Asia before). After forking over a small fortune, he took my measurements, and along with the first beer gave me another 2 takeaways on the house.

I wouldn’t call this a scam, as I went in today and got the suit. I am no fashion expert but it did, however, fit perfectly and was tailored to my exact measurements, it looks and feels like a good suit.

Turns out this happens a lot, and some people get nothing out of it. The coriography to pull this off and it to seem somewhat believable had me in shambles when my girlfriend proposed that it might've been a scam, because it was so well conducted.

You can definitely get a better suit for a cheaper price than I paid. However, the suit looks nice, I got a couple free beers and actually got something out of it, a nice suit and a good story.

Some people learn the hard way, I had been raised in a not so nice part of Melbourne (Australia), and thought I had an adequate amount of street smarts not to be taken advantage of. The great thing about travelling is that you are always learning things about yourself and the cultures around you. Life is to short to dwell on the mistakes, instead, take them as a lesson and get a good souviner out of it.

Be careful, and remember, you don’t need to buy something just because you feel pressured, you have free will for a reason.