Things/scams to be aware while travelling in Asia
 

I am starting this thread to get educated and be aware about things might happen to unprepared travellers while going/being/travelling/getting around of Asia.

While living in one of the safest countries in the world (Singapore) I do know that neighbouring counties/places are not that safe.

I will start with the case of my friend: he was on a business trip in Cambodia, office was about 30 min walking time from his hotel. One day, while returning from from office, he stopped at the local bar to have a beer. He woke up next day in a canal, everything he had with him except clothes and passport was gone, with terrible head and stomach ache due to the date rape drug barman put in his beer. Doctor said that he was lucky to survive without damaging internal organs.

While this is the classical thing one needs to be aware in addition to other common sense topics (like do not drink tap water, stay away from stray dogs/animals, etc).

I would be specifically interested if you fill in and describe specific cases you've encountered or heard of and how to avoid to get into dangerous/unpleasant situation.

Thanks in advance.

If you are changing money in Bali, beware of the short-changing trick. They will count out what is supposed to be the correct amount, but when you count it, they will short-change you by a couple hundred rupiah. You give it back they add a few more bills on top but meanwhile they slide bills out from the bottom onto the floor behind their desk/kiosk. I tried pinching the corner of the wad of bills so they couldn't slide anything out from the bottom as I was expecting the trick and they came up with excuses not to go through with the transaction. I finally got my money changed at a travel agency where I was able to count it out in small piles of 1,000,000 rupiahs on a table and the money changer agreed not to touch it after the amount was confirmed. You can use ATMs but it's hard to find machines that will give you more than 2,500,000 rupiahs ($250) per transaction and each time your home bank will charge you an AT fee so it all adds up.

I think it is difficult to find a class of scam that is Asia-wide that doesn't also apply in other parts of the world.

One example I can think of is scams by fellow expats, particularly westerners on westerners. This is where you meet someone from your own country and like you they are a long way from home. They could befriend you and appear to be doing the same as you, eg starting a business in the locality, backpacking, on a gap-year scheme etc. Often the reality is different. For whatever reason they have become "stuck". They could be involved in drugs, overstaying, paedophilia, on the run or simply be short of cash. At some point you will trust them in a way you wouldn't if you met such a stranger back home or if they were a local. They play on your shared identity/culture etc. Your guard is down. Then you get scammed. You steal your stuff, they borrow from you and you never see them again, they drug you, rape you or persuade you to "help them" in some way which ultimately involves you in trouble.

All rather extreme and frankly rare. But add it to your list!!

Know that one, but would not be quite applicable to me because I do not need to have former countrymen around me to fix my nostalgy related problems.

However did have a one case of a similar nature: one couple I knew (the wife actually) asked me to buy and bring various items when I was returning from my overseas trips.

First time it took six month to get money, second times, upon delivering the stuff I got 'sorry, I am out of work, I will give you money later' statement. I did not say a word, but a month later while I was on another overseas assignment I again got a request to bring something for her.

On that request I replied that, she first needs to return the money for the previous item I got for her and secondly, from now on any request to bring anything for her need to be prepaid. Got an angry outburst that 'I do not value friendship' and she cut off communication. Needless to say that she did not pay for the second item I bought for her.

Well, seems she valued the friendship for $30 - the price of the second item she never paid back. :)

I was hinting that your friend was possibly attempting to exculpate himself of louche behaviour, heavy drinking or other involvement in, errrrr, fringe activities.

Phnom Penh's sex workers are linked to the city's lowlife, sometimes a little more agressive than the Johor variety Singporeans are more used to.

Nice of them to leave him with his passport ..........

Well, he is not Singaporean, he is Russian (probably that's the reason why they left the passport with him), plus married recently.

Knowing him (AFAI can tell), I'd doubt that he was involved in the kind of activity you've referred to.

My apologies. I would hate to sully the reputation of a married man. I'm sure his new wife accepted his explanation of the injuries he received while away from her side.

I hope the experience has not put him - or you - off the idea of travel and, indeed, beer.



I hope the experience has not put him off travelling, drinking beer

About him and beer - for sure not, :) For Cambodia - not sure. It was his first visit in the country.

As for me - I prefer to learn on someone else's experience.

I don't know why, but I got a kick out of the bolded line. :D

OP, you seem to be a very trusting person. When traveling, be very careful about people who approach you and try to initiate an interaction. Those are the situations where you are more likely to be taken advantage of.

Not sure how this kind of conclusion came out from the original posting. I have gone thru four immigrations and Singapore is 7th country I am living last 20 years.

I assume you are trusting because you hauled stuff across the world for someone who didn't pay you for it, and you believed the story from the Russian guy.

This makes you a nice person, and I believe you would be a good friend to have. However, it might make you a little more vulnerable to those who take advantage of nice people.

I was every bit as gullible as you when I first lived overseas. Trips back to Europe attracted requests for everything, from shoes through premium-brand booze to ironing-boards. I quickly realised I was being a mug.

I learned to write down the requests carefully and in some detail. And then left the list behind. I found it easier to apologise for my stupidity rather than face the diplomatic nightmare of saying "no".

Brilliant!:D

invisible, I have no idea who you are or what kind of background you come from, but a general suggestion I can make is to keep calm and do not lose your temper. If things are not going your way, keep calm, do not insult the local person, and do not start yelling. This will not help anything.

If you can apply this to your daily life, even better.