They are working in front of every shopping center, tourist spot, MRT/BTS outside every hotel..EVERYWHERE.
I see that same group at Central World for years They hang out with Central World Security guards when not scamming a visitor.
They are often Police men posing as friendly stranger. The Mall can't get rid of them.

they always use the same "that place is closed" trick

ridicolus
stay away from any people trying to talk to you!!

Will they try Emporium next ?

According to Internet reports, this 'Central World is Closed' lark, involves the jewelry scam and a bit of the tailor scam. Keep your distance from such scammers.

The stories are really ridiculous and lack of sense. On a very naivete can drop on it.

I do not know who are more stupid the cheater or the recipients.

They wont try emporium because the security there will kick their asses and soi 24 and the surrounds is mainly a japanese area, the japanese tourists do not put up with crap like this and have their tours properly organised in japan beforehand.

Also central world is at a crossroads next to lots of hotels and erawan shrine. Prime ground for the scammers.

Enjoy emporium, its got a cinema too like central world and shopping / restaurants and no hassle. Nearest BTS Prom Phong.

Also experience the same while walking to MBK a man approached and said the road to MBK is closed as the King is visiting that area. Lol he didnt fool me.

Sometimes roads are closed when a member of the royal family is passing through or visiting but enough soldiers with rifles and the full gear on and police in presence will make that abundantly clear. You wont be told to move by someone in flip flops.

Paragon and Siam centre for sure to be affected sometimes, MBK not really a hang out for high society!

we tourists will be always targeted, i've so many times watched other tourists in central parts and they are so distinct and conspicuous... the difference between falang expat and falang tourist is that the tourists always wear shorts (or even boardies), funky (often out of fashion) t-shirts, sometimes a cap and carrying a backpack in the city. Blending-in is the key, do not flash out, wear trousers and decent and modern tops. you are not going to be annoyed by those scammers who pick up the weakest animals - thus tourists.

Im mexican and my freind from India landed up in bangkok.Thought we would go sightseeing and we were taken around by this innocent looking aged tuktuk guy to the 200 year old buddha temple where we met this aged guy posing as a retired lawyer.He said that there was a annual gem sale at YINDLEE''and that the purchases there would fetch double in our country.To this he showed us visiting cards of jewlers in our respective countries.He said he took a set on each visit legally and holidayed on the profits.We agreed to go to yindlee not with the intention of buying but seeing.The tuktuk guy got coupons for gas !!for taking us there.The lady at YINDLEE further said that her sister was married to a mexican{im sure if i was japnese she would have said likewise.We landed up buying jewlery for 2870 dollars with a receipt and certificate of authencity after testing.Then we were told that it wasnt safe to move around with jewlery cos of mafia and that we could keep it for safekeeping in the locker and pick it on the way back after signing and sealing the box which we did.We were happy feeling that we had made a free trip.To our anguish on my return to mexico at most jewlers the value of jewlery came up to 950 MAX!!!?.We threatned to complain to Lonely planet,Tourism ministry Thailand,police thailand,His Majesty King of Thailand,and to the media in general with copies of bills etc.Google search gave us a lot of info about YINDLEE scams.I decided for sure to donate the jewlery to a charity run by his Majesty and the queen with a letter of protest,bills,certificate of jewlery,creditcard details etc.Prompto i had a mail from them saying sorry and the lady whose sister had married a mexican saying she was just a sales person and found out about her companys reputation later and that she was quitting and wanted to help me befor the company wound up due to various allegations.Finally they sent 500$ each in 2 instalments by western union.Im sure the lady still works there.Guys dont fall for the Great Bangkok Gem scam with the hope of doubling your money.Be warned.Its not worth the trouble.Its a well orchestrated scam...the way they lure you from temples/tuktuks....whats Thaitourism doing to protect the intrests of travellers.!!!is anyone listening

In the city of Bangkok nothing is for free and nothing is ever to good to be true. Always buyer beware.

I was going to the Vietnam Embassy in BKK, a well dressed lady standing on a corner told me the Dutch Embassy was closed today (it wasn't). Must have thought I was Dutch because I'm tall and white. Use a bit of common sense - why would someone who dresses very well, perfectly groomed and who speaks great English be standing around on street corners warning people about an embassy being closed that is only 1 minute's walk further up the road and they can find out for themselves?

Indeed, no name, good question. Doesn't make sense to take you to another embassy, like the usual scams, right? :)
... makes me wonder, maybe is a new type of scam I'm not aware of.

i've lived in BKK for 2 years and i'm going back soon....anyway what you guys say is all true, so new comers watch out, rule of thumb ? foreigner = big money : )

@Daniel, question: which country is Mercedes Benz second biggest market? By the way, I'm not having a go, so relax.

Recently a friend went to Bangkok and before he left I gave him a heap of information, including the standard ways that people can be scammed. The old Tuk Tuk for 20 baht thing because such and such a place is closed and so on. When he returned home he told me all about how this nice lady told him all about the special jewellery sale that was ending that day and arranged the 20 baht tuk tuk, etc etc. Guess what? Off he went and spent a pile of money in this place for stuff that is downright rubbish.

Honestly, some people are a danger to themselves.

@Travelat, bleed... hell, ha, ha, people can just be so unpredictable!

HEHE, we just jumped out at the light and took the klong boat. There was no meter running and too much traffic for the little weasle to chase us. Bangkok needs to have a taxi strike to get better fees from the taxi companies. BTW..if you are going to the airport alwasy check to see if there is a working spare in the trunk before you put your bags in!

oh no its closed again

Yes I went and it was closed tooo

This goes on all over the world, not just Bangkok! I've been approached in the UK many times with variations of this. The tower of London was closed and the big boat near it.

Bangkok is nearly closed because of all the trouble but Im going still because its nice.

Well it is closed after it was destroyed by violent street mob.

Is it closed then?

Well Central World actually is closed now after being burnt down during the recent troubles in BKK

Does anyone know if the Isetan Department Store at the far North End of the WTC survived the fire. From the clips I saw on BBC it looks like it may have been undamaged but it's hard to tell.

thailand is closed, but you can get a tuk tuk to poi pet, and there is no atm's in cambodia, so you must change all your money at the border, also the visa is 20 us, but you can pay a 1000 baht, want something to smoke, sure. dont forget your photos, 100 baht.

land of scams.

I LIVE IN BANGKOK FOR 9 YEARS NOW,WELL THEY THE SCAMMER CAN REALLY SAY CENTRAL WORLD IS CLOSE DOWN NOW,
IT WAS BURNTDOWN ,AFTER THE RED SHIRTS PROTESTS.
SO IF YOU MEET A THAI PERSON AND THEY SAY CENTRAL WORLD4 IS CLOSE,'they are right"

one of the funniest ends to a thread i've read in ages

@Dave yes it is still open.

It was open but was closed today redshirts here again.

Anyway never talk to strangers .

By the way - it is now open again since about a week ago. Part of it is closed, the part that looks like a bomb has gone off !

Have anyone bought any gem from this company ?
I was refered by a man from Lucky Temple to but Orange Saphhire.

PAN_SIAMESE GEM CO;LTD
455/31 New Rama 6 Road,Tanon phetchaburi,Ratchathewi,Bangkok 10400

Just to share this is still happen. same old story with lucky Buddha and follow with orange Sapphire. i find out also after 2 hours of purchase at Yindee lapidary Co Ltd . shame for the people to use the name of Buddha and shame for the Thai tourist authority , I am sure , they know this is happen with so many continue incident.

This scam has been going for decades. Stand at the bottom of Silom Road and you can see these these guys trolling for naive tourists to trick. But here's the weird thing. I've been here for decades and yet those scammers never, ever approach me. I can't figure it. Being partial to Hawaiian shirts I even dress like a tourist. But the scammers somehow know I'm local. One time for a laugh I even tried walking up Silom looking really lost and gobsmacked and I still couldn't attract a scammer!

Maybe these guys are smarter than we give them credit for!