Is the driver's license renewal scam in Thailand a common issue for expats?

Nov 11, 2023
a year ago
Brian *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
# Warning Driver’s License scam site

# This man is a fraud this is not real he cannot do as he says and renew your driver’s license or I guess get you a new one after paying the agreed payment of 1500 THB and he has shown me a license he asked for approval fee of 3800 with the promise of it going back into my account in 15 minutes and asked to send bank details it didn’t come now he is asking more I think he is a scam I got him from this Thailand Visa advice group site so please don’t use this man his name is

# เฉลิมเดช ประพิณไพโรจน He has only 7 followers so he is a scam “Beware”
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around a fraudulent service offering to renew Thai driving licenses for a fee. Several users report being scammed, emphasizing the prevalence of such scams targeting foreigners in Thailand. Many commentators express frustration at the ease with which scams can occur, with warnings to avoid sending money to unofficial agents. The conversation highlights that renewing a Thai driver's license is typically a straightforward process that can be done independently without the need for agents, dispelling claims that such services are necessary.
Graham *******
if in pattaya use mot services or tiktok services
Richard ********
I too was a victim
มาริโอ *******
Scamed me too!
YT ********************
Could you tell me how you sent him the money?
Steve **********
Driving license? Either car or bike ) is so easy here and inexpensive.

Why use an agent ?

You do however have to have a ' valid ' International licence or Country license of course
YT ********************
Bruce *********
Some people are not aware of how things work in the country.
Constantinos ***********
It's a very simple procedure to get a driver's licence! It takes no more than 2 hours to get it and it does not cost! Why pay someone to give you a fake document?
Brett *****
@Constantinos **********
You're talking complete crap.
Jon ******
"...It takes no more than 2 hours to get it and it does not cost!"
@Constantinos **********
how did you get your DL for free? Or did i misinterpret something?
Constantinos ***********
@Jon *****
yes you misinterpreted my words! Read better!
Craig *******
Sorry but I just can't believe people are so naive to fall for this. Is it not obvious?
Metty *******
Do it yourself or go to the establish agents like VIP Visa if you in pattaya jomtien
Richard ********
I too was a victim.
Joe ******
Go get your own licence for fuck sake
Russell ***********
if you don’t pass the tests yourself, you shouldn’t be on the road … half these people using agents shouldn’t be here in the first place, let’s hope the government steps down on Immigration to cull these chancers
Pascal *****
********************************************************************************************************
David *******
Do it yourself
YT ********************
Fred ******
Fred ******
Fred ******
It's not that he has only 7 folloewrs, but he has many accounts...
Franky ******
@Fred *****
Working all day for a packet of pay ... thats scamming alright hahahaha
Adrian ******
The price of being lazy & not doing self
VaiAna **********
Live and learn , we all get scam at one point or another . I almost got scammed the other day . I got a text from USPS that my mail was not being delivered & something about my address is off and that I need to log in and eventually they want me to pay 30 cents to re deliver . I contacted the post office and they said they never send out text messages . Scammers are clever and how they know my phone number and that yes I did place a replacement card with my credit card company . You are correct in exposing them .
Maxim ***********
The only legit agent in this group is on the banner above (Thai Visa Centre).

Everyone else and it's a risk. Btw, paying in advance is normal with agent. Sending your passport or wtv to them is also normal if you don't live near. I think I've send my passport 5 or 6 time to TVC in the last 10 years. But "send me X amount and I'll send back in 15 min" is typical Bitcoin scam look-a-like. And having 7 followers is obv a scam. There are legit agent but you need to do your homework.
Steve ********
@Maxim **********
Thank God I don't need an agent for anything! I would never hand my passport over to someone who's completely unaccountable.
Russell ***********
@Steve *******
totally agree, why can’t these people simply renew their driving licence themselves, it ain’t rocket science
Kreaton *********
Shit loads of them on Phuket pages...like cock roaches
Mark **********
Koh SCAMui 💯👁️👁️🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🤠🤠🤠 didn’t you know …..

If you entertain a scam

Prepared to be scammed

It’s really that simple

Enjoy your day
Craig *********
So easy to do it yourself why would you get an agent to do it for you ?
YT ********************
@Craig ********
it's not easy
Craig *********
@YT *******************
its so easy my dog could do it for herself if she was allowed to drive
YT ********************
Craig *********
@YT *******************
have a look for yourself
YT ********************
@Craig ********
so you don't know only wrote bullshit
Craig *********
@YT *******************
oh how wrong you are
YT ********************
@Craig ********
you're troll, just it
Steve ********
@Craig ********
Probably because some farangs are so helpless they need their hand held for everything. Makes you wonder how they ever made it this far
Michael *******
@Steve *******
I need my asshole cleaned is that possible I can't do it myself!!LOL
Steve ********
@Michael ******
Exactly! You're joking about it but it'll come! "This is not related to visas but I've just had a big crap. Can someone recommend an agent to come wipe my backside?"
Mark ********
@Steve *******
See what I mean ☝️
Steve ********
@Mark *******
Yep. Totally helpless. You just have to shake your head at people's incompetence
Craig *********
@Steve *******
it certainly does
Mark ********
@Craig ********
Because he wanted to.
Steve ********
@Mark *******
Stupid answer
Mark ********
Hic! ☝️🥴
Mark ********
@Steve *******
Trolls. F off. You are about as useful as a chocolate teapot. You poke sh*t at just about everyone that comes on here and asks a question. Little men.
Craig *********
@Mark *******
far from it. My first comment in this group. Just amazed at the stupidity, ignorance and naivety of some people who live here !!
Todd *********
@Mark *******
Steve still being Steve i see
Steve ********
@Mark *******
Yeah it really worked for the OP didn't it? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Craig *********
@Mark *******
there's one born every minute
Steve ********
It's the farang obsession of having to use an agent to do everything for them. No sympathy from me
Diego *********
@Steve *******
if it was easy for farangs to navigate the system, they would.
Steve ********
@Diego ********
I've navigated the system. So easy. Just a lot of dumb stupid farangs out there, and Thailand attracts them like a magnet
Danny *******
@Steve *******
Not an obsession but easier sometimes if you have the money. I’ve paid for things I could do myself but would rather save myself the time and hassle and the cost was manageable. There have always been agents and fixers.
Steve ********
@Danny ******
Yeah but when things go wrong, ain't no use crying. Do it yourself and everything is plain sailin'
Diego *********
@Steve *******
do it yourself, and you have no guarantees you are bringing in all the documents, standing in the right line, etc. Not everyone has time to waste navigating bureaucracy. Paying agents is out of necessity, not privilege.
Steve ********
@Diego ********
Which is my point exactly. Farangs get so far in life, go through school, education, get a job, get a wife, buy a car, buy a house, have kids, and then can't get a local driver's licence. Total incompetence. Need to have their hands held. Unbelievable. Then pay someone and get scammed.
Danny *******
@Steve *******
Wow, you really have an obsession with this don't you?
Steve ********
@Danny ******
It's more of an amusement. It took living in Thailand to realise how useless many western farangs are. I imagine your opposition to my comments means you're one of them. I feel for you
Danny *******
@Steve *******
I find your obsession amusing.
Steve ********
@Danny ******
I find your helplessness hilarious!
Danny *******
@Steve *******
Where is the helplessness? Is an open mind and the ability to see alternatives a sign of helplessness for you. If so I’m the one who should be feeling sorry for you. And to get your amusement from degrading others is … well, just sad.
Steve ********
@Danny ******
It's ok, you don't have to feel sorry for me! 🤣
Danny *******
@Steve *******
Sometimes argents and fixers have information and skills you don't, which is a good reason to use them when appropriate. You can't know everything about a country and culture that is not your own. And things can go wrong also when you do it and then its not plain sailing'.
Steve ********
@Danny ******
I've kind of struggled for the past 23 years with no issues. I had a reasonable education and went on to university so filling in a form and getting a bank statement once a year has presented no problems to me. Handing my passport over to anyone other than a government official goes against every moral grain in my body and I refuse point blank to be involved in any illegal activities which require bribes to be paid to corrupt government officials. That's me and I'm proud of my principles and values
Danny *******
@Steve *******
I was referring "frang obsession of having to use an agent for everything". For the past 14 years I've done most everything myself too, from getting my drivers license to renewing my retirement visa annually. I'm not advocating doing anything illegal or doing something you are uncomfortable with like handing over your passport to someone you don't trust. I'm just saying sometimes an agent can be helpful and worth the money. For me it's not a black or white issue.
THAI ******************************
@Steve *******
There are plenty of scams which pretend to be official websites as well.

Things like this can be easily avoided if you do the following:

- checking their google lisitng

- verifying they have a official line account (looking at their followers)

- looking up their domain registration date

- or even going physically to their office

Tens of thousands every year engage in legitimate services and get what they pay for.

Please be careful no matter what you decide.
Sacha ****
Funny how the thought of scamming the system and not taking a test yourself appealed to you but now you have been scammed you cry about it!
Brian *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sacha ***
F I too I'm trying help people my licence was expired and this company said they could up dated it not a crime
Frank **********
There is enough foolish people out there to make these scams profitable.
Steve ********
@Frank *********
Well aren't you clever , i guess you graduated from The Uni of Life so you must be smarter than everyone else. 🤔
Frank **********
@Steve *******
never said I was.
Steve ********
@Frank *********
The implication was sufficient .
Brian *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank *********
if you anything constructive F off I am trying to help the community
Frank **********
@Brian ******
I have some oceanfront property in Arizona if you are interested 😀
Paul **************
Why on earth would you need someone to renew your Thai driving licence? It's an easy and straightforward process that you can do yourself at the land transport office, also for far less than 1500 Baht.
Brian *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul *************
The reason was it was out over due and these said they could renew it I used a service a few years ago that fast tracked me in Phuket town that I went in did my licences they were very good saved me a 3 month wait then
Tito *********
@Paul *************
if you can't get a residence certificate. At least in Bangkok it's not possible to get without an agent if you didn't file a 90 days report
Brett *****
@Tito ********
I'm in this exact situation.
Malcolm *************
Yeah total scam ... I was dumb enough to fall for this shit a few months ago.

DON'T SEND ANY MONEY !!!
Carlos *********
99.
*****
996% of FB adds are scams. Never send deposits. Stay safe and careful, friends
Wolfgang *******
@Carlos ********
Not true. I bought and sold many different items on Facebook Marketplace (cars, motorcycles, furniture etc) and everything was okay. I have never been cheated on.
Jon ******
@Wolfgang ******
facebook marketplace (advertising 1st and 2nd hand physical goods that you can inspect) is much different than sponsored ads, which scammers use to instill trust. Take full advantage of cash on delivery.
Bill *********
Not much you can do really. As getting someone else to get a driving licence for you is an illegal act, therefore you have no recourse if you get scammed.

Enough said.
Brian *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bill ********
no I have been to the bank and my bank has been very helpful and they have spoken to there bank and advised me to file a police report and they said I can shut there bank account down so they can not access the funds and they will be charged for fraud .
Jon ******
@Brian ******
that money is very likely already gone. But you may go through the motions if you feel better.
Bill *********
@Brian ******
that is good, never expected that….
Jozef *********
What's worse is that FB permits these scams on their platform.
Steve *******
@Jozef ********
how is Facebook supposed to know who's a scammer? Don't blame the platform for the stupidity of its users
Brett *****
@Steve ******
If you ever got into the habit of reporting scams, you'll soon discover FB doesn't care because they're being paid...
Jozef *********
@Brett ****
exactly!
Brian *********
@Steve ******
when a person reports an account who is using pictures of a person you actually know, who is using those pictures on their account, you tell them and FB still does nothing is not okay.

How does the vendor know?

Verification would be a good start! When a profile has pics of a white chick from Boston on the profile but the profiles marked as ‘he’ and all IP address round trip requests come from Nigeria is plenty of fairly easy evidence. Granted this could even be marginalized but tech professionals will see the BS, so they should MUCH MORE than they do. 🤷‍♂️
Jozef *********
Jozef *********
@Steve ******
by reporting it to FB. But they won't do anything as they are usually "sponsored" adverts which means they are giving FB $$$ and that's all they care about
Brian *********
@Jozef ********
have to admit I’m getting tired of reporting scammer accounts (that are clearly scammer accounts) and FB does nothing to stop it. 🤮
Brandon ************
Drivers license scams are one of the most popular in Thailand for the last year.

And anyone that asks you to send money to them and they'll send it right back is always a scam.
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