Fraudulent Activities against Foreign Tourists in Thailand: A Case Study of Jewelry Business

Puttidej Bukrapue

Mahidol University, Thailand

Abstract:

This qualitative study was conducted to examine deceptive methods used by perpetrators in luring the foreign tourists into buying inferior quality overpriced jewelry, as well as to explore degree and type of offenses, the litigation and guidelines for prevention and suppression of such offenses. The samples were selected through purposive sampling among the experienced perpetrators and those assisted in fraudulent activities against foreign tourists in Thailand. The results reveal the severity of the offence in contrast with the lower number of this unreported crime. The study further indicates three major causes of offenses: officer corruption, barriers to law enforcement and litigation and collaboration to commit crime between the small size stores and the conspirators. Besides travel agencies and jewelry store operators offering commission to any group that could bring tourists to the stores, more obstruction to litigation were ranged from misinterpreting laws, collecting evidence and tourist timeconstraint, officer corruption, and the tourists decision not to engage in litigation. This research recommends disseminating information to tourists, setting up crime surveillance unit and prosecuting the store operators and conspirators.

Keyword:

Foreign Tourist Fraudulent Activities, Misinterpreting Laws, Litigation.