Bangkok, Thailand, is one of the best destinations for exploring new cultures, cuisines, beaches, temples, and even new romances. Tourists flock to Thailand year after year, and to no surprise, they fall in love not only with its picturesque landscape but also with the locals.
However, not everything is what it seems. According to The Nation, Thailand’s Deputy Government Spokesman, Anukool Pruksanusak, in February 2025, announced and urged the public to be vigilant against dating scams as Valentine’s Day nears.
It is worth noting that while Thais are generally kind and soft-hearted people, some abuse the kindness and generosity of tourists. Lurking in many dating apps, scammers await their victims. The public, especially tourists, was urged to be careful of romance scams and other online dating scams.
Beware of Thai Scams and Schemes
In Bangkok, scams are nothing new—tourists and locals alike have either experienced an online or in-person dating scam. But just because some Thais scam others doesn't mean we should generalize the locals. In fact, Thais despise these romance scammers as they tarnish their reputation and put their country in a bad light.
Online romance scams have been rampant around the globe since the inception of dating sites in the 2000s, and Bangkok, Thailand, wasn't spared from their significant surge. Scammers mainly target foreign visitors as they are known to be financially abundant.
The growing number of tourists visiting Thailand only made the scammers more determined. In 2024 alone, an estimated 35 million tourists visited the country. Because of such, opportunistic scammers work tirelessly to steal tourists' money and identity, whether through online or in-person dating schemes.
If you’re not aware of the rampant romance scams in Thailand, you might want to watch out for their different forms:
Extortion and Blackmail
Extortion and blackmail are common strategies used by scammers, especially in dating apps. Scammers persuade their victims by sending suggestive messages and fake/stolen lewd photos—coercing them into doing the same.
Once the scammers have their victim’s explicit images, they blackmail them into sending a hefty amount of money or else they’ll leak their photos online or to their friends, family, and colleagues.
Extortion and blackmail instill fear into the victim to force them to do their bidding, usually asking them for money. The fear of embarrassment compels the victim to oblige the scammer’s demands.
It’s best to refrain from sending explicit images or messages to anyone you meet online, as they can be used against you.
Sympathy Scam
A sympathy scam is a fraudulent tactic where a scammer exploits the victim's kindness. The scammer starts by building a connection with the victim, usually through love bombing. Once a connection is made, the scammer then tells the victim a sob story about needing emergency funds. Empathy and the guilt of not helping pressure the victim into giving in to the scammer’s request.
This scam has many variations, including the “I need startup loan funds to support myself” or “I want to bring my family home” scams. Scammers also fake illnesses to weaponize the victim’s emotional vulnerability. Once they get what they want, these scammers will deactivate their accounts—never to be heard from again.
Catfishing
Catfish scammers can range from hopeless romantics to opportunistic thieves. The main gist of catfishing is pretending to be someone else to gain a romantic connection or simply for validation. Worse, catfishing scams have evolved from a single-person operation to a mass corporate-scale industry.
In a BBC documentary called “Hunting the Catfish Crime Gang,” featuring the story of James Blake, a 30-year-old digital marketing entrepreneur from Northern Ireland who was once a victim of identity theft, it is revealed that there are companies that profit from catfishing people online. Several of these catfish corporations are in Thailand—not in shanties or apartments, but in huge corporate buildings.
In most catfish dating scams, catfishers steal or generate AI images of alluring women to lure victims into sending them money. They take advantage of their victims’ loneliness and desperation to rob them in broad daylight.
How to Spot and Avoid Dating Scams
If you ever feel suspicious about the person you’re talking to online, sometimes it’s better to trust your gut. Who knows, they might be actual scammers trying to steal your money.
Fortunately, there are ways to identify scammers before they can victimize you:
Gaslighting
Scammers are notorious for using emotions and fantasy to lure their victims into submitting. They manipulate unsuspecting victims by creating a false sense of love and connection—a fantasy that indulges their feelings and desperation.
Most scammers rely on scripts to coerce their victims, while others are naturally silver-tongued.
When you’re talking to a potential scammer, stay grounded and logical. While you don’t need to point out any inconsistencies in their statements, it’s best to keep them in mind so you can fact-check whatever they say.
Requesting Money
The main goal of all romance scams is to profit from victims. As such, an obvious red flag to watch out for is when the person you are talking to requests money. Remember, a normal person is humble enough to admit they’re not financially well off, but not desperate enough to outright ask for money.
If you encounter someone who is asking for money to “pay for their bills or buy their content,” your best course of action is to stop talking and block them. Even if they were not scammers, it’s best that you don’t interact with those kinds of users. Report their profile to ensure they’re removed from the platform and keep others from being victimized.
Isolating and Pressuring
Isolating and pressuring a victim are techniques used by skillful scammers, allowing their victims to feel vulnerable. A scammer will guilt-trip or love bomb them to override their feelings, making them focus on the scammer.
In any case, if you encounter a scammer who tries to isolate you, stop talking to them. If their love bombing is becoming more frequent or the guilt tripping is becoming heavier, don’t hesitate to block them.
Dating Safely in Bangkok
Online romance scams are a stark reminder of why people, especially tourists, should be careful about who they’re talking to. Dating apps have become more accessible, not only to love-seeking daters but also to opportunistic scammers.
Everyone wants love—who doesn’t want to fall in love with the locals when you’re visiting Bangkok? But as visitors to the country, it’s best to keep yourself informed and be safe rather than sorry.
Bangkok, Thailand, has some of the most beautiful tourist spots in the world. Not to mention, some of the most gorgeous people. Don’t let dating scams get in your way of finding love in paradise.
References:
“Government warns public of eight common romance scam tricks.” 2025. The Nation. https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40046083.
“New BBC documentary features IJM's work to stop forced scamming.” n.d. International Justice Mission UK. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.ijmuk.org/news/new-bbc-documentary-hunting-the-catfish-crime-gang-james-blake-uncovers-forced-scamming.