Family of 16 people cheated on vacation in China – lost 700,000 baht!

Family of 16 people cheated on vacation in China – lost 700,000 baht!

A tragic story of fraud and disappointment is currently causing a stir in Thailand. A family of 16 are stranded after a pioneering trip to Harbin, China, all after investing a whopping 700,000 baht in a supposedly reputable travel agency. This trip, planned from December 28th to January 2nd, was supposed to include air tickets, accommodation, transportation, entrance fees and even a New Year's program. But it seems the booking was a big deception, how The Thaiger reported.

Chonchanok, an important family member, shared the dramatic experiences on Facebook. After they arrived at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the travel agent owner, known only as “Frame,” appeared and told the family that there had been an error in booking the flights. This resulted in Chonchanok having to pay more than 200,000 baht out of pocket to purchase new tickets from Bangkok to Beijing. Despite the supposed politeness, Frame assured that the money would be refunded within three days. But these promises quickly turned into unmistakable chaos.

Serious disappointments on the trip

The problems didn't stop there. The family members and Frame had to travel on separate flights, resulting in missed connections and associated additional costs. In Harbin it turned out that the promised coach didn't show up and only an old van was available. The driver of this van ended up quitting because he wasn't getting paid. Again Chonchanok was forced to keep getting Frame to pay so that the trip wouldn't fail completely.

In addition, accommodation in a four-star hotel was not booked. The family was forced to find something new on their own and cover the costs. Entrance fees for significant attractions were also not paid in advance, which significantly affected the entire trip. A particularly tragic incident occurred when Chonchanok's sister injured herself on broken tiles. Despite insurance included in the package, Frame only provided a bottle of saline solution and the family was forced to improvise in a critical situation.

Weekly flash highlights that Thailand's turquoise beaches and culture continue to attract thousands of tourists, but as the number of visitors grows, so does the number of fraud victims. Scams in Thailand are numerous and often well organized. The list of schemes that often affect international tourists ranges from jet ski fraud to fake police checks. The tourism authority has already taken measures to counteract this, but the challenges are enormous.

Looking for justice

After returning to Thailand, Chonchanok sought justice and took Frame to the police at Suvarnabhumi Airport. But despite repeated promises about refunds, Frame remained mysteriously silent. After the viral Facebook post, even more victims came forward who were involved in a similar scam. Thai authorities have promised to investigate, but details of possible legal action and compensation are currently unclear.

This frightening story clearly shows how important it is to be well informed before booking a trip and to be aware of fraudsters. The tourism sector in Thailand is facing major challenges, particularly in terms of its image, and it remains to be seen what measures will be taken to prevent such incidents.