Volume 13, Issue 02
1 - 15 October 2013
30 BAHT
What’s Inside:
British Embassy Impersonated! T
he latest scam to deceive Thai workers into thinking they could get good jobs in England by paying under-the-table cash has caused a great deal of embarrassment. Dozens of Thais are believed to have paid 100,000 to 200,000 baht each for guaranteed employment at Abba Queen’s Gate Hotel in South Kensington, London, near the Thai Embassy. The story was first revealed by investigative journalist Andrew Drummond on his website.
But when they turned up at the British Embassy compound in Bangkok for their booked appointment to arrange flights and visas, they were turned away by security staff that recognized the paperwork as a complete fake. It was headed “British High Commission,” a term which is used only in countries which were once under the British flag, including Nigeria--where many scams are known to originate. The paperwork was signed by one Daniel Godwill, without any job title and another complete fabrication.
Some of the angry, cheated Thais turned up at Regent House in Bangkok where the outsourced visa processing for the UK is based. Again they were told they had been deceived and that there was no deal with the hotel or any other employer. Several angry victims also filed their grievances at Lumpini Park police station, where they were given a cool reception. Three of the Thais then turned up in Pattaya, where they were based, to complain to the British consulate. Unfortunately, that office had closed down permanently in late 2012. Eventually they tracked down Barry Kenyon, former British honorary consul in Pattaya, who retired three years ago. “Obviously I could do nothing but explain to them they had been scammed 100 percent,” said Barry. “These victims simply had no idea how embassies work and had been convinced by fake documentation and a false appointments schedule. I’m afraid they were not best pleased, but all they can do is obtain a police report just Continued on page 6
Dozens of Thais were scammed into believing London hotel jobs awaited them