I’ve had two very similar experiences happen to me in the last two weeks that I thought I would share so others can avoid getting scammed.
First time I was walking up Suk Soi 11 and I saw two Nigerian guys walking up the street on the opposite side. One began to cross the street making sure to take an angle that had him ending up on my side as he crossed. He introduced himself as Jacob and asked mine. I gave him the first name that popped into my head, Steve, and he told me “Oh, that’s a very interesting name.” Bullshit it’s an interesting name.
Then his friend crosses and starts walking behind us. I turn into a foot massage joint and they keep walking past. I was planning on getting a massage anyway but these guy helped me pick the first one I came across 
I saw both of the guys walking back and forth on the connecting road between Soi 11 and Soi 15 and up and down Soi 11. I have no idea what they’re up to but is seems dodgey as all hell.
Then about a week later I was leaving my hotel and was walking down that same connecting street between 11 and 15 and two different guys do the same exact thing. One crosses over and starts trying to make small talk and the other one comes up behind. Fortunately, I was less than a block away from the cleaner where I was picking up my clothes so I didn’t have to get another foot massage.
If anyone knows exactly what this scam is please post it here. I’ve never seen Nigerians hanging out much on Soi 11 but they seem to be slowly migrating up from Soi 5 which they’ve made their home.
And just to get this out of the way . . . I don’t consider myself racist. I don’t care if it was two Thais, two Americans, or two Brits, what these guys are doing is seriously unsettling and intimidating. The fact that I saw two different groups doing it tells me that it’s something organized.
Now, they could be well intentioned missionaries trying to show me the path to God but if that’s how they train their people then they need a new director of training. Any way you look at it I don’t want them talking to me or following me.
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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
A couple of weeks ago something similiar happened to me at soi 11.
Two nigerian guys came up and first asked for directions to a hotel, and when I tried to leave they started trying some other stuff to keep me in one spot.
Neither one tried to come up behind me though, and they didn’t follow.
I’ve also noticed a couple of african street walkers around that area at night, so there might be some connection.
I saw another pair of Nigerians on Soi 11 again today. They started with “Isn’t today a beautiful day?” and I just ignored them and crossed the street.
Spoke to 2 African looking guys claiming to be from some civil war ravaged African nation in New Wave (soi7). Soon emerged that they were looking for business contacts in Thailand to help move there money overseas.
Although I did not hang around it certainly sounded like a verbal version of a Nigerian scam letter was emerging.
They also did mention that they were staying in soi 11.
Has anybody heard about human trafficking of women involving nigerians from bangkok
You all are nothing but a piece of shits. How the hell did you guys know that those guys are Nigerians? Or are trying to tell me that all black guys in Thailand are Nigerians? Why is that when anyone come across anything that seems like scam they it’s Nigerians? Are Nigerians the only scam people? Those guys you idiots must have came across are Liberian guys and some cameroonian, Nigerians don’t have time for cheap scams in Thailand. Moreover you motherfucking white asses are the people that does scams more than the african guys. Fuck you all fools…
And for you asshole talking about human trafficking, is Nigeria the first or last doing this trafficking shit? tell me your country is exceptional…stupid haters.
@Jay: How the hell do you know he wasn’t Nigerian? You seem to know a little too much about the nationalities of those running various kinds of scams. I love how you’re upset at the guys being tagged as Nigerians but quick at the keyboard to push them off onto Liberia and Cameroon. Aren’t you doing the same exact thing (with a lot more cursing which only demonstrates your ignorance)?
And nobody said Nigeria was the first or last. The person asked if anyone had heard of any human trafficking involving Nigerians. Would you be calling him a stupid hater if he asked if anyone had heard of any human trafficking involving Russians?
People who respond like you do, always indignant and reading intent into what others say, are usually the true racists and haters. You either denounce racism entirely (like going around on message boards and defending Russians) or you’re basically defending your own while you could give a crap about actual racism.
@Ruai: Listen! am not trying to pass it on to the Liberians or Cameroonians, i have been living in Thailand for 18 months now, am an international student here. I have made research on this Nigerian problems here in Thailand and found out that those guys you see on the streets following people and trying to scam them are never from Nigeria which is what my research told me and i don’t see the reason why anyone would think that all black guys they come across here would be a Nigerian. Infact why the hell would they just focus on Nigerians only? Just as that guy came here with a Nigerian human trafficking as if it’s his fucking first time to hear about human trafficking which started from the western people.
People should focus on the crimes involving all nationalities (the world) and not just focus on Nigeria alone. i am never a racist, i have friends that are from different part of the world and my girlfriend is even a Russian, my sister got married to an intalian, that’s to show you my family is never a racist family and i can tell you that my country is not a racist country as i have seen how they handle foreigners in my country…Am a Nigerian and am proud to be one. The way people call Nigeria in crimes is really destroying the image of Nigeria and the good citizens in it..crime is all over the world and all country got crimes in it, let them deal with the crimes in their countries before looking into other countries. Leave Nigeria alone, we’re not the worse crime country in the world and we are not even asking anyone to like us.
@Jay: Well, I find it surprising that you felt a need to research this problem if it’s so obvious that these guys aren’t Nigerians. I assume you do not work for some NGO so this research obviously was something you took on yourself which begs the question of why.
And as much as you may not like it, Nigeria has a worldwide reputation for being the capital of scams. The whole email hoax thing with needing to get millions of dollars out of the country started in Nigeria and still thrives there today. Yes, it’s spread to other countries but it’s still seen as primarily a Nigerian scam.
So for people to assume that someone who is obviously on some sort of scam is Nigerian due to similar looks and often accents which others can’t distinguish from country to country seems rather normal. As an American many people can’t distinguish between me and a Canadian. Should I call people racist because they should be able to tell the difference?
I can appreciate that you’re proud of your country but you also can’t deny what is a fact. I’m sure Germans don’t like people bringing up WWII but it happened. I’m sure every country would like to erase the bad and only focus on the good but we can’t pick how other people perceive us. Just like Thailand. Every day I hear Thai women complaining about their image overseas yet there’s Soi Cowboy, Nana, and Patpong openly welcoming sex tourists to take a spin. It’s only unfair if it’s untrue.
And, you’re reading way too much into the guy’s question about human trafficking and also demonstrating your own ignorance on the subject. First off, he didn’t say that there was any. He asked if anybody had heard of any. It’s common knowledge that many people come to Thailand and trick the girls into force prostitution back in other countries. In fact, it’s mostly an Asian thing (Japan stands on here). Some do end up in western countries but most of what I’ve heard is Asian on Asian. Much like Russian and Ukrainian girls usually end up in western countries and you don’t see many in Thailand (there are a few eastern european hookers in Asia but not enough to even make a dent in the amount of Asian women available).
So, not only do you not even know that human trafficking in Asia is more likely to be kept within Asia but human trafficking goes back as long as people have been on earth. It wasn’t started by westerners. It was around during Old Testament days (remember Moses?).
So when someone asks if anybody has heard of any trafficking of Thais to Nigeria it’s just that, a question. If it was common knowledge or something that was routinely in the press there would be no need to ask.
And the reason one might focus on Nigerians is . . . look at the title of this post. It’s a post about Nigerian scams.
Yes i do not work for any NGO. I went into the research as i heard too many stories about Nigerians living in Thailand when i first arrive in this country, being an international student it troubles me when someone ask me where are you from and i said am Nigerian and they will like hmmm…shits like that..so decided to know exactly what Nigerians does in this country that makes people look at us all as bad..after my research i found that 53% of scammers in this country are africans from other countries, while 5% are Nigerians and 45% are from other western countries and Russians as well…i know very well that the scam email stuffs started from Nigeria but today the most countries that does it are not from Nigeria which i also do receive all the time.
I was once tried to get scammed by Australians using this email scam stuff, but i can’t fall for it as i know there’s no more truth on the internet and am not ready to bag into any opportunity through the internet or what i don’t know of
And that guy made the comment of human trafficking of women involving Nigerians as part of the hates and you are also showing off your ignorance by not understanding why he made that comment..why didn’t he talk about other country than Nigeria? Besides 99% of the african prostitutes you see in Thailand are not Nigerians and that is why i won’t accept people thinking all african crimes are Nigerian. Am not saying Nigerian girls are not involve in prostitution but not in Thailand. All those african girls you see standing in nana and wherever are not Nigerians, they are mostly Ugandans and Liberians and Nigeria don’t have same look or accents as other africans except if you can’t differenciate blacks.
And the reason why the title of this post is about Nigerian scams is with the first post of the guy that claims the two african guys he met are Nigerian scammers, although he don’t even know if they were really scammers or not. Now tell me why would someone post about something he’s not sure of?? as his last statements don’t sound too sure.
@Jay. It seems to me that you are the hater. It is a known fact that a lot of scam artists come from Nigeria. Why dont you take your stupid fucking ass back to where ever you come from and stop spreading your germs around BKK. Fuck you too asshole!
@bkkbanks: FUCK YOU, FUCK YOUR MOTHER IF YOU GOT ANY, FUCK YOUR FATHER IF YOU ALSO GOT ANY AND IF YOU’RE NOT EVEN A BASTARD, FUCK YOUR BORTHERS AND SISTERS IF YOU GOT ANY. FUCK YOUR LIFE AND FUCK YOUR FAMILY. DICKHEAD, ASSHOLE, MOTHERFUCKER, VULTURE HEAD. IDIOT!!!
@jay…its spelled brothers not borthers you fool and vulture head is a good one too! I can already tell talking with you would be a real experience. You IDIOT!
@bkkbanks: ohhh what a shameless fool you are. This is internet and pc, when someone makes a mistake typing over the internet does not mean they can’t spell and no one would ever deny they never made an error typing with computer not even a JERK like you. Now you still remain the original vulture head and typical IDIOT!
@jay: just joking about everything. would you like to catch up for a beer sometime?
Nigerians are among the least trustworthy people on the planet. They often come up and say “HEY MAN, WHAT would you like?” I’d love it if they left drug dealing to Thai’s.
Want to improve Nigeria’s image? Well I guess they should stop committing crimes all over the world.
I wish Thai immigration would do a giant cleanup operation from Nana-Thong Lor and deport them all.
Easy to find them, Suk 3, 3-1, 5. Often seen on the BTS late at night with their little man bags of goodies.
You are just now getting it? The 419 crowd has been at this for 30 years!!
I don’t care where these pieces of crap are from. Over the past 2 1/2 years I’ve noticed a steady and fast increase of sketchy African men standing around the lower Suk area. They are not tourists. They stand on the streets day and night, casing the non Thais that walk by. They approach tourists and offer to sell drugs, counterfeit currency and even use several large men to try and intimidate passers by into staying and talking with them.
They’ve taken over the corner on Soi 4 and Suk. They’ve taken over soi 11 and even soi 7 & 8 at times. They’ve also been seen many times in Gullivers trying to run their scams, sometimes using an African lady to try and entice falang men to come talk with their pimps.
The Thais are being fools for letting these guys get a foot hold in Bangkok. Over the past 5 months I’ve noticed a sharp increase in the same types in Pattaya. First there was an increase in African prostitutes working on the streets, then in the clubs. Now there are dozens of sketchy looking African guys in the area trying to chat up tourists with phony money transfer scams and selling drugs.
I hope to God that the local Pattaya Thais wake up and rub them out before they get some bullshit “mafia” going here as they have in Bangkok. I’m amazed that the Thais are letting them run these scams under their noses. I’m also amazed that the Thai mafias aren’t swatting them like flies for stepping into their territory.
It’s bad enough you have to worry about getting scammed or robbed by Thais but now you have “tourists” from African countries working in groups to scam you as well.
Someone should make up a list of scams that these feckers get up to. Everyday I’m getting emails from these dipshits and it’s the same fecking thing; the Nigerian loans scam or some derivative of that.
There’s also the down and out girl in some fecking refugee camp in East Africa. Their emails always begin the same way “Hello my dearest” If it wasn’t so fucking pathetic you’d laugh at it.
If there’s any Nigerians reading this, I’ve got a question for you lot; why are you guys consistently the laziest, dodgiest, corrupt fuckers on this planet. The reason these guys do what they do – scam, lie and cheat – is because they’re to fucking lazy to go and do an honest days graft. No doubt I’ll be labelled a racist but what I’m talking about has nothing to do with racism and everything to do with people not choosing to live their lives in an honest, decent way.
My best mate is Nigerian. I’m English. I’m a whitey. I’ve known him for 32 years. I know about the scams too. Longer than you. I can tell you what I do when blokes come up to me with scheming scams. Black or white. No holds barred. No running away. No pussy footing. No excuses. No finger pointing. No talk. No questions. Thanks though for pointing it out. For warred. Cheers.
This is another one that that turned up in my spam box this morning. Bloody hillarious it is. Don’t these dipshits get it? We’re not all gullible bloody fools. It’s good entertainment value though and I’ve started saving them in a file entitled “Nigerian comedy”
My Dearest,
I am writing this mail to you With due respect trust and humanity, i appeal to you to exercise a little patience and read through my letter i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business , honestly i am writing this email to you with pains, tears and sorrow from my heart, i will really like to have a good relationship with you and i have a special reason why i decided to contact you, i decided to contact you due to the urgency of my situation,
My name is Miss Mercy Batista Tagme Na Waie a 25 years old female from the Republic of Guinea Bissau, the daughter of Late General Batista Tagme Na Waie. My late father was the chief of staff of the army of Guinea-Bissau. On March 1, 2009, My late father was killed in a bomb attack when the military’s headquarters were attacked. What led to the cold blood killing is still unclear but I know that my father life was the target. You can read more about my father in the bbc link below. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/ tol/news/world/africa/ article5829228.ece
I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment which I am receiving from my step mother. She planned to take away all my late father’s treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Father. Meanwhile I wanted to travel away but she hide away my international passport and other valuable documents. Luckily she did not discover where I kept my father’s File which contained important documents. Now I am presently staying in the refugee camp Mission here in Burkina Faso. I am seeking for long term relationship and investment assistance. My Father of blessed memory deposited the sum of US$ 8.5 USD Million in one bank in Burkina Faso with my name as the next of kin.
I had contacted the Bank to clear the deposit but the Branch Manager told me that being a refugee, my status and according to the law does not authorize me to carry out the operation and again according to the instruction my late Father pass to them that i most present a foreign partner who will stand on my behalf as a trustee. However, he advised me to provide a trustee who will stand on my behalf.
Therefore, I decide to seek for your help in transferring the money into your bank account while I will relocate to your country and settle down with you and complete my studies while you will help me and invest the fund. As you indicated your interest to help me I will give you the account number and the contact of the bank where my late beloved father deposited the money with my name as the next of kin. It is my intention to compensate you with 40% of the total money for your assistance and the balance shall be my investment in any profitable venture which you will recommend to me as have no any idea about foreign investment. Please all communications should be through this email address only for confidential purposes.
Thanking you a lot in anticipation of your quick response. I will give you details in my next mail after receiving your acceptance mail to help me.
Yours sincerely,
Mercy Batista Tagme
@MEGALITHIC: what makes you so confident that this scam email is coming from a Nigerian? When did Guinea Bissau and Burkina Faso became Nigeria? Following what the scammer wrote, it started from the Republic of Guinea Bissau and ended in a refugee camp in Burkina Faso. That is a clear clue that the scammer is in Burkina Faso and probably a Burkina Faso. Get your facts straight mehn, face reality and stop the hate.
And how do we really know it’s originating from Gineau Bissau? Because they said so LOL. For fucks sake man, are you that naive. These guys know that any mention of the word Nigeria has people looking sideways. Jesus, that could say Timbuktu and it wouldn’t matter. It’s just the Nigerian loans scam with a different angle. BTW it’s note hate at all. It’s affection for providing me with such a good belly laugh.
I met some nice Nigerians on Sukhumvit soi 3, they had lots of money but lacked the ability to contact wholesale exporters here in Thailand. I took them to an Internet cafe and a quick search in Google gave us a few good leads and we were off deal making for which they paid me a very nice commission.
All nationalities are behind email scams, Africans perhaps get more fame because there are not many white email scammers caught here in Thailand. The last big farang bust that I can remember is that Alex Winstone chap that tried to blackmail Tesco for a million pounds. These Nigerians were amazed by my Google demonstration and grateful too, I was glad to see that they were really honest guys.
Most of the scammers that I met around Nana are into stuff like “need customs fee scam” and have “cheap smuggled gold to sell scam”, these guys are mostly Liberian at the moment. Gangs come and go on Nana, the Nigerians held fort for a small time before the Liberians outbid them. Before the Africans it was the Uzbeki and other Soviet state mafias bidding for the Nana corner.
Apart from build and language Liberians are different from Nigerians in that they are not afraid to go and meet their foreign victims around town. Now that the Liberians are controlling Nana scams I wonder what happened to the softcore Nigerian doggybag hustlers.
Who will take Nana next? Ugandans? Sudanese? Kenya? or maybe they wont be African, maybe they will be Philipino, Slovakian or Columbian? or might the Nigerians make a come back and take Nana back from the Liberians?
At last someone with brains. Cyril Hopkins your comment is the only truth and clear fact of the present scam situation in Thailand…