Street Scams in Phuket, Thailand
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Phuket — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Lombok, Palawan, and Mandalay.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
3
Street Scams Scams
10
Total in Phuket
How it works
Tuk-tuk drivers take tourists to gem shops claiming there is a government export sale where foreigners can buy gems at wholesale prices and resell them at home for huge profit. The gems are worthless or massively overvalued.
How it works
Tourists are taken to gem shops — often via a tuk-tuk commission route — and persuaded to buy rubies, sapphires, or jewellery at supposedly wholesale prices. Sales staff claim the gems can be resold at huge profit back home. The stones are invariably low-grade, synthetic, or glass, and are essentially worthless on resale.
How it works
Unofficial vendors in Patong place sun loungers across stretches of public beach. Tourists who lay their own towels on the free sand are aggressively approached and told they must pay for a chair. Some operators use intimidating body language or raised voices to pressure compliance.
See all scams in Phuket
10 total warnings across all categories