Tourists warned of Thailand airport scam

Bangkok’s showcase new international airport is no stranger to controversy.

Built between 2002 and 2006, under the governments of then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the opening date was repeatedly delayed.

It has been dogged by allegations of corruption, as well as criticism of the design and poor quality of construction.

Then, at the end of last year, the airport was shut down for a week after being occupied by anti-government protesters.

Now new allegations have been made that a number of passengers are being detained every month in the duty free area on suspicion of shoplifting, and then held by the police until they pay large sums of money to buy their freedom.

That is what happened to Stephen Ingram and Xi Lin, two IT experts from Cambridge, as they were about to board their flight to London on the night of 25 April this year.

They had been browsing in the duty free shop at the airport, and were later approached by security guards, who twice asked to search their bags.

Mr Ingram and Ms Xi were told they had to pay £7,500

They were told a wallet had gone missing, and that Ms Lin had been seen on a security camera taking it out of the shop.

The company that owns the duty free shop, King Power, has since put the CCTV video on its website, which does appear to show her putting something in her bag. However the security guards found no wallet on either of them.

Despite that, they were both taken from the departure gate, back through immigration, and held in an airport police office. That is when their ordeal started to become frightening.

Interpreter

“We were questioned in separate rooms,” Mr Ingram said. “We felt really intimidated. They went through our bags and demanded that we tell them where the wallet was.”

The two were then put in what Mr Ingram describes as a “hot, humid, smelly cell with graffiti and blood on the walls”.

Mr Ingram managed to phone a Foreign Office helpline he found in a travel guide, and was told someone in the Bangkok embassy would try to help them.

The next morning the two were given an interpreter, a Sri Lankan national called Tony, who works part-time for the police.

They were taken by Tony to meet the local police commander – but, says Mr Ingram, for three hours all they discussed was how much money they would have to pay to get out.

Mr Ingram and Ms Xi were taken to meet the local police commander

They were told the charge was very serious. If they did not pay, they would be transferred to the infamous Bangkok Hilton prison, and would have to wait two months for their case to be processed.

Mr Ingram says they wanted £7,500 ($12,250) – for that the police would try to get him back to the UK in time for his mother’s funeral on 28 April.

But he could not arrange to get that much money transferred in time.

‘Zig-zag’ scheme

Tony then took them to an ATM machine at the police station, and told Ms Lin to withdraw as much as she could from her own account – £600 – and Mr Ingram then withdrew the equivalent of £3,400 from his account.

This was apparently handed over to the police as “bail”, and they were both made to sign a number of papers.

Later they were allowed to move to a squalid hotel within the airport perimeter, but their passports were held and they were warned not to leave or try to contact a lawyer or their embassy.

“I will be watching you,” Tony told them, adding that they would have to stay there until the £7,500 was transferred into Tony’s account.

On the Monday they managed to sneak out and get a taxi to Bangkok, and met an official at the British Embassy.

She gave the name of a Thai lawyer, and, says Mr Ingram, told them they were being subjected to a classic Thai scam called the “zig-zag”.

Their lawyer urged them to expose Tony – but also warned them that if they fought the case it could take months, and they risked a long prison sentence.

After five days the money was transferred to Tony’s account, and they were allowed to leave.

Mr Ingram had missed his mother’s funeral, but at least they were given a court document stating that there was insufficient evidence against them, and no charge.

“It was a harrowing, stressful experience,” he said.

The couple say they now want to take legal action to recover their money.

‘Typical’ scam

The EXPRESS has spoken to Tony and the regional police commander, Colonel Teeradej Phanuphan.

They both say Tony was merely helping the couple with translation, and raising bail to keep them out of prison.

Tony says about half the £7,500 was for bail, while the rest were “fees” for the bail, for his work, and for a lawyer he says he consulted on their behalf.

In theory, he says, they could try to get the bail portion refunded.

Colonel Teeradej says he will investigate any possible irregularities in their treatment. But he said any arrangement between the couple and Tony was a private affair, which did not involve the police.

Letters of complaint to the papers here in Thailand make it clear that passengers are regularly detained at the airport for alleged shoplifting, and then made to pay middlemen to win their freedom.

The Danish Embassy says one of its nationals was recently subjected to a very similar scam, and earlier this month an Irish scientist managed to flee Thailand with her husband and one year-old son after being arrested at the airport and accused of stealing an eyeliner worth around £17.

Tony told the BBC that so far this year he has “helped” about 150 foreigners in trouble with the police. He says sometimes he does it for no charge.

The British Embassy has also warned passengers at Bangkok Airport to take care not to move items around in the duty free shopping area before paying for them, as this could result in arrest and imprisonment.

VP contender Sarah Palin hacked

The internet activist group ‘anonymous’, famed for its exposure of unethical behavior by the Scientology cult, has now gone after the Alaskan govenor and republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

At around midnight last night some members affiliated with the group gained access to governor Palin’s email account “gov.palin@yahoo.com” and handed over the contents to the government sunshine site Wikileaks.org.

One of the family photos from the account

Governor Palin has come under media criticism in the past week for using private email accounts to avoid Alaskan freedom of information laws. The contents of the mailbox show this to be true and also hold clues of at least one other Yahoo based mail account held by Palin, “gov.sarah@yahoo.com“.

The zip archive made available by Wikileaks contains screen shots of Palin’s inbox, two example emails, address book and a couple of family photos. The list of correspondence, together with the account name tends to re-enforce the earlier criticism of Palin’s email use.

The list of emails include an exchange with Alaskan Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell about his campaign for Congress. Another screenshot shows Palin’s inbox and an e-mail from Amy McCorkell, whom Palin appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in 2007.

The e-mail, a message of support to Palin, tells her not to let negative press get to her and asks Palin to pray for McCorkell, who writes that “I need strength to 1. keep employment, 2. not have to choose.”

According to Kim Zetter of Wired Magazine, McCorkell confirmed that she did send the e-mail to Palin.

Subsequently tests by Wikileaks reveal that both Palin’s “gov.palin@yahoo.com” and her unrelated “gov.sarah@yahoo.com” account have now been deleted, almost certainly by Palin herself.

According to the Guardian, who has looked at the Wikileaks data, among the emails in Palin’s account were several from addresses belonging to her aides, including a draft letter to California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a discussion of nominations to the state court of appeals, and several bearing “DPS”, the acronym for the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

DPS supervises the Alaska state troopers. Could the e-mails in question be relevant to the brewing ethics storm over Palin’s push to sack her former brother-in-law from the force?

The contact list included also holds accounts for other official representative’s private email accounts, including those of Alaska’s Kris Perry and Sharon Leighow.

Screenshots and other details follow:

The inbox showing the password change confirmation on the top

An excerpt from a mail between Parin and Alaska’s Sean Parnell

Mail from Amy McCorkell, a Palin supporter, to Sarah Palin

A larger excerpt from the mailbox index

Mail from anonymous to Ive Frye, Palin’s assistant, to make her aware of the password change

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
CONTACT LIST
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Beth Leschper (Beth Leschper SOA) [Edit]
beth.leschper@alaska.gov
Blanche Kallstrom (Blanche) [Edit]
mbkrdk@starband.net
Bristol Palin (Bristol) [Edit]
bristol_palin@hotmail.com
Chuck Heath (Chuck) [Edit]
chckheath@yahoo.com
fek9wnr@yahoo.com (Todd) [Edit]
fek9wnr@yahoo.com
ftb907@yahoo.com (Frank) [Edit]
ftb907@yahoo.com
Heather Bruce (Heather) [Edit]
khbruce@gci.net
ivy.frye@alaska.gov (Ivy SOA) [Edit]
ivy.frye@alaska.gov
ivyfrye@yahoo.com (Ivy Personal) [Edit]
ivyfrye@yahoo.com
Judy Patrick (Judy Patrick) [Edit]
jpphoto@mtaonline.net
kris.perry@alaska.gov (Kris Perry SOA) [Edit]
kris.perry@alaska.gov
krisandclark@yahoo.com (Kris Personal) [Edit]
krisandclark@yahoo.com
paymckhea@yahoo.com (Molly) [Edit]
paymckhea@yahoo.com
Roseanne Hughes (Roseanne Hughes SOA) [Edit]
roseanne.hughes@alaska.gov
Sally Heath (Mom) [Edit]
salheath@mtaonline.net
Sean Parnell (Sean Personal) [Edit]
sparnell@alaska.com
Sharon Leighow (Sharon SOA) [Edit]
sharon.leighow@alaska.gov
Sleighow@aol.com (Sharon Leighow Personal) [Edit]
Sleighow@aol.com
Track Palin (Track) [Edit]
track_44@hotmail.com

Note that the ‘ctunnel.com’ reference in the browser screen shots is to a proxy service used to prevent the activists from being traced.

Wikileaks may release additional emails should they prove to be of political substance.
Account information used by the anonymous ‘hacktivists’:

Sarah Palin account info:
gov.palin@yahoo.com
DOB 2/11/64
ZIP 99687

Todd Palin:
fek9wnr@yahoo.com
DOB: 9/6/64
ZIP 99654

Cut and pasted contact list:

Beth Leschper (Beth Leschper SOA) [Edit]
beth.leschper@alaska.gov
Blanche Kallstrom (Blanche) [Edit]
mbkrdk@starband.net
Bristol Palin (Bristol) [Edit]
bristol_palin@hotmail.com
Chuck Heath (Chuck) [Edit]
chckheath@yahoo.com
fek9wnr@yahoo.com (Todd) [Edit]
fek9wnr@yahoo.com
ftb907@yahoo.com (Frank) [Edit]
ftb907@yahoo.com
Heather Bruce (Heather) [Edit]
khbruce@gci.net
ivy.frye@alaska.gov (Ivy SOA) [Edit]
ivy.frye@alaska.gov
ivyfrye@yahoo.com (Ivy Personal) [Edit]
ivyfrye@yahoo.com
Judy Patrick (Judy Patrick) [Edit]
jpphoto@mtaonline.net
kris.perry@alaska.gov (Kris Perry SOA) [Edit]
kris.perry@alaska.gov
krisandclark@yahoo.com (Kris Personal) [Edit]
krisandclark@yahoo.com
paymckhea@yahoo.com (Molly) [Edit]
paymckhea@yahoo.com
Roseanne Hughes (Roseanne Hughes SOA) [Edit]
roseanne.hughes@alaska.gov
Sally Heath (Mom) [Edit]
salheath@mtaonline.net
Sean Parnell (Sean Personal) [Edit]
sparnell@alaska.com
Sharon Leighow (Sharon SOA) [Edit]
sharon.leighow@alaska.gov
Sleighow@aol.com (Sharon Leighow Personal) [Edit]
Sleighow@aol.com
Track Palin (Track) [Edit]
track_44@hotmail.com

Cut and pasted inbox list:

yahoo-account-services-us@cc.yahoo-inc.com
Your Yahoo! password was changed
4:23 AM	5KB
Read		

19079829061@mms.dobson.net
LOOK AT TRIG!!!!!
12:36 AM	52KB
Read		

Amy McCorkell
HI SARAH
Sun, 9/14/08	4KB
Read		

You replied to this message
Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re:
	Sat, 9/13/08	3KB
Read		

Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re:
Sat, 9/13/08	3KB
Read		

Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re:
Sat, 9/13/08	3KB
Read		

Candy Sunderland
Welcome Home!
Wed, 9/10/08	17KB
Read		

Juanita
Re: Hello!
Mon, 9/8/08	3KB
Read		

Fatkidron@aol.com
 Attachments

Fwd: Fw: A story you will never read anywhere else.
Mon, 9/8/08	20KB
Unread		

Remus

Read: Hello!
Mon, 9/8/08	3KB
Read		

JD & Trish

cousin jason
Sat, 9/6/08	6KB
Unread		

Amy McCorkell

Read: Hello!
Fri, 9/5/08	3KB
Unread		

Juanita

Read: Hello!
Fri, 9/5/08	3KB
Read		

Jon Morgan

Attachments

From Cousin Jon
Fri, 9/5/08	76KB
Unread		

ftb907@hslak.com

Delivered: Hello!
Fri, 9/5/08	2KB
Read		

Ivy Frye

Re: Hello!
Fri, 9/5/08	4KB
Unread		

ftb907@hslak.com

Delivered: Hello!
Fri, 9/5/08	2KB
Read		

Juanita Fuller

Return Receipt: Hello!
Fri, 9/5/08	2KB
Unread		

Ivy Frye

Delivered: Hello!
Fri, 9/5/08	3KB
Unread		

Ivy Frye

Delivered: Re:
Wed, 9/3/08	2KB
Unread		

Ivy Frye

Delivered: Re:
Tue, 9/2/08	3KB
Unread		

Ivy Frye

Delivered: Re:
Tue, 9/2/08	3KB
Read		

Sally Heath
Read: Tri-Cities family coming to convention
Mon, 9/1/08	3KB
Unread		

fek9wnr@yahoo.com
Delivered: Fw: Tri-Cities family coming to convention
Sun, 8/31/08	3KB
Read		

Ivy Frye

[ No Subject ]
Sun, 8/31/08	3KB
Read		

Ivy Frye
veep talking pts
Sun, 8/31/08	9KB
Read		

fek9wnr@yahoo.com
 Attachments
Kids 3378.jpg
Sun, 8/31/08	25KB
Read		

fek9wnr@yahoo.com
 Attachments
Kids 3378.jpg
Sun, 8/31/08	25KB
Read		

Greg and Brandi Jones
Congrats from your cousins
Sat, 8/30/08	4KB
Read		

katie
MY INPUT FOR SARAH IN THE TRI CITY HERALD.....YEA DOGGIES
Sat, 8/30/08	9KB
Read		

Sally Heath
Re: WhooHoo
Sat, 8/30/08	3KB
Unread		

Sally Heath
Read: WhooHoo
Sat, 8/30/08	3KB
Read		

Meghan Stapleton
 Attachments
FW: Motor Fuel Tax Suspension
	Sat, 8/30/08	1169KB
Read		

Ivy Frye
[ No Subject ]
	Sat, 8/30/08	3KB
Read		

Ivy Frye
[ No Subject ]
	Sat, 8/30/08	3KB
Read		

finch@ncidata.com
Read: WhooHoo
	Fri, 8/29/08	3KB
Unread		

Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re:
	Fri, 8/29/08	3KB
Read		

gov.sarah@yahoo.com
Re: From JP
	Fri, 8/29/08	3KB
Read		

Judy Patrick
JP cell 223-4704
	Fri, 8/29/08	2KB
Read		

Judy Patrick
From JP
	Fri, 8/29/08	2KB
Read		

Goode, Kelly C (GOV)
Re: What a day!
	Fri, 8/29/08	5KB
Read		

Goode, Kelly C (GOV)
What a day!
	Fri, 8/29/08	5KB
Unread		

Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re:
	Fri, 8/29/08	3KB
Unread		

Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re:
	Fri, 8/29/08	3KB
Unread		

Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re:
Fri, 8/29/08	3KB
Read		

Ruaro, Randall P (GOV)
Draft letter to Governor Schwarzenegger / Container Tax
Thu, 8/28/08	12KB
Read		

frank bailey
link
Wed, 8/27/08	3KB
Unread		

Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re:
Wed, 8/27/08	3KB
Unread		

Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re:
Wed, 8/27/08	3KB
Read		

Nizich, Michael A (GOV)

FW: Thanks
Mon, 8/25/08	7KB
Read		

Ivy Frye

Delivered: Re: change
Mon, 8/25/08	3KB
Unread		

sp@hslak.com

Delivered: Re: change
Mon, 8/25/08	2KB
Unread		

Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re: change
Mon, 8/25/08	3KB
Read		

Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re:
Sat, 8/23/08	3KB
Unread	

Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re:
Sat, 8/23/08	3KB
Unread		

Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re:
Sat, 8/23/08	3KB
Read		

McBride, Rhonda (GOV)
Rural Wireless Service
Sat, 8/23/08	32KB
Read		

Nizich, Michael A (GOV)
RE: Using Royalty Oil to Lower the Cost of Fuel for Alaskans
Fri, 8/22/08	42KB
Read		

Ruaro, Randall P (GOV)
RE: Please approve
Fri, 8/22/08	11KB
Read		

Ruaro, Randall P (GOV)
Court of Appeals / Executive Director Parole Board / Boards and Commissions
Thu, 8/21/08	10KB
Unread		

Ivy Frye
Delivered: Re: Merge to left
Thu, 8/21/08	3KB
Read		

Ruaro, Randall P (GOV)
FW: DPS Employee Draft
Wed, 8/20/08	15KB
Read		

McAllister, William D (GOV)
Re: DPS Personnel and Budget Issues
Wed, 8/20/08	12KB
Read		

Ruaro, Randall P (GOV)
FW: DPS Personnel and Budget Issues
Tue, 8/19/08	11KB
Read		

Ruaro, Randall P (GOV)
Court of Appeals Nominations
Sat, 8/16/08	11KB
Read		

Nizich, Michael A (GOV)
another records request
Fri, 8/15/08	5KB
Read		

frank bailey
 Attachments
Letter
Thu, 8/14/08	293KB
Read		

McBride, Rhonda (GOV)
Tara Jollie's B-Day
Tue, 8/12/08	8KB
Read		

Mason, Janice L (GOV)
RE: Scheduling - Week of 08.10.08
Tue, 8/12/08	25KB
Read		

Mason, Janice L (GOV)
RE: Scheduling - Week of 08.10.08
Tue, 8/12/08	22KB
Read		

Mason, Janice L (GOV)
RE: Scheduling - Week of 08.10.08
Tue, 8/12/08	18KB
Read		

Nizich, Michael A (GOV)
 Attachments
FW: Capitalizing on coal reserves, Crow Tribe strikes deal for $7B
Tue, 8/12/08	10KB
Read		

Mason, Janice L (GOV)
RE: Scheduling - Week of 08.10.08 - CG Dinner
Mon, 8/11/08	29KB
Read		

Mason, Janice L (GOV)
RE: Scheduling - Week of 08.10.08
Sun, 8/10/08	28KB
Read		

Mason, Janice L (GOV)
Scheduling - Week of 08.10.08
Sun, 8/10/08	24KB
Read		

Ruaro, Randall P (GOV)
Status report
Fri, 8/8/08	6KB
Read		

Nizich, Michael A (GOV)
FW: Special session press release
Fri, 8/8/08	29KB
Read		

Colberg, Talis J (LAW)
Followup.
Fri, 8/8/08	4KB
Unread		

fek9wnr@yahoo.com
Delivered: $$$
Thu, 8/7/08	3KB
Read		

Nizich, Michael A (GOV)
FW: CONFIDENTIAL Ethics Matter
Thu, 8/7/08	5KB
Read		

Nizich, Michael A (GOV)
 Attachments
FW: John Harris's response to Lyda Green
Thu, 8/7/08	68KB
Read		

Nizich, Michael A (GOV)
RE: Request for Information and Documents
Thu, 8/7/08	10KB
Read	

Nizich, Michael A (GOV)
FW: CONFIDENTIAL Ethics Matter
Thu, 8/7/08	3KB
Read		

Nizich, Michael A (GOV)
 Attachments
FW: Request for Information and Documents
Thu, 8/7/08	525KB
Read		

Nizich, Michael A (GOV)
 Attachments
FW: Memorandum of Law
Thu, 8/7/08	669KB
Read		

Nizich, Michael A (GOV)
 Attachments
FW: Informal Meeting with Gov. Palin Next Week
Thu, 8/7/08	268KB
Read		

Ruaro, Randall P (GOV)
 Attachments
FW: PR 08-2598 Summer 2009 Schedule Released
Wed, 8/6/08	770KB
Read		

Rutherford, Marty K (DNR)
Re: AO
Wed, 8/6/08	4KB
Read		

Ruaro, Randall P (GOV)
Update
Wed, 8/6/08	5KB
Read		

Sean Parnell
RE: Meet and Greet
Tue, 8/5/08	20KB
Read		

gov.sarah@yahoo.com
Fw: Meet and Greet
Tue, 8/5/08	20KB
Unread		

ftb907@hslak.com
Delivered: Re: weekend statement
Tue, 8/5/08	2KB
Unread		

ftb907@hslak.com
Delivered: Re: weekend statement
Tue, 8/5/08	2KB
Read		

McBride, Rhonda (GOV)
Walter Soboleff
Tue, 8/5/08	10KB
Unread		

fek9wnr@yahoo.com
Delivered: Fw: Willow
Tue, 8/5/08	3KB
Read		

katie
Re: HEY
Mon, 8/4/08	3KB
Read		

Palin, J.D.
RE: Willow
Mon, 8/4/08	3KB
Read		

Karl Clauson
 Attachments
weekend statement
Mon, 8/4/08	52KB
Read		

fek9wnr@yahoo.com
Delivered: Re: Staff at the House on Saturday Morning
Sat, 8/2/08	3KB
Read		

Nizich, Michael A (GOV)
FW: info from today

Man’s ‘pants’ password is changed

The bank apologised to Mr Jetley in a statement

A man who chose “Lloyds is pants” as
his telephone banking password said he found it had been changed by a
member of staff to “no it’s not”.

Steve Jetley, from Shrewsbury, said he chose the password after
falling out with Lloyds TSB over insurance that came free with an
account.

He said he was then banned from changing it back or to another password of “Barclays is better”.

The bank apologized and said the staff member no longer worked there.

Mr Jetley said he first realized his security
password had been changed when a call centre staff member told him his
code word did not match with the one on the computer.

“I thought it was actually quite a funny response,” he said.

I tried ‘Barclays is better’ and that didn’t go down too well either Steve Jetley

“But what really incensed me was when I was told I could not change
it back to ‘Lloyds is pants’ because they said it was not appropriate.

“I asked if it was ‘pants’ they didn’t like, and would ‘Lloyds is rubbish’ do? But they didn’t think so.

“So I tried ‘Barclays is better’ and that didn’t go down too well either.

“The rules seemed to change, and they told me it had to be one
word, so I tried ‘censorship’, but they didn’t like that, and then said
it had to be no more than six letters long.”

‘Very disappointing’

Mr Jetley said he was still trying to find a suitable password which met the conditions.

He said his dispute with the bank started over some travel
insurance, but that issue had been dealt with by managers
independently.

A statement released by the bank said: “We would like to apologise to Mr Jetley.

“It is very disappointing that he felt the need to express his
upset with our service in this way. Customers can have any password
they choose and it is not our policy to allow staff to change the
password without the customer’s permission.

“The member of staff involved no longer works for Lloyds TSB.”

Lloyds TSB stressed there was no security lapse in this case.

A spokesperson said: “On the majority of transactions advisors cannot read customers’ passwords.

“In this case it was a business banking customer using a system
where more than one person from a business can check their balance.

“In these cases an advisor can read the full password.

“But if such customers require more complex transactions, then
full security procedures apply and advisors cannot read secure
information.”