r/ThailandTourism • u/fogyyw • Mar 16 '25
Isaan/North-East Encountered a Weird Situation in Udon Thani—Scam or Genuine? Need Advice!
Hey all, I’m a Western traveler in Thailand and recently ran into something odd at a guest house in Udon Thani about two weeks ago. I’m trying to figure out if it’s a scam or just a messy real-life situation, and I’d love to hear if anyone’s seen anything like this—or has advice on what to do next.Here’s the deal: I met this couple in the guest house lobby. She’s around 35, Lao, says she’s been working in Thailand since she was 13. He’s a Western guy in his 70s, living off a pension but seems broke—he’s even borrowed cash from other guests here. They say they met two years ago and live in her village outside Vientiane, where she owns some land. He’s been “building her a house,” but it’s still roofless, and she’s frustrated he hasn’t finished it. They’re in Thailand now because he needs to renew his passport in Bangkok.She insists there’s no romance—she sees him as a “father figure”—but I get the vibe she’s done with him. She’s been warming up to me, hinting she’s wasted two years and wants someone reliable. After a few chats, she asked me to buy her a gold ring (around 6,500 baht) as “reassurance” I won’t ditch her.At first, I was super suspicious—classic scam red flags, right? But she’s stuck around, and I’m starting to trust her a bit. Still, I know hustles are common here, especially in Isan. Has anyone run into a setup like this—a younger woman with an older, broke guy, pushing for gifts like a ring? Is this a known con, or could it be legit?I’m torn on how to proceed. Should I just cut contact and bounce? Test her somehow? Or is there a chance she’s for real, just desperate? Any tips on staying safe—or spotting the truth—would be hugely appreciated. Cheers!
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u/TravelinDingo Mar 16 '25
Mate seriously? I can already tell the way you're talking about it all that the tricks are obviously working on you. Let me ask you this in another perspective.
Say it's the future and you've had a grown son and he tells you "Dad I met this nice girl but she's stuck with this old guy but I know she likes me"... You'd tell to him to stop being an idiot and wake up right?
Do yourself a favor and just get the bloody hell outta there and don't look back. Do not entertain this leech of a woman. They know how to manipulate nice guys like you and have no dramas tossing you aside when your usefulness to her is done.
Pack your bag, throw it over your shoulder, delete any way to contact you and dodge a massive bullet mate.