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A documentary from the bbc about fraud and corruption and how it has affected westerners living in thailand

Briton Ian Rance believed he had found the prefect place to spend his retirement when he moved to Thailand. But his life was turned upside down when he discovered his wife of nine years, with whom he had three children, had helped to defraud him of his properties.

Video here: bbc.co.uk

That's the downside of choosing a place like Phuket for your family to live. You also have to consider the dangers of persuasion by others you expose your family to. You're attracting flies there. It's safer up here!

Johnnie I'm sorry to say that whilst it may be 'safer up here' as you say, IMHO and observation, it is still not safe, as it should be.
I've not been able to access your link but I guess it's a sad tale. And not unusual.
Falang are on a hiding to nothing before the game starts - because we can't own the 'chanot'.
And as SoWhat says, 9 years and 3 kids down the line ?
Thought provoking to say the least.

Thanks Johnnie it was interesting to read that stuff. Whilst you of course, are a canny and experienced Chap, many who come to Phuket or Korat or anywhere else in Thailand, may not realise the possible implications and place their trust solely in their Thai Ladies which is ok as long as the relationship is ok. And then !
(Myself I put my house in a Thai Company which worked well enough but I later changed that set up for other reasons).
But given that we as Falang are not able to hold the chanot in a simple way, it's a hiding to nothing unless you take good advice and act carefully.
(Sorry my aircard did not enable me to watch that link so my comments are general only).
On the subject of lawyers, I have an English speaking Lawyer who has proven very able and totally trustworthy over the last 6 years, if anyone needs a Lawyer I can recommend him..
 



 

I've not been able to access your link but I guess it's a sad tale. And not unusual.

Here's the full story from bbc.com

The property nightmare

British expats are now living almost penniless with their children on the outskirts of Bangkok as they struggle against overwhelming odds to recover properties they bought on Phuket. Both men lost all their investments through frauds that neither of them imagined were possible.