Tag Archives: United States

Bangkok, The Kingdom of Fake IDs

From the narcotics officer to the flight attendant of a famous airline, you say it and you get that particular fake ID at the Khao San road in Bangkok.

Not just a small shop, this road is filled with shops that sell fake IDs just like they are selling any other legal goods. Just like the variety that you may find while buying Thai food, gifts and clothes, you might find over 300 templates from which a fake ID can be made.

For a mere sum of 600 baht, you can buy any fake drivers license belonging to United States of America, Europe, Asia and Canada. In fact, you can also buy Israels drivers license with your name written in Hebrew language. This type of fake ID though may cost a few extra baht.

The cheapest cards available are the fake student ID cards of different schools based in United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. Costing just around 250-300 baht, fake student ID cards do not involve much work because only a photo is to be pasted onto a printed card and then laminated. However, other fake ID cards are to be made by printing both the photo and the information onto the glossy card and then laminated to look similar to the original identity card.

For the sheer madness of illegality, fake ID cards showing a weapon permit for an FBI agent are also available for sale. One can also buy fake ID cards for Interpol as well as drug enforcement departments too.

Even though the Police have made it clear that selling fake ID cards would take a person to jail, the fake ID market still thrives openly in front of the unconcerned police officials that patrol the Khao San Road. The police are unconcerned because no fake Thai based documents are sold. However, one can buy most fake IDs of foreign countries without any legal problems in Thailand.

Though most of the fake IDs are based on different types of identity cards, the sale of fake passports is missing because their forgery carries a prison sentence. Although undeterred the fake ID sellers should be aware of a statement given by lawyers from Finch & Partners in Thailand, saying that selling fake ID can lead to a fine of more than 6000 baht along with a sentence of 3 years in prison. In reality these offences are rarely policed as the sellers will have a good reputation with the local police.