Several weeks ago, Thai Immigration released a video on TikTok warning the public about “fake” TDAC websites around the same time they were launching the official TDAC portal, tdac.immigration.go.th. They called out a website tdac.info that was charging $10 for submitting the TDAC arrival card on behalf of travelers, but notably failed to mention other misleading websites.
Although a few outlets picked up the story, such as Bangkok Post and Richard Barrow, it was not widely shared across social media. Because of the low-profile announcement, several online communities have been flooded with confused users trying to figure out what the official TDAC website is, whether it’s free or not, and so forth.
Multiple Warnings About Fake TDAC Sites
Then, a few days ago, Thai Immigration took to social media again to warn about fake TDAC arrival card websites that are scamming travelers heading to Thailand. This time, they made sure that regional immigration offices and the Tourism Authority of Thailand also participated in the announcement, to ensure a wider audience was reached. Essentially, they said that any website charging money for “TDAC” services is a scam, and should be avoided:
The Immigration Bureau would like to inform and encourage everyone to help remind foreign nationals to register TDAC only through our official website to ensure the safety of personal information.
⚠️ Please beware of fake websites or malicious individuals who may attempt to charge fees or request personal information.
✨ Please note that TDAC registration is completely free and there are no money transfers involved.For more information or to register, please visit the official website:
https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/#/homeสตม.ขอประชาสัมพันธ์ให้ทุกคนช่วยกันแจ้งเตือนคนต่างด้าวให้ลงทะเบียนที่เว็บไซต์ทางการของเราเท่านั้น เพื่อความปลอดภัยของข้อมูลส่วนบุคคลของทุกท่าน
⚠️ โปรดระมัดระวังเว็บไซต์ปลอมหรือผู้ไม่หวังดี** ที่อาจจะหลอกเรียกเก็บเงินหรือขอข้อมูลส่วนตัว
✨ โปรดทราบว่า TDAC ไม่มีค่าลงทะเบียนและไม่มีการเรียกโอนเงินใด ๆหากต้องการข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมหรือลงทะเบียน สามารถเข้าไปที่เว็บไซต์ทางการได้ที่:
https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/#/home
Shortly thereafter, it was announced on Reddit that one of the “fake” TDAC websites tdac.in.th had been shut down by Thai authorities and forced to redirect to their parent company’s homepage, agents.co.th which claims to be run by “AGENTS CO., LTD”.
Another Thai Visa Centre Connection
In the comments of that Reddit thread, the Thai Visa Centre aggressively defended the website, claiming that tdac.in.th had been properly registered under “AGENTS CO., LTD”, which is clearly false, as the company’s name is missing from the WHOIS. When users asked TVC what their involvement was, they claimed it was their “sister” company– which again, is false, because there is no such company named “Thai Visa Centre” even registered in the kingdom of Thailand, an inconvenient truth that expat netizens exposed last year on Reddit and Quora.
Eventually, Reddit moderators removed several misleading and defamatory comments written by TVC, and locked the thread after accusing the agency of manipulating comments using fake “votes” and trying to gaslight the public.
Locking this thread as we’re seeing all kinds of shenanigans here. Votes on both this submission and several comments – here and across the sub – are clearly being manipulated, and ThaiVisaCentre’s comments have been removed from this thread by Reddit itself as a result.
Readers may recall that “Thai Visa Centre” has been involved in other controversies, including a Facebook scraping website asq.in.th (that previously represented itself as ASQ quarantine hotel portal during the COVID pandemic), an “official looking” DTV visa website dtv.in.th, and a large Thai visa forgery and illegal cannabis business their owners were previously arrested for.
The American expat behind TVC, Chad Scira, has incredibly avoided a criminal conviction so far, and continues to be mentioned in connection to various fraudulent schemes.
List Of Known TDAC Scam Websites
Based on actions taken by Thai authorities, statements by Thai Immigration, and compiled research from various sources online, here is a complete list of fake TDAC websites currently:
tdac.infotdac.in.th(now redirects toagents.co.th)tdac.agents.co.thagents.co.thtdac.site(redirects toagents.co.th)tdac.onlineth-digitalarrivalcard.comthailand-arrival-card.comthaitravelpro.nettdac-thailand.comthailand-arrivalcard.comatlys.comivisatravel.comivisa.com
Although Thai law enforcement agencies appear conflicted about what to do about some of these .th websites (for now), we urge travelers to avoid all of the above websites and only use the official TDAC portal whenever submitting your Thailand Digital Arrival Card.