Weird visit -- Census?

[dotx]

I had two people in a motorbike showed up at my home today. The guy seemed to just be driving. The woman had some forms. She asked a question and when I said I don't speak Thai, she gave me some papers in English. It was a Census form. I didn't think much of it at the time (the census people never showed up in September, so I thought maybe they missed some houses at that time), but now I'm rethinking it.

It asked standard census questions, such as how many people in the house, how many bedrooms... but then it also asked questions I found a bit weird, such as what electronics/appliances are in the house (TV, AC, computer), if I have cable or Internet... The questions seem a bit intrusive to me, but then again all my census experience has been in the US, where they don't ask you very personal questions. The form also asked for my name (I thought census were supposed to be anon). I guess I'm a bit paranoid now that this people know I'm a woman living alone and have all these electronics at home.

Is the census still going or should I be worried?

[kendo]

I think it could be a dumb scam, if they return ask for there id cards and then take a picture of them and try and make a note of the licence plate on the motor bike.
Also living alone i would strongly suggest that you have an all bells and whistles security system, just remmember that you are living in a developing country and there is a massive gap between rich and poor and we are going through a global recession.
At key times of the year like new year (farang) and Songkran your risk of a breakin increases as some people look to sorce money for drinking, also if you have construction sites close by allways be mindfull of transent builders normaly from Issan.

There is a chap on the forum called Super Joe he might be able to help you with a security system it is really important to feel safe in your own home !

Kendo,

[lomuamart]

We had the same last week. Think I was sleeping off a hangover or on the golf course so I didn't speak to them.
They also were asking how many rooms we had, how many people and names. When they saw a farang name, they asked what I was doing here. My wife was quizzed on whether we had internet, cable tv, a microwave etc etc.
I reckon it was innocent, but Kendo's advice is nevertheless sound. I've told my wife that if they ever come again and ask beyond the number and names of people, just to tell them that it's none of their business.
Naturally, she didn't ask for ID and accepts that a clipboard and sheet of paper are not exactly concrete proof of their good intentions.

[Spitfire]

Seems like you can't trust anything anymore, or at least that is what usually springs to my mind the second I encounter anything like this, just a big red flag flapping in the wind. However, have been accused of being cynical/negative on such things before, and not just on this forum.

I tend to find things run a lot smoother with a healthy standard dash of skepticism/suspicion.

Maybe it is legit, but should be treated as if it is not until proven different, no info to anyone under such 'informal' circumstances. Official stuff here still tends to arrive by post.

Sure scams are on the rise though given the economic climate and the increased difficulty of wealth acquisition these days for all.

[kendo]

Would it be worth contacting the Tessabaan to make an enquiry of the census.
kendo.

[dotx]

Yeah, right now I feel pretty stupid about filling out the form. They didn't speak any English, so they just handed me a form in English. It looked fine, with no obvious errors or bad quality printing (although I know that doesn't mean much).

I do have two big dogs that sleep inside the house with me (and would alert me if somebody's around), so that helps a bit when I'm home. When I'm gone, it's anybody's game, I guess. I'm pming Super Joe anyway. Thanks for that suggestion.

[dotx]

Would it be worth contacting the Tessabaan to make an enquiry of the census.
kendo.

That would be Hua Hin municipality, on the corner, not far from the police station, right? I think I might stop by there tomorrow and ask if this was an official visit or not. That way I have a better idea of what's going on.

[kendo]

Dogs being poisoned does happen i would still look at all measures including planting something spikey under the rear windows.
Our house up in Surin, on the same dirt soi my wifes family have 10 houses so its family everywhere and twice we have had attempted break ins both times songkran.

Kendo.

[dotx]

The house is full of big windows. Glass everywhere and no metal bars. Some of the windows go all the way down to the floor. There's no way to block them. If somebody wanted to get into the house, they have plenty of options. I'm the first person to rent this house. The owner is Danish and before me, he only used it when he came on holiday, a couple of times a year. There's a microwave and a few other things inside and nobody ever broke in to steal them when the house was empty but they did steal the outside part of the AC and the water pump a year or so ago (long before I moved in).

I'm actually regretting not moving into a place with security (not just now, but for the past few months), rather than renting a single house.

ETA: Before I moved here, I lived for a year in Nairobi, one of the most dangerous cities in the world. There, you simply hire your own security guard. Pay a guy to stand outside your house 24/7 (actually two guys, so they can rotate) and problem solved. I'm missing that option right now.

[poosmate]

This is an official census and is being carried out nationwide. I have seen and filled in the form. It is available in Thai and English. The way of delivery by hand and on motorbike is normal. The forms are issued locally to the Pu Yai Baan.It is also possible to register and fill the form by internet
Note the form states it has to be returned if I remember by the end of July they are still being delivered now.
I hope this reassures anyone worried about this being a scam.

[usual suspect]

It is a subject to be taken seriously..the way these people approach you, carry themselves..uniform/smart clothes, clip-board etc..many times that IS all thats needed for you to lower your defences enuf for them
pulling the scam to get a foothold. Just cos they have a photo of themselves in a plaggy-sleeve around
their neck does not make them 'official'.
(I remember witnessing the Police arrest/round up a gang down Binta about 3-4 years back..for about 2-3
weeks they'd been collecting for 'fire & rescue',- they wore uniforms, had badges etc, but the MIBs must
have thought otherwise & swooped on them)
(I am in no way knocking the genuine 'fire & rescue' teams of HH in this post)

[chopsticks]

There are posters displayed in the town centre advertising the census taking place in September and October and requesting co-operation. They mention that no checking will be done of participants residence status.

[hhfarang]

This is what I like about having a large front garden with a high fence and gate. It's illegal to have a high front wall or fence in most parts of the U.S. and people could just walk up and knock on your door. When someone rings the doorbell here, I just look out the window at them (almost 40 meters away) and if I don't know who they are or what they want, I just ignore them. Some (2) Thais came in suit and ties a few weeks ago. Maybe they were census takers, but they left after a couple of minutes of doorbell ringing and two dogs snarling and snapping at them through the stainless steel gate.

[chopsticks]

This is what I like about having a large front garden with a high fence and gate. It's illegal to have a high front wall or fence in most parts of the U.S. and people could just walk up and knock on your door.

Illegal on your own land ?? What's the reason for such a restriction ? I thought those Hollywood homes of the super-rich all had high walls around them.

[hhfarang]

I thought those Hollywood homes of the super-rich all had high walls around them.

It's city by city (and when do laws apply to the rich?). In most normal middle class neighborhoods it is illegal. We even had to trim a hedge that bordered our front yard once because it got too high to see over. I guess the cops want to be able to see in. Some areas (especially Florida and some in California have gotten around this somewhat by having walled gated communities, but within that individual property walls are still forbidden.