Biggest Thailand Tourist Scam - Fake Sak Yant Bamboo Tattoo
While not that well known or at all reported, one of the Biggest Thailand Tourist Scams is the Fake Sak Yants promoted by Thailands Tattoo Shops under the term Bamboo Tattoo.
It is estimated that the real and authentic Sak Yants practitioners make up 1% of Thailands Tattoo and generate around 100 Million baht to the economy. (7). Broader industry estimates cluster in the ฿6–11 billion/year range for non Sak Yant Master Tattoos in regular tattoo parlors.
Counterfeit Sak Yant designs are available at almost every Tattoo studio, offering both Machine and hand poke methods with an estimated 20% of the designs preformed being counterfeit Sak Yant designs. This represents 1.2-2.2 Billion baht being spent by tourists to get tattoos with meaningless text, lacking the sacred and spiritual features that makes the real Sak Yant a powerful soft power attraction to Thailands Tourism.
Comparing this to the more well known Tourist Scams in Thailand ranks the Fake Sak Yant Tourist scam at a similar position as the number one reported Gem/Jewellery Scam.
Please Note:
Not all regular Tattoo shops and Artists will try to scam customers. A small percentage of Tattoo Artists will tell the customers that they provide ‘Artistic replica Representations’ of ancient and Spiritual Tattoos, for those uncomfortable with getting a actual Spiritual tattoo. There is nothing wrong with providing counterfeit Spiritual tattoos if this is what the tourist is seeking
Why is the Fake Sak Yant Bamboo Tattoo done by Tattoo Artists a Scam?
Definition of Scam:
A scam is a dishonest or fraudulent scheme designed to deceive someone—usually to obtain money, goods, services, or personal information—by misrepresenting facts, making false promises, or concealing the truth.
If we frame the definition of a scam through the lens of tourist scams, it becomes:
A deliberate and deceptive practice targeting visitors in unfamiliar environments, exploiting their limited local knowledge, trust, or urgency, with the intent of gaining money, goods, or services through misrepresentation, overcharging, or false pretenses.
Methods Thai Tattoo Shops typically use that fit into the definition of a scamBamboo Rooms Koh Samui
- Promotes Bamboo Tattoo or Traditional Thai Style - Relying on the Customers limited Cultural Knowledge
- Displays images of Sak Yant Designs outside of the shop misrepresenting they are Real Designs
- Will willingly accept customers without telling them the Tattoos they make are replicas (counterfeit)
- Do not disclose that they are unable to understand, read or change the magical text
- Making vuage references to 'once being a Monk' or having sacred objects in the shop
Disclaimer: This page (and website) concerns itself ONLY with the Counterfeit Fake Sak Yant Tattoo's promoted by Tattoo Shops and Artists as 'Traditional Thai Bamboo Tattoos'. These specific Tourist Tattoo copies of the Spiritual Sak Yant are disrespectful to Thai People and Thai Culture when created by people not qualified in Magical Arts.The current modern trend of Tattooist offering and using the Hand Poked 'Bamboo Method' to make regular tattoo (non Sak Yant designs) for tourists is not of concern to adherents of Authentic Sak Yant Traditions
How to Spot Fake Sak Yants in Tourist Tattoo Shops Websites and social media Bamboo Rooms Koh Samui
While not every tattoo shop is guilty of misrepresenting Sak Yant, many especially those catering to tourists will use the term bamboo tattoo to confuse tourists. These shops often use misleading tactics to sell what is ultimately a superficial and commercialized version of the sacred art, sometimes charging double or even triple the cost of an authentic Sak Yant experience.
Receiving a Sak Yant from a tattoo artist without the proper spiritual authority or ritual blessings strips the design of its true meaning. These imitations lack the sacred intention, ceremonial context, and power that comes from being performed by a genuine Sak Yant Master or monk.
For spiritually-minded travelers, it’s entirely possible to receive a real Sak Yant through a meaningful ritual led by a respected Ajarn or monk. In contrast, tourist tattoo parlors offer quick, decorative copies that carry none of the spiritual weight.
Following are suspect Tattoo Artists and parlors offering Sak Yant Tattoos and some red flags that you can use to apply to others to ensure you get a Real Sak Yant Tattoo from a genuine Sak Yant Master
Red Flags you are dealing with a Fake Sak Yant Master or Scammer
Ajarn or Tattooist Claims
Tattoo artist awards or attendance to tattoo shows
This is not something a Sak Yant Master desires or promotes about themselves. This is something a Tattoo shop does for credibility. A Sak Yant Master is a life dedication, they tend to only do Sak Yant Designs and not other non spiritual designs.
Training under a ‘high ranking’ Monk, or ‘Used to be a Monk’
Very Seldom will a high ranking Monk train someone in Sak Yant who is not a dedicated Monk to continue or replace that monk at the Temple. Every Thai Man will become a Monk during their life. Usually this is for a few days to a week and hardly enough time to Learn about Sak Yants which takes about 3 years.
Claims of Time Involvement or Specialist Knowledge
Often the Tattoo Artist might claim to have been doing counterfeit designs for 10-20 years. This only means they have been intentionally scamming people for decades – not that they studied or learned anything about the traditions of magical Arts. Every Sak Yant Master has a similar base of knowledge about their craft. They must obtain that knowledge to qualify and be granted permission to create Sak Yant tattoos. None of them would claim they have more knowledge or skill than anyone else.
The Tattoo Shop or Tattoo Artist
Tattoo artist does both Sak Yant designs and other design using the Bamboo Hand Poke method
Being a Sak Yant Master is a life calling, that requires on going spiritual development and dedication to magical arts. Real Sak Yant Masters will not dilute their focus or attention by switching between a sacred and spiritual process and then a regular design of tattoo. If the Artists does both – they are probably not a Master of Sak Yant.
The Tattoo Shop is a Tattoo Shop
Real Sak Yants are preformed in a Sacred space, that is daily blessed (along with each design). If the Tattoo shop doesn’t have a dedicated space for Spiritual tattoos, or does additional services like sells weed or piercings – Then it is not providing real Sak Yant Tattoos. If you are getting your ‘bamboo’ or ‘Traditional Thai Tattoo’ in a space where other people are watching, playing on the phone or surrounded by music – You are not getting a real Sak Yant
The Tattoo Artist looks like a Tattoo Artist
Tattoo Artist have a certain look, as do Spiritual Masters. If your tattoo artist looks like a tattoo artist then you are not getting a real Sak Yant. A real Sak Yant Master or someone qualified to provide the, will be covered in Sak Yant tattoos. A Tattoo Artist will have normal tattoos.
Process, Rituals & Blessings
No Offering to the Master, Chanting or Blessing at the End
A Sak Yant is a magical and spiritual Tattoo. It requires a submission to the power and knowledge of the Master and the Tradition )as an offering before the tattoo). The Master is making magic, and part of this is the silent prayers and chants they do as they make the Tattoo. After completion it is charged with power (the Blessing). This is NOT OPTIONAL. This is part of the process that makes the Sak Yant a Sak Yant – it is what the Master learns during their time as a Monk or the 3 plus years it takes to understand and learn the tradition.
Choice of Tattoo Locations
Real Sak Yants are arranged in levels of Spiritual meaning. This means that there are certain locations that are only allowed for 90% of the designs (upper body). If you are allowed to put a sacred design anywhere you ask – you are getting a replica or counterfeit. This is actually a good reason to choose a regular tattoo artist, as they are not placing culturally or sacred important designs where they are disrespectful
Actually uses a Bamboo Stick
Sak Yants have been applied using metal Khems (rods) for many hundred years. These are considered sacred and magical tools to apply Sak Yant and highly valued by Masters. If you are having your tattoo applied with a wooden stick or worse you are allowed to keep it after – then you are not getting a real Sak Yant.
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- Sak Yant Tattoo
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Academic and Historical References
(1). Thai Tattoos, the symbolic lines of faith National Geographic. Nov 4 2020. https://ngthai.com/cultures/31619/thai-traditional-tattoos
(2) Why you don’t Get a Bamboo Tattoo at a Tattoo Shop sakyantchiangmai.com Oct 2022 https://sakyantchiangmai.com/sak-yant-bamboo-tattoo/
(3) Study of Thai and Japanese Tattoo. 1996 Nantchaya Mahakhan Burapha University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences https://buuir.buu.ac.th/xmlui/handle/1234567890/549
(4) Communication and Perception of the Meaning of ‘Tattoos’ in Contemporary Thai Society’, Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University, by Suksan Kamolsantiroj, 2005 https://cuir.car.chula.ac.th/handle/123456789/8025
(5) What is a Bamboo Tattoo. Sak Yant Chiang Mai 2023 https://sakyantchiangmai.com/bamboo-tattoo-thailand/
(6) Tattoo Culture in Lana Sept 6 2022. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre. Phudech Saensa https://www.sac.or.th/portal/th/article/detail/371
(7). Sak Yant tattooing as Thai soft power. Department of Public Administration Faculty of Political Science Ramkhamhaeng University. Krissada Promvek. And Prachaya Chumnaseaw 2024. http://www.hurujournal.ru.ac.th/journals/35_1719810573.pdf
(8) Bamboo Tattoo Bangkok. Sak Yant Bangkok 2024. https://sakyant-bangkok.com/bamboo-tattoo-bangkok/
(9) What is a Sak Yant Tattoo. 2022 Sak Yant Chiang Mai https://sakyantchiangmai.com/what-is-a-sak-yant-tattoo/
(10) Pansa Khrueaklai and Noppadol Inchan, 2002, p. 73)
(11) Chuanphit Naphatasaai (editor), Dhammatharo Achariyanuson, (cited), page 49.
(12) Book The Brave One. (Phra Athit Attharo and Phra Maha Wirot , 2566)
(13) Tourist Bamboo Tattoo vs Real Sak Yant. Youtube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HogMIhYYz8
(14) The Story of the Bamboo Tattoo Needle. Thai Tattoo Chiang Mai. https://thaitattoochiangmai.com/2016/08/28/bamboo-sak-yant-needles/
(15) Thailand To Tattoo Tourists: Think Before You Ink NPR Radio June 20, 2011