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I’ve been blackmailed twice in the past year.
Yep, twice. And I’m not the only one. A friend of mine living in Bali is going through it right now too. It’s one of those dirty little secrets about living in a small expat community — stuff like this happens more often than you’d think.
When you’re living abroad, especially in places where the support systems you’d have back home just don’t exist, you’re a bit more vulnerable. And, let’s be honest, there are always going to be people who see that as an opportunity.
To be clear, I’m not talking about blackmail in the traditional sense, where someone is asking for money in exchange for not revealing a deep dark secret. It’s more manipulation or threats that force someone to do something they don’t want to do. And it’s all too common abroad — particularly in developing countries like Thailand.
See, in a lot of developing countries, corruption is part of the deal. Which means if you get into a dispute, the authorities might side with whoever can throw more money their way. Things can get messy real quick. You might remember the blackmailing saga I shared last September — yeah, that was just the start.
Recently, we’ve had another run-in with blackmailing. I’m sadly not able to reveal publicly what has happened (with the blackmailing and all), but rest assured I’ll be devoting a detailed post to it in a few months!
My friend in Bali? Her situation is even scarier. And here we are, trying to navigate legal systems that don’t exactly have our backs.
So, what do you do when you’re in a spot like this? For starters, we’ve got to stick together. Share your stories, help each other out, and build up our own little safety nets. Keep records of everything and know when to fight and when to just walk away. We came out here for adventure, not to get screwed over — but sometimes, dealing with the darker side of paradise is part of the package.
Have you ever been through something like this? How did you handle it? Let’s chat about it.
Why Share? 🤝
Inspire Others: Your story could be the motivation someone else needs.
Connect: Find common ground with fellow travelers and build new friendships.
Learn: Gain new insights and perspectives from others’ experiences.
How It Works ⚙️
Every Tuesday: I’ll post a new topic for discussion.
Join the Conversation: Jump into the comments and share your stories, tips, and questions.
Stay Respectful: This is a supportive space. Let’s keep it positive and respectful, valuing everyone’s experiences and perspectives.
A Few Guidelines 📋
Be Honest and Kind: Share your truth, but always be respectful of others’ experiences.
Be Mindful: Not every problem or challenge looks the same. Celebrate diversity in our journeys.
KKxx
I’ve definitely been forced to make ‘brown envelope’ payments (as my husband calls them) to people who can get things done for me and often, it’s the quickest / easiest way forward. It’s not blackmail, but it’s a similar line of corruption. And I agree, in my experience, blackmail and other random cash payments are all part of the journey when you’re a foreigner. They’re definitely a frustrating aspect of living in a country without citizenship, but thankfully don’t too often intrude on my daily life.