THAILAND is now cracking down on “beg-packers” — shameless Western backpackers begging for travel money on the streets of South-East Asia.

According to reports, visitors entering Thailand may be required to show immigration officials they have 20,000 baht ($748) in cash on them before being allowed entry into the country.

Thaivisa, an online forum for expats in Thailand, says it has learned of several instances where immigration officials at a number border checkpoints across Thailand have been asking people entering the country on a tourist visa to prove they have the funds.

Reports of this happening have also started to increasingly surface on social media in Thailand expat groups.

According to Thaivisa, people trying to enter with history of tourist visa entries appear to be the ones under the most amount of scrutiny but education visa holders are also the subject of similar scrutiny.

It is believed that the new requirements at border checkpoints around the country could be a response to the rise in beg-packers and foreigners who want to work in the country illegally.

Last week, a Thaivisa member was held in an immigration detention centre at Suvarnabhumi Airport, having been refused entry on the grounds that he could be working illegally.

During the same time, another Thaivisa member in possession of an education visa was also being held at Suvarnabhumi after he was asked to show 20,000 baht in cash. He was only able to show 8,000 baht.

The member told Thaivisa he previously had four tourist visas and a 30-day stamp on arrival.

A Thailand immigration officer, who spoke to Thaivisa under the condition on anonymity, confirmed that people entering Thailand on tourist visas should be able to show they can support their stay.

He said it is normal procedure and up to the discretion of the immigration officer to ask for more information if they suspect that the individual may not be a genuine tourist or may be working in Thailand illegally.

However, Thaivisa has been unable to confirm whether the 20,000 baht in cash is a requirement nationwide.