Woman Defrauded in Gold Amulet Purchase by Former Local Official
A Thai woman discovered that gold-plated amulets she purchased for 80,000 baht from a former local government official were worth only 200 baht.
A recent report from Khaosod Online highlights a case of alleged fraud involving a former Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) president. A woman, trusting the official's status, purchased two items—a Luang Pu Thuat amulet and a Naga coin—for a total of 80,000 baht several years ago. The official had claimed to be in financial distress and requested her help to fund a business venture. Recently, the woman took the items to a professional gold shop, 'Namo Ban Chang Thong,' for verification. The inspection revealed that the items were merely gold-plated, containing only about 5% gold content, with a market value of approximately 200 baht. For residents and visitors, this incident serves as a cautionary tale regarding the purchase of high-value religious artifacts or precious metals from private individuals, regardless of their perceived social standing or former professional titles. It is essential to have such items appraised by certified experts before completing any transaction. As of now, it remains to be confirmed whether the victim will pursue formal legal action against the former official, or if other individuals have been targeted by similar schemes involving the same person.
