Malaysian tourists ripped off by Bangkok gem scammers
none
D.Arul Rajoo
December 31, 2009
BANGKOK, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- Despite numerous reports on the infamous
Bangkok gem scams, many unsuspecting Malaysians, lured by the
sparkling gem stones or sheer greed, are losing thousands of ringgit
to such scams.
In the latest incidents, a family on tour here lost 130,000 baht
(RM13,000)while an executive with Malaysia's oil firm, Petronas, spent
88,000 baht (RM8,800) on poor quality gems.
In fact, some of the buyers were thinking of making a quick buck back
home as they were told that the gems could be sold back to leading
jewellers in Malaysia like Poh Kong and Habib at more than 80 per cent
profit.
It is learnt that an average of five cases of Malaysians being cheated
were reported to the Thai authorities and the Malaysian embassy here
every year.
"This is the tip of the iceberg. There could be many more such cases
as not many buyers realise that they have been conned, or they just
don't have the resources to pursue the matter once they are back
home," an embassy official said.
Many of the complainants were those who took the trouble to check the
authenticity of the gems with dealers back home, while some realised
it after browsing the Internet and reading thousands of reports on the
scam.
In fact, there are 36,400 entries about Bangkok's gem scams on Google.
Many tourists coming to Thailand are usually attracted by the
country's popularity for its gems stones where it exported about US
$8.27 billion worth last year.
The scam is well-organised and targets tourists and expatriates in the
capital.
Many Malaysians working here or their visiting relatives and friends
have often been approached by the scammers, who are mostly well-
dressed individuals working in hand-in-glove with tuk-tuk drivers and
the gems shops.
Recounting his experience, a human resource manager with a
multinational here, who declined to be named, said he and his family
were approached by a young man when we went to visit the Grand Palace.
The man told them that the palace had been closed for some prayers and
offered to take them to another famous temple called Lucky Buddha.
The man then called tuk-tuk which was willing to take them around for
a mere 20 baht.
He said they were taken to a gem shop after visiting the temple but
despite the sweet talk they did not buy anything as he was suspicious
from the start, he said.
He said the same thing happened to his mother and a family friend a
few months later but they again did not buy anything.
But not many were so lucky. In a report lodged with the embassy and
Thai authorities, a man said he and his family were taken to a shop
where the manager claimed that it was the last day of promotion and
normally they would not sell to tourists as they were wholesalers.
"We saw that there was ISO9001:2000 banner hanging outside the shop.
Therefore, we were more convinced to buy their product. She (manager)
also told us that their shop supplied gems to Poh Kong in Malaysia,"
the man said.
They bought two pendants, a ring and a pair of ear-rings for 130,000
baht, only to be told by two certified gemologists in Malaysia that
they had been conned as the gems were treated with beryllium to change
the sapphire's natural colour.
In another case, a Petronas executive said he was approached by a man
in Khao San Road where he was persuaded to visit Black Buddha temple
and few other shopping centres using a tuk-tuk for just 20 baht.
Later, he was taken to an export centre where he was told that the
Thai government was holding a promotion only for students and
tourists, with items being sold without the usual 195 per cent tax, as
well as another 20 per cent discount.
He bought a set of blue sapphire with diamond ring, ear-rings and
pendant in white gold setting for 88,000 baht but instead of taking
the items to the hotel, he was taken to a courier agent and told to
courier them immediately as it was not safe to carry them around.
After browsing the Internet, the executive was shocked to find out
that hundreds of people had been conned by the same shop for years. He
lodged a complaint with the embassy and the shop agreed to pay back 90
per cent of the price.
A taxi driver, who previously worked with the scammers, said they were
normally paid a commission (up to 30 percent) once a transaction had
taken place, or at least some money to purchase fuel.
He said the group members, some of whom he claimed were off-duty
policemen, normally preyed on tourists at popular spots like the Grand
Palace, Siam Square, Central World, Pratunam, Wat Pho and Khaosan
Road.
A spokesman of the Thai Tourist Police said the number of reports of
such scam had dropped in recent years, and added that most of the
victims were from France, Australia, Israel, as well as Japan,
Singapore and Malaysia.
In 2007, there were 62 gem scams reported compared with 83 cases in
2006.
The spokesman said police could not do much as these were criminal
cases and those cheated were advised to file a complaint with the
Office of the Consumer Protection Board.
tompel@tmnet.net.my mat tompel
selling fakes, this will be a very serious offence and if broadcast to the
world, their tourist trade will be badly affected for good.
"none" <opl...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:07aaed5e-4481-40c7...@k23g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
William Black
> How come the Thai authorities are not doing anything about it? If they are
> selling fakes, this will be a very serious offence and if broadcast to the
> world, their tourist trade will be badly affected for good.
They've been doing it for years.
The Thai government just says that people should buy gems from proper
gem dealers with proper offices.
http://www.thaigem.com/ are honest...
--
William Black
"Any number under six"
The answer given by Englishman Richard Peeke when asked by the Duke of
Medina Sidonia how many Spanish sword and buckler men he could beat
single handed with a quarterstaff.
tim....
"mat tompel" <mat tom...@tmnet.net.my> wrote in message
news:z8SdnbW8Fs9zpqLW...@westnet.com.au...
> How come the Thai authorities are not doing anything about it? If they are
> selling fakes, this will be a very serious offence and if broadcast to the
> world, their tourist trade will be badly affected for good.
Why?
Why would anybody expect gems to be cheaper in a "low" cost country.
Much of the value is in the gem, this isn't going to change whether you buy
it in KL or NY.
If you expect different you are asking to be ripped.
tim
Nisciuno
> How come the Thai authorities are not doing anything about it? If they are
> selling fakes,
know, it's not a crime selling overpriced (luxury or otherwise) commodities.