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Beware the Bangkok Gem Scam !!!
The Bangkok Gem Scam
Provided by The Thai Gem Scam Group ) This scam has been working for over 20 years, and succeeds due to several factors: 1. Local authorities inability to deal with the scam effectively 2. The complicated relationship between Thais and "Farangs" 3. Tourists can't stay in the country to press charges 4. Tourists don't get to talk to one another and share information 5. Everybody is greedy and wants to get rich quick There are several excellent sites that outline the process of the scam, but here is an overview that includes warning signs to watch for so that you recognize the scam. THE SET UP There are, in fact, two variations on the scam, but both involve you paying far too much for jewelry. The other one is where a Tuk Tuk driver simply takes you to a gem shop (or tailor) and tells you to look around for 10 minutes; he gets a free gas coupon for each customer he brings in. This is simple and obvious, and most people don't make a purchase in this case. The scam discussed on this page involves "coincidental" meetings with "friendly" people. Because of the coincidences and the friendliness of the people involved, the victim's guard is let down, thus ensuring the scam's success. The usual set up involves a tourist (or tourists, as couples get targeted as well) walking out of their hotel, on the street, near a tourist attraction, and being approached by a friendly local. Thais, as a rule, do not approach foreigners alone. This is the first warning sign. The person who approaches you will be very friendly and ask where you are from, where you are going, etc... perhaps identifying himself (herself) as a guide, a student, a government employee, a Tuk Tuk driver, etc.... Regardless of what you answer with regards to your destination, he/she will give you some reason as to why you can't go there. People going to the Grand Palace or Wat Pho are commonly told that it is closed for some holiday involving Buddha or the Royal Family. The Grand Palace and Wat Pho are a main attraction of Bangkok, one that provides a large amount of revenue through admission fees. As such, they are both open 365 days/year; why would they close? This is the second warning sign. They both open at 8am and the Grand Palace closes at 15:30pm while the Wat Pho closes at 17:00pm. Note there is only one entrance for the Grand Palace and that *parts* of the Grand Palace may be closed for royal functions, but never the entire complex. Never fear, however, your new "friend" will tell you about another temple or Wat that is open. They usually say that it is not normally open to the public, it is just today. He/she usually also mentions the Asian economic crisis, and how it is harder for Thai students to pay for their studies abroad with the devaluation of the Thai currency. Usually, there will be a mention of how the government lets Thai students sell one jewelry set a year, tax free, to help fund their studies abroad. It may or may not be mentioned that foreigners are allowed to participate in this scheme once a year, in a bid to promote tourism. You are then told about the special Tuk Tuks that take tourists around for a special rate, due to the holiday. Usually this is 20 Baht/hour or something like that, and they'll always tell you there are only certain Tuk Tuks that do this. There are no government or special Tuk Tuks. They are all privately owned. This is the third warning sign. Your new friend may now choose a Tuk Tuk for you (he has to in order to get his accomplice). He will arrange things for you and send you off to this other temple. In fact, there is nothing too special about this temple, but it is quiet and deserted. The Tuk Tuk driver will send you in, assuring you that he will wait. Of course he will, he has to be the one to take you to the gem store. You wander around the temple where you will meet a second "friendly" local. He may approach you, asking you questions or offering some advice; you may approach him, because he dropped his keys and walked away. In all cases, it is a casual, chance encounter, with all the necessary friendliness and coincidence to disarm your suspicions. He will identify himself as a businessman, student, whatever he thinks will allay your suspicions. This second person will ask various questions about you and somehow steer the conversation back to jewelry. They often get you to mention it, as you've heard about it from the person you met earlier. Almost always, they make no effort to sell to you; they drop some hints that lead you to ask questions. You are made to feel like you are lucky to know about this, or that you would be foolish to miss out. They tell you that foreigners are allowed to participate in this for only a short time each year, and today is always the last day. They even have a receipt showing that they just bought jewelry that very day. The Thai government does not have a 195% export tax on jewelry. Your own country's Customs, however, does care about how much you import back into your country. This is the fourth warning sign. Note that at this point, a foreigner might join the conversation, if not at the temple, then at the shop itself. The foreigner will assure you it is all legitimate, that he/she uses it to pay for his trip all the time. It may also be another local who tells you they live abroad and come home once a year for this. In either case, it adds to the legitimacy of the scam, and adds to the number of "coincidences" that you encounter. By now you are curious. The Tuk Tuk driver may take you to yet another temple, for yet another "chance" meeting with someone who confirms the story. Usually, you are now on your way to the gem store. This is your last chance to save yourself from a very bad experience. The gem store itself will make every effort to look respectable. There will be staff in uniforms, display cases, etc....but most shops will not have windows, or else they are covered up. Officially recognized jewelry stores should have a Jewelfest logo in plain view, although this is not a guarantee. You will always be taken to a separate room, not left in the main selling area. There will be almost no other customers, and if there are, it will be a foreigner again, who confirms the story and tells you exactly what everyone else said. In this smaller room, you are told the same story, shown a book with photocopies of other passports of "customers", and assured that you can get your money back under any circumstances. The transaction involves mailing the jewelry back to you, or to whatever address you give them (parents, Poste Restante in another country, etc...). The reason for this is can vary, but usually it is because the courier service ensures the goods against theft or loss. Your country's Customs treats goods imported by you the same, regardless of whether they are with you or were sent to you via the mail system. If this is a tax-free purchase, they should not object to you taking the jewelry with you. The use of the mail system is essential in making this scam work. This is the fifth warning sign. Most people do not have the cash with them. The stores never have credit card machines so those people wanting to pay via credit cards are told the shop does not usually do business with the public, so they have no credit card machine. Fear not, their other store does sell to the public, so they will loan you their car, driver and escort to that store to run your credit card through the machine. This is a gold store, where you are told you have to buy gold (for whatever reason, inventory, tax purposes, etc...) and take the gold with you. You will trade the gold for the jewelry set. If you pay cash, they will give you their car, driver and escort to take you to your ATM or wherever else you need to go to get your cash. Back at the jewelry store, you get all kinds of official looking receipts, they show you the courier package they put the jewelry in, make you sign the envelope once it's sealed to ensure no one tampers with the package, and you've now overpaid for cheap, though usually real, jewelry. As a sign of their gratitude, they will always give your their car and driver and take you around town, to a restaurant, tourist attractions, Thai massages, etc...They do this to distract you and get your package to the mail center as quickly as possible. If they can get your package out of the country before you realize you've been scammed, it will take you over a week to get the gems back in your possession, giving them time to close up shop and vanish forever. WARNING! Provided by Morrisy from Leicestershire, UK ): As you already have been told about Tuk Tuk drivers, I'll tell you about my adventure. A fine young local approached me outside the Grand Palace asking for 10 Baht to visit jewellery and clothes shops. Once in the shops they try to sell you as much they can - as much as you say 'no' they bombard you! I ended up buying a suit. This was my first day in Bangkok so I had them hold on to the suit until I had finished travelling. When I arrived back in Bangkok I gave a Tuk Tuk the address and agreed on a price to go there. But en route he hassled about the fare - he wanted to take me to two more shops and he got quite angry when I wouldn't go. DONT let Tuk Tuk drivers give you the sob story that they are poor either. I bumped into some from Khao San Road in a posh place on the other side of town. DONT leave valuables in bags under the busses - I had some jewellery pinched. They have a second driver sleep in there as well. Morrisy. |
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Chabon_a_****stain wrote:
Most people do not have the cash with them. The stores never have credit card machines so those people wanting to pay via credit cards are told the shop does not usually do business with the public, so they have no credit card machine. Fear not, their other store does sell to the public, so they will loan you their car, driver and escort to that store to run your credit card through the machine. This is a gold store, where you are told you have to buy gold (for whatever reason, inventory, tax purposes, etc...) and take the gold with you. You will trade the gold for the jewelry set. The beauty of this transaction is that it gets the credit card company out of the equation. You paid for gold with your card, and you received the exact amount of gold that you paid for. Therefore the credit card company will not involve itself on your behalf. What you chose to do with the gold after receiving it is your own business as far as they are concerned. By the way, the last time I was in Bangkok, I was repeatedly approached by friendly young people who claimed to have a brother or sister who was about go off to study in [whichever country I claimed to be from] and they were hoping we could go for coffee somewhere so I could share some pointers on life there. What's up with that? Same deal? miguel -- Hit The Road! Photos from 32 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu |
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"Chabon_a_****stain" wrote in message m... The Bangkok Gem Scam Provided by The Thai Gem Scam Group ) This scam has been working for over 20 years, and succeeds due to several factors: The same scam in all countries through the ages. The prinicpals may be different, but the underlying factor is the same: greed. 1. Local authorities inability to deal with the scam effectively 2. The complicated relationship between Thais and "Farangs" 3. Tourists can't stay in the country to press charges 4. Tourists don't get to talk to one another and share information 5. Everybody is greedy and wants to get rich quick There are several excellent sites that outline the process of the scam, but here is an overview that includes warning signs to watch for so that you recognize the scam. THE SET UP There are, in fact, two variations on the scam, but both involve you paying far too much for jewelry. The other one is where a Tuk Tuk driver simply takes you to a gem shop (or tailor) and tells you to look around for 10 minutes; he gets a free gas coupon for each customer he brings in. This is simple and obvious, and most people don't make a purchase in this case. The scam discussed on this page involves "coincidental" meetings with "friendly" people. Because of the coincidences and the friendliness of the people involved, the victim's guard is let down, thus ensuring the scam's success. The usual set up involves a tourist (or tourists, as couples get targeted as well) walking out of their hotel, on the street, near a tourist attraction, and being approached by a friendly local. Thais, as a rule, do not approach foreigners alone. This is the first warning sign. The person who approaches you will be very friendly and ask where you are from, where you are going, etc... perhaps identifying himself (herself) as a guide, a student, a government employee, a Tuk Tuk driver, etc.... Regardless of what you answer with regards to your destination, he/she will give you some reason as to why you can't go there. People going to the Grand Palace or Wat Pho are commonly told that it is closed for some holiday involving Buddha or the Royal Family. The Grand Palace and Wat Pho are a main attraction of Bangkok, one that provides a large amount of revenue through admission fees. As such, they are both open 365 days/year; why would they close? This is the second warning sign. They both open at 8am and the Grand Palace closes at 15:30pm while the Wat Pho closes at 17:00pm. Note there is only one entrance for the Grand Palace and that *parts* of the Grand Palace may be closed for royal functions, but never the entire complex. Never fear, however, your new "friend" will tell you about another temple or Wat that is open. They usually say that it is not normally open to the public, it is just today. He/she usually also mentions the Asian economic crisis, and how it is harder for Thai students to pay for their studies abroad with the devaluation of the Thai currency. Usually, there will be a mention of how the government lets Thai students sell one jewelry set a year, tax free, to help fund their studies abroad. It may or may not be mentioned that foreigners are allowed to participate in this scheme once a year, in a bid to promote tourism. You are then told about the special Tuk Tuks that take tourists around for a special rate, due to the holiday. Usually this is 20 Baht/hour or something like that, and they'll always tell you there are only certain Tuk Tuks that do this. There are no government or special Tuk Tuks. They are all privately owned. This is the third warning sign. Your new friend may now choose a Tuk Tuk for you (he has to in order to get his accomplice). He will arrange things for you and send you off to this other temple. In fact, there is nothing too special about this temple, but it is quiet and deserted. The Tuk Tuk driver will send you in, assuring you that he will wait. Of course he will, he has to be the one to take you to the gem store. You wander around the temple where you will meet a second "friendly" local. He may approach you, asking you questions or offering some advice; you may approach him, because he dropped his keys and walked away. In all cases, it is a casual, chance encounter, with all the necessary friendliness and coincidence to disarm your suspicions. He will identify himself as a businessman, student, whatever he thinks will allay your suspicions. This second person will ask various questions about you and somehow steer the conversation back to jewelry. They often get you to mention it, as you've heard about it from the person you met earlier. Almost always, they make no effort to sell to you; they drop some hints that lead you to ask questions. You are made to feel like you are lucky to know about this, or that you would be foolish to miss out. They tell you that foreigners are allowed to participate in this for only a short time each year, and today is always the last day. They even have a receipt showing that they just bought jewelry that very day. The Thai government does not have a 195% export tax on jewelry. Your own country's Customs, however, does care about how much you import back into your country. This is the fourth warning sign. Note that at this point, a foreigner might join the conversation, if not at the temple, then at the shop itself. The foreigner will assure you it is all legitimate, that he/she uses it to pay for his trip all the time. It may also be another local who tells you they live abroad and come home once a year for this. In either case, it adds to the legitimacy of the scam, and adds to the number of "coincidences" that you encounter. By now you are curious. The Tuk Tuk driver may take you to yet another temple, for yet another "chance" meeting with someone who confirms the story. Usually, you are now on your way to the gem store. This is your last chance to save yourself from a very bad experience. The gem store itself will make every effort to look respectable. There will be staff in uniforms, display cases, etc....but most shops will not have windows, or else they are covered up. Officially recognized jewelry stores should have a Jewelfest logo in plain view, although this is not a guarantee. You will always be taken to a separate room, not left in the main selling area. There will be almost no other customers, and if there are, it will be a foreigner again, who confirms the story and tells you exactly what everyone else said. In this smaller room, you are told the same story, shown a book with photocopies of other passports of "customers", and assured that you can get your money back under any circumstances. The transaction involves mailing the jewelry back to you, or to whatever address you give them (parents, Poste Restante in another country, etc...). The reason for this is can vary, but usually it is because the courier service ensures the goods against theft or loss. Your country's Customs treats goods imported by you the same, regardless of whether they are with you or were sent to you via the mail system. If this is a tax-free purchase, they should not object to you taking the jewelry with you. The use of the mail system is essential in making this scam work. This is the fifth warning sign. Most people do not have the cash with them. The stores never have credit card machines so those people wanting to pay via credit cards are told the shop does not usually do business with the public, so they have no credit card machine. Fear not, their other store does sell to the public, so they will loan you their car, driver and escort to that store to run your credit card through the machine. This is a gold store, where you are told you have to buy gold (for whatever reason, inventory, tax purposes, etc...) and take the gold with you. You will trade the gold for the jewelry set. If you pay cash, they will give you their car, driver and escort to take you to your ATM or wherever else you need to go to get your cash. Back at the jewelry store, you get all kinds of official looking receipts, they show you the courier package they put the jewelry in, make you sign the envelope once it's sealed to ensure no one tampers with the package, and you've now overpaid for cheap, though usually real, jewelry. As a sign of their gratitude, they will always give your their car and driver and take you around town, to a restaurant, tourist attractions, Thai massages, etc...They do this to distract you and get your package to the mail center as quickly as possible. If they can get your package out of the country before you realize you've been scammed, it will take you over a week to get the gems back in your possession, giving them time to close up shop and vanish forever. WARNING! Provided by Morrisy from Leicestershire, UK ): As you already have been told about Tuk Tuk drivers, I'll tell you about my adventure. A fine young local approached me outside the Grand Palace asking for 10 Baht to visit jewellery and clothes shops. Once in the shops they try to sell you as much they can - as much as you say 'no' they bombard you! I ended up buying a suit. This was my first day in Bangkok so I had them hold on to the suit until I had finished travelling. When I arrived back in Bangkok I gave a Tuk Tuk the address and agreed on a price to go there. But en route he hassled about the fare - he wanted to take me to two more shops and he got quite angry when I wouldn't go. DONT let Tuk Tuk drivers give you the sob story that they are poor either. I bumped into some from Khao San Road in a posh place on the other side of town. DONT leave valuables in bags under the busses - I had some jewellery pinched. They have a second driver sleep in there as well. Morrisy. |
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"Chabon_a_****stain" wrote in message m... The Bangkok Gem Scam Provided by The Thai Gem Scam Group ) This scam has been working for over 20 years, and succeeds due to several factors: The same scam in all countries through the ages. The prinicpals may be different, but the underlying factor is the same: greed. 1. Local authorities inability to deal with the scam effectively 2. The complicated relationship between Thais and "Farangs" 3. Tourists can't stay in the country to press charges 4. Tourists don't get to talk to one another and share information 5. Everybody is greedy and wants to get rich quick There are several excellent sites that outline the process of the scam, but here is an overview that includes warning signs to watch for so that you recognize the scam. THE SET UP There are, in fact, two variations on the scam, but both involve you paying far too much for jewelry. The other one is where a Tuk Tuk driver simply takes you to a gem shop (or tailor) and tells you to look around for 10 minutes; he gets a free gas coupon for each customer he brings in. This is simple and obvious, and most people don't make a purchase in this case. The scam discussed on this page involves "coincidental" meetings with "friendly" people. Because of the coincidences and the friendliness of the people involved, the victim's guard is let down, thus ensuring the scam's success. The usual set up involves a tourist (or tourists, as couples get targeted as well) walking out of their hotel, on the street, near a tourist attraction, and being approached by a friendly local. Thais, as a rule, do not approach foreigners alone. This is the first warning sign. The person who approaches you will be very friendly and ask where you are from, where you are going, etc... perhaps identifying himself (herself) as a guide, a student, a government employee, a Tuk Tuk driver, etc.... Regardless of what you answer with regards to your destination, he/she will give you some reason as to why you can't go there. People going to the Grand Palace or Wat Pho are commonly told that it is closed for some holiday involving Buddha or the Royal Family. The Grand Palace and Wat Pho are a main attraction of Bangkok, one that provides a large amount of revenue through admission fees. As such, they are both open 365 days/year; why would they close? This is the second warning sign. They both open at 8am and the Grand Palace closes at 15:30pm while the Wat Pho closes at 17:00pm. Note there is only one entrance for the Grand Palace and that *parts* of the Grand Palace may be closed for royal functions, but never the entire complex. Never fear, however, your new "friend" will tell you about another temple or Wat that is open. They usually say that it is not normally open to the public, it is just today. He/she usually also mentions the Asian economic crisis, and how it is harder for Thai students to pay for their studies abroad with the devaluation of the Thai currency. Usually, there will be a mention of how the government lets Thai students sell one jewelry set a year, tax free, to help fund their studies abroad. It may or may not be mentioned that foreigners are allowed to participate in this scheme once a year, in a bid to promote tourism. You are then told about the special Tuk Tuks that take tourists around for a special rate, due to the holiday. Usually this is 20 Baht/hour or something like that, and they'll always tell you there are only certain Tuk Tuks that do this. There are no government or special Tuk Tuks. They are all privately owned. This is the third warning sign. Your new friend may now choose a Tuk Tuk for you (he has to in order to get his accomplice). He will arrange things for you and send you off to this other temple. In fact, there is nothing too special about this temple, but it is quiet and deserted. The Tuk Tuk driver will send you in, assuring you that he will wait. Of course he will, he has to be the one to take you to the gem store. You wander around the temple where you will meet a second "friendly" local. He may approach you, asking you questions or offering some advice; you may approach him, because he dropped his keys and walked away. In all cases, it is a casual, chance encounter, with all the necessary friendliness and coincidence to disarm your suspicions. He will identify himself as a businessman, student, whatever he thinks will allay your suspicions. This second person will ask various questions about you and somehow steer the conversation back to jewelry. They often get you to mention it, as you've heard about it from the person you met earlier. Almost always, they make no effort to sell to you; they drop some hints that lead you to ask questions. You are made to feel like you are lucky to know about this, or that you would be foolish to miss out. They tell you that foreigners are allowed to participate in this for only a short time each year, and today is always the last day. They even have a receipt showing that they just bought jewelry that very day. The Thai government does not have a 195% export tax on jewelry. Your own country's Customs, however, does care about how much you import back into your country. This is the fourth warning sign. Note that at this point, a foreigner might join the conversation, if not at the temple, then at the shop itself. The foreigner will assure you it is all legitimate, that he/she uses it to pay for his trip all the time. It may also be another local who tells you they live abroad and come home once a year for this. In either case, it adds to the legitimacy of the scam, and adds to the number of "coincidences" that you encounter. By now you are curious. The Tuk Tuk driver may take you to yet another temple, for yet another "chance" meeting with someone who confirms the story. Usually, you are now on your way to the gem store. This is your last chance to save yourself from a very bad experience. The gem store itself will make every effort to look respectable. There will be staff in uniforms, display cases, etc....but most shops will not have windows, or else they are covered up. Officially recognized jewelry stores should have a Jewelfest logo in plain view, although this is not a guarantee. You will always be taken to a separate room, not left in the main selling area. There will be almost no other customers, and if there are, it will be a foreigner again, who confirms the story and tells you exactly what everyone else said. In this smaller room, you are told the same story, shown a book with photocopies of other passports of "customers", and assured that you can get your money back under any circumstances. The transaction involves mailing the jewelry back to you, or to whatever address you give them (parents, Poste Restante in another country, etc...). The reason for this is can vary, but usually it is because the courier service ensures the goods against theft or loss. Your country's Customs treats goods imported by you the same, regardless of whether they are with you or were sent to you via the mail system. If this is a tax-free purchase, they should not object to you taking the jewelry with you. The use of the mail system is essential in making this scam work. This is the fifth warning sign. Most people do not have the cash with them. The stores never have credit card machines so those people wanting to pay via credit cards are told the shop does not usually do business with the public, so they have no credit card machine. Fear not, their other store does sell to the public, so they will loan you their car, driver and escort to that store to run your credit card through the machine. This is a gold store, where you are told you have to buy gold (for whatever reason, inventory, tax purposes, etc...) and take the gold with you. You will trade the gold for the jewelry set. If you pay cash, they will give you their car, driver and escort to take you to your ATM or wherever else you need to go to get your cash. Back at the jewelry store, you get all kinds of official looking receipts, they show you the courier package they put the jewelry in, make you sign the envelope once it's sealed to ensure no one tampers with the package, and you've now overpaid for cheap, though usually real, jewelry. As a sign of their gratitude, they will always give your their car and driver and take you around town, to a restaurant, tourist attractions, Thai massages, etc...They do this to distract you and get your package to the mail center as quickly as possible. If they can get your package out of the country before you realize you've been scammed, it will take you over a week to get the gems back in your possession, giving them time to close up shop and vanish forever. WARNING! Provided by Morrisy from Leicestershire, UK ): As you already have been told about Tuk Tuk drivers, I'll tell you about my adventure. A fine young local approached me outside the Grand Palace asking for 10 Baht to visit jewellery and clothes shops. Once in the shops they try to sell you as much they can - as much as you say 'no' they bombard you! I ended up buying a suit. This was my first day in Bangkok so I had them hold on to the suit until I had finished travelling. When I arrived back in Bangkok I gave a Tuk Tuk the address and agreed on a price to go there. But en route he hassled about the fare - he wanted to take me to two more shops and he got quite angry when I wouldn't go. DONT let Tuk Tuk drivers give you the sob story that they are poor either. I bumped into some from Khao San Road in a posh place on the other side of town. DONT leave valuables in bags under the busses - I had some jewellery pinched. They have a second driver sleep in there as well. Morrisy. |
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This sure brings back memories - in Chiang Mai. Pretty much the same
story minus the bit about the gold store. I hadn't made up my mind what to do one day and was casually approached by a well-dressed guy near one of the wats. He spoke English very well, a "business man", and we got talking about things generally. The subject of gifts came up, one thing led to another, and he said something about this being the last day of a gov't-sponsored sale. Showed me some receipts of gems with up to maybe 60-80% off retail. A tuk tuk was nearby, and he said this guy could take me to a store right away for 20 bt. For some reason, I went with the driver to the gem store. A few minutes later as we approached the store, I could see a couple of people were outside standing. As I got out, one person came over and welcomed me to his store - he was actually expecting me! Pretty amazing, I thought. We went inside (no one else there), he showed me around the glass cases, asked what I was interested in, etc. I mentioned the last day sale he was having. He said, "Of course, come in here" to a back room pleasantly decorated. I was a grungy-looking tourist, but he treated me like quite respectfully and began to elaborate on what the special sale was all about. The once-a-year thing, some talk about reselling gems in America complete with charts, a huge book full of copies of passports of others who took advantage of this deal (I saw a picture of a woman from San Diego I swear I could almost recognize even today), how the gems would be shipped to the US for reasons of safety I think it was. I could then become a "member" and be allowed to purchase further items if I wanted to later on possibly within the year - can't remember details on membership too well. Anyway, a pretty good sales pitch. In order for me to get the maximum benefit from such a deal, what he wanted from me was a sale of the order of US $10,000 or higher to be put on my credit card. The guy wasn't messing around - I don't know what led him to think I had that kind of money. He also wanted my local(US) bank account number, social security number and a copy of my passport. I said that was asking a lot for just a purchase of some gems. I don't recall what he said but think it had something to do with ensuring the gems got to the right person or some such. I was offered some refreshments after a half hour or so from a woman who came into the room and then sat at a table in the corner by herself - must have been getting impatient with things. I asked shortly after this to go back into the showroom and take a look around. We went, he showed stuff, I had no idea what was what, and asked how late in the day he would still be open. He said 5:00PM. It was noon and I needed lunch so said I'd think about it and asked if he knew a good outdoor restaurant nearby - sure, right down the road. We said goodby, and I went off to have lunch. Right after I ordered some food, a well-dressed person, tie and all, at the next table asked where I was from and how liked CM, was I on business or otherwise - how he could have thought I was on business was beyond me. I was a tourist but now that he mentioned it, I just might be doing some business in the area. He said, you don't mean the gem sale on this last day, do you? And I said, why yes that's it exactly. He then knew what I was talking about and said, indeed, I should take advantage of this one-day-a-year sale as he was a "member" himself and was in town for the very same purpose of stocking up on gems as well. He produced a past sales receipt for some gems with "80% discount" sprayed across the thing in bold letters. As a member of this store, he was able to get this kind of discount and then sell the merchandise elsewhere for a considerable profit. He said this is a deal that should not be turned down. Well, I thought this was remarkable that I had run into someone else who had been actually doing the very thing I had been asked to consider. We talked a bit more and he said he was going to a museum or something like it a few blocks away and if I felt like it might be interested in. I said that sounded like a good idea and thanked him for his suggestion and at that we parted ways and I finished lunch. (Man, this is really getting longer than I had wanted - well not that much more.) It was one PM, and I thought maybe it would be a good to visit that museum or whatever to clear my mind. I was about a block toward the place from the restaurant, and saw in the distance someone who looked familiar. Sure enough, it was the guy who had been talking to me at lunch. What a surprise, I said, and he said he was on his way over there too but found out the place was closed so not to bother. We walked back together for a while. We passed a large group of people yelling in a circle - it was a cock fight and I made some innocuous remark about it; he didn't even turn to look and didn't respond to what I had said. He immediately started in on the previous business we had been talking about and reminded me to be sure not to let this opportunity escape. We crossed the intersection in different directions. I had decided to make a phone call to check up on some of this. Went into a phone booth and found, surprise, all was in Thai. I decided I would try to find a local bank to make an enquiry about this special day - figured they would speak English. As I was looking around near the phone booth, a well-dressed person asked if he could help with anything. I asked if there was a local bank around. He said, yes sure, right around the corner. Was I on business or here as a tourist, he asked. I responded a tourist. He said that as a tourist this was a very opportune day as once a year certain govt-sponsored stores have a once-a-year sale on merchandise with as much as 80% discount off retail prices. He showed me a receipt to prove what was possible. I said that sounded very interesting, but at the moment I really wanted to go the bank. As we parted, he reminded me again of the special deal that would end today. At the bank, I enquired about today being a special day for gem sales esp'ly at such-and-such a store. She said she would check it out for me. 10 Minutes later, she came back, told me she had checked everywhere she could think of and said, finally, she could find no information of any kind on such a sale. I thanked her graciously for her efforts and walked outside. End of story. I am normally a very sceptical person, but in retrospect this experience shook me up a lot. I really had no intention of buying anything when I took that tuk tuk ride, just something different to do; yet after listening to the store owner for a while, I began to wonder if this whole thing was a deal after all. Then the chance encounters later on, the one at the cafe made it sound pretty good. But I had forgotten about the fact the owner knew I was coming; the 2nd guy later didn't respond to my comment on the cock fight; the 3rd "business" man was probably one too many. At that point, I knew I had to check it out, but how? The fact is that, for a while, my guard had been knocked down and I hadn't realized it. Only after I left the bank and walked back to the city did I realize how close I had come to buying into this scheme. These guys are damn good at what they do. Their movements are well-coordinated, the communications, the sincerity, their command of English, the owner sized me up correctly - maybe because I didn't flinch when he talked about $10K, so then he got word out to his team for a full court press. It could have worked and no doubt does. Had this happened late in the day when I might have been more tired physically and mentally, I might have fallen for it. So beware - all it takes is for a brief mental mistake for these guys to make a real windfall at your expense. |
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"Chris Kuan" proposed... (Miguel Cruz) wrote on Fri 05 Nov 2004 10:57:42p By the way, the last time I was in Bangkok, I was repeatedly approached by friendly young people who claimed to have a brother or sister who was about go off to study in [whichever country I claimed to be from] and they were hoping we could go for coffee somewhere so I could share some pointers on life there. What's up with that? Same deal? Spiked coffee? Yup . . . right in the middle of the Food Hall in the Siam Centre. Then whisked off in a taxi somewhere & fed 'n' watered again (increasing the dose). Luckily I wasn't very hungry that day & managed to give them the slip. _______ Geoff B |
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"Chris Kuan" proposed... (Miguel Cruz) wrote on Fri 05 Nov 2004 10:57:42p By the way, the last time I was in Bangkok, I was repeatedly approached by friendly young people who claimed to have a brother or sister who was about go off to study in [whichever country I claimed to be from] and they were hoping we could go for coffee somewhere so I could share some pointers on life there. What's up with that? Same deal? Spiked coffee? Yup . . . right in the middle of the Food Hall in the Siam Centre. Then whisked off in a taxi somewhere & fed 'n' watered again (increasing the dose). Luckily I wasn't very hungry that day & managed to give them the slip. _______ Geoff B |
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New Geoff m.gjb SPHERICAL wrote:
"Chris Kuan" proposed... (Miguel Cruz) wrote on Fri 05 Nov 2004 10:57:42p By the way, the last time I was in Bangkok, I was repeatedly approached by friendly young people who claimed to have a brother or sister who was about go off to study in [whichever country I claimed to be from] and they were hoping we could go for coffee somewhere so I could share some pointers on life there. What's up with that? Same deal? Spiked coffee? Yup . . . right in the middle of the Food Hall in the Siam Centre. Then whisked off in a taxi somewhere & fed 'n' watered again (increasing the dose). Funnily enough, two of the times it happened to me were in the Siam Centre. miguel -- Hit The Road! Photos from 32 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu |
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