Dear Friend,
I want to share with u my OWN real life experience. Sad.
Hope your family members, friends and yourself DO NOT suffer the same fate as me.
A) Sway to get targetted. My story is 95% similar to http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Scams/sapp31.shtml
B) Sad..very common in Thailand since 2002 (records cos Internet started. LOL). http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Scams/stores.shtml
For that moment, my skill and knowledge seems to vanished.
a) My knowledge of ISO, ISO audit, body langauge reading skill, International Supply Chain knowledge, transaction experience, willpower, skill to analysis and IQ all became ZERO.
b) Especially the 2nd ring that is 10mins different. Donated to them extra. LOL. THB 20,860.00 SGD$ 878.06
i) There was some appearance defect. I was a QE. (Quality controller!) The removed the so call defect.
ii) The gem is bigger size than the earlier ring I saw which difference of $300-$400.
iii) There is even more smaller diamonds.
iv) Claimed to be old (cheaper) and new version difference.
My story goes:
Scammer no. 1 (Starter)
Monday (11/09/06), my wife and me was walking to 4face buddha location through Siam station, through a new shopping mall call Central World Plaza. Saw a grand praying area but did not seem to be it. 3 in 1 statue that have 4face buddha, extra buddha head on top of them. Body different. Told by a Thai claiming that he is 50yrs old, a lawyer that walked passed us and said hello to us as we were figuring how to go 4face buddha. That was his lucky day.
He told me we are lucky, today ---> The Lucky Buddha template is open to public. Why not I go there then go 4Face buddha.
I was thinking: "No harm since I have time to waste, pray and go to 4Face Buddha".
He suggested in between go Yindee, a gem shop that less 30%. I did not bother what is talking for that part.
He even told me only 30 baht to go via a Tu-tu that wear uniform. Trustworthy. MY ASS!
Scammer no. 2 (Driver)
Amazed that it will be only 30 baht compared to usual payment that I have to pay for more than that, we got him to help flag a incoming driver, IN UNIFORM! Lawyer helped to talk to driver on where to go. Did not notice that he told him Yindee. The driver is so kind to bring us into the temple and teach me where to get incense etc in lucky buddha house.
My Thoughts: "No monk, no crowd...?? What the! Cos Monday. Today 1st or 15th? Din think...pray and go off. OMG...I am a lazy person who does not really pray except exam or to spirits."
He left me and wife to go into 2nd house with sleeping buddha.
Scammer no. 3 (Thai Airways - -Phuket Cargo Staff)
At this moment, there is this person before us or just joined us. He took incense and a candle.
Not sure about the practise in Thailand, I took only incense and wanted to borrow light.
He spoke to ask, ask us if speak English, told me not to leave after offering incense, should sit around for a few mins.
Then chat ask whether we on holiday, here often...mentioned history of Lucky Buddha and the template.
LOL...not really bother. Still have the cheek to tell me he is from Tha Airwyas airline, Phuket cargo crew.
Chat that we here only for holiday? Commented that we are stupid.
Should have bought laptop and mobile phone from SG for a profit in Thailand MBK.
I remember: my handyman did such export loophole for Indians going back but for 2nd hand goods.
I recall that those phones I saw in MBK alike cheaper than SG...
Told us that we should do it next time. For tourist, we can buy ruby/saphhire to Singapore from this shop(Yindee) that Poh Heng is buying from. Forget to ask for Poh Heng Purchase Order in the shop (no use...will also be another fake paper). Told us that buying from this place that have 30% offer, tax free, we can sell to Poh Heng after 45days. Bought it alike personal use first. Told us to go there see, ask about 4Cs, 2Gs and so on...can get to buy 5pieces only for tourist and accept credit card. Shown us a copy of his purchase. Recommend get Princess Diana design.
Left temple, the driver suggest to go (Yindee Lapidary Co. LTD, 1091/75-77 Petchburi Rd. Soi 33, Makasan Bangkok 10400 Thailand. Tel: 253-1540-1 Fax: 651-6784), we did not reject. I thought and told wife, funny - 2 person told us same shop. Did not tell driver and he is driving us there.
4, 5 and 6th scammer (Sales workers and Gemologist)
Arrived and we went in, shop owner told us the same story about them being a wholesaler and that they were having a special promotion where they sold to the public at wholesale prices. Introduced us to some samples, the 4Cs and his connection with Singapore-Thai Chamber of Commerce...which looks alike any normal meeting minutes to me. Told us no obligation..listen no need to buy also can.
7th scammer (Fellow Singaporean and the root cause of our purchase)
At the very same moment, a chinese that they say is Singaporean came to collect his puchase and leaving for hotel. Chat with us, ask us where we stay and told us the similar story in Hokkien that we heard in temple. Mentioned that this is his 3rd visit here. Wanted to ask where he stay but did not. Confirmed that it is possible for sale.
When the male Sales Gemologist told me that he loves his wife very much etc...buy every year.. I had a moment of greed that I might even have to buy a set for our mothers...which means $10k! Lucky I did not take out all my credit card. I think I can jump if I do. I brought 4 cards. Possible to sign that much. Told him another story of our chat with the Singaporean. My uncle did told me about buying ruby from Thailand. Unable to recall properly. I did not bring my mobile along due to low batt. Wanted to call him but only sms him after I returned hotel.
The finally scammers (Ourselves)
My wife like the jewellery and I can afford it. Can sell it if need. Better still, next trip buy the balance design to sell off after our wedding. Make a profit since he say Ruby and Saphhire mine dying out. A purchase will make us member. Bought the first Ruby ring @ THB 28k after 30% discount.
They shown me a men ring that cost SGD$1.3k range which I like the design but very expensive. They brought me another design which is cheaper with more diamonds. Claim to be old series of saphhire. Bigger size than the expensive one. Bought the 2nd Sapphire ring @ more than THB 20k after 30% discount. Saw appearance defect and wanted to not buy. They polish the ring and I bought it since my wife wanted to buy me as a present instead.
Happily, we bought 2 rings and left the shop. SMS my uncle at night and told me mum over phone. Uncle warned me just buy for own use. Mum did not want to say more since I bought them.
2nd day,
I went back there 2nd day to change ring size. They told me to return an hour later. Got new tuk-tuk driver to bring me to his gem shop for his guide tips. Did not buy there cos killing time and does not look nice for the gems there. Took adjusted ring and left. Ponder no receipt or acknowledgement of ring under modification etc.
The driver took us to another shop again to help him earn gasoline. This time nearly bought a matching pair of earrings $300+. We shown them the ring and the sales lady said this is not ruby!!!!!!!! Our heart sank. The manager came and claim that this is from another country. Not Thailand ruby.... felt something wrong. They introduced us to diamond range and nearly made us buy a $1k set.
We left and did not buy anymore. Return home at past midnight, type in YINDEE LAPIDARY in yahoo...I strike a SCAM.
So many articles found online about the scam,
I found it funny when a series of people I met speaks English and told me the same place. I dare not bring my new jewellery go verify the ring value damage myself further. The Truth is Sad.
Hope u be careful when u travel too.
