Fool's Gold.... former goldsmith and associates nabbed in 7.6 million baht scam

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Fool's Gold.... former goldsmith and associates nabbed in 7.6 million baht scam

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Police in Khon Kaen announced the arrest of three people after investigating a fake gold scam. 

 

Losses all over the north east region are believed to be 7.6 million baht.

 

In custody are Suphap, 42, from Udon Thani, Pakorn, 41, from Bangkok and Thanakorn, 30, from Surin. 

 

Taken into evidence were vehicles, dozens of pawn tickets, gold jewelry and stoves used for smelting gold. 

 

A gold shop cum pawn brokers in Khon Kaen had become suspicious after Thanakorn kept arriving to pawn similar items of gold jewelry.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

They had the jewelry checked and it was half gold and half nickel. 

 

As soon as Thanakorn arrived again they called the police who were able to start to crack the case. 

 

Thanakorn admitted working with the others and several other people.

 

He said he was a former goldsmith in Bangkok where he had learnt how to mix gold and nickel. 

 

He had been jailed in Sisaket for doing just that but got out in 2018 and continued in that illicit business. 

 

Thai Rath reported that genuine gold was bought by the gang in one baht weight lots then mixed with nickel to turn it into 2 baht weight. 

 

Police have warned all gold traders to check each and every item in their stock. 

 

Investigations continue.

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-01-22

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[hotchilli]

Nice double the weight of gold.. I wonder how many other "goldsmiths" are doing something similar?

[owenm]

Most gold shops and pawn stores should have a spectrum density gold purity testing machine that can analyse the true gold content in seconds. 24, 18, 14, 9 carat doesn't fool these machines because they take the human error element out of the equation. I sold a mixture of gold rings and necklaces in Australia, some of which was Thai gold and no one could be fooled with fool's gold. But TIT.. 

[ianezy0]

Forget the gold, where do police get their haircut. It seems they leave a small cutout on the front side!

OK back to the gold.....

[Scott Tracy]

1 baht weight to 2 baht weight is not 50/50 by volume.

Nickel's density is around 9 grams per cubic centimeter, gold is more than 19 grams per cubic centimetre.

A baht weight is 15.2 grams. 

To make 30 grams out of 15 grams, add 15 grams of nickel. Now you have 15 grams of gold and 15 grams of nickel. 0.78 cc of gold, 1.7 cc of nickel. 2.46 cc instead of 1.56 cc as would have been expected. 57% more volume.

Also, the nickel makes the gold less gold coloured. White gold is around 90% gold by weight and 10% nickel.

An experienced goldsmith, gold shop owner or pawn shop owner would spot that in an instant.

[Damrongsak]

What about the color change due to the nickel in the alloy?  Were they then plating gold over top?

[gk10002000]

I don't know why they would choose nickel.  nickel has a fairly high melting point.  Maybe it makes a fine stable well mixed alloy with gold and apparently does have a slight gold tinge according to wiki.  But if one has cheap gas or electric crucibles, what's 400 degrees C among friends?!

 

Nickel:  Melting point 1728 K (1455 °C, 2651 °F)

Gold:  Melting point 1337.33 K (1064.18 °C, 1947.52 °F)