Chinese gang caught selling overpriced amulets to tourists in famous Thai temple

[webfact]

 

Two Chinese men willingly surrendered as they were about to be arrested for their involvement in scamming tourists at a well-known temple in Chon Buri, Thailand.

 

The gang had been selling sacred objects at inflated prices. Thai police established a connection between the two men and another group that was apprehended at Khaocheechan Temple in the Bang Sare area of Sattahip District, Chon Buri on May 6.

 

Yesterday, June 11, at 5.30pm, two Chinese men, aged 42 and 26, who were wanted by Pattaya Provincial Court, turned themselves into Pol. Col. Suwitchak Ruangnaumdee, deputy chief of Sattahip Police Station. The Chon Buri Special Branch, Tourist Police, and Investigation Unit were also present during the interrogation. However, both suspects refused to provide any information.

 

Preliminary charges include conspiring to defraud the public and employing undocumented foreign workers without permission. Additionally, they stand accused of being foreign individuals, jointly employing other foreigners to engage in unauthorised retail business operations without obtaining proper licensing.

 

by Nattapong Westwood

 

Top Picture courtesy of ข่าวคนชล Facebook

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/crime/chinese-gang-caught-selling-overpriced-amulets-to-tourists-in-famous-thai-temple

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-06-12

 

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[ikke1959]

Inflated prices is only allowed for Thais

[2baht]

43 minutes ago, webfact said:

The gang had been selling sacred objects at inflated prices.

Things must be really bad in China for them to stoop to this!

[NoDisplayName]

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

The gang had been selling sacred objects at inflated prices.

Judging by the traffic fatality statistics, selling amulets at any price should be a crime.

[NoDisplayName]

57 minutes ago, webfact said:

they stand accused of being foreign individuals

Been there!

[ezzra]

And where was the abbot and the other temple's management people in all of this? next they will say that they didn't had a clue of the scam going on right under their noses right?

[BangkokHank]

Isn't the value of an amulet whatever somebody is willing to pay for it? Or were they perhaps selling amulets that they claimed were lucky but in fact weren't lucky at all? (They clearly didn't help the buyers avoid getting scammed.)

[NoDisplayName]

47 minutes ago, ezzra said:

And where was the abbot and the other temple's management people in all of this? next they will say that they didn't had a clue of the scam going on right under their noses right?

Where's the scam?

Amulets are amulets.

Tourist no like price, tourist no pay price.

 

 

Edited June 12, 2023 by NoDisplayName

[Regyai]

The simple retort for prospective buyers to use is

"but they don't work - they aren't lucky"

"how do you know that?"

" well you've got all these trays full of them...............

 

......& you're getting no money off me"

 

 

Joking aside, its not anything new. Way before covid in the crest of the flag following wave of Chinese tours they were being bussed into a Wat local to me. First to Wai an outside effigy  and then into the main temple hall were a great "U" of tables awaited with Chinese sellers of amulets salivating in anticipation. I had a quick perusal myself (between busses) and whilst no expert I know enough after all these years on the ground here to know rampant scamster pricing when its on show.

Edited June 12, 2023 by Regyai

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Inflated prices is only allowed for Thais

Yep reserved occupation for sure.

[kwan]

Probably like lots of 'Thai Tourist Tat' - Made in China. !

[rwill]

I understand the other charges but selling for inflated prices I don't.  Were they the only sellers at that temple?  What prices were the others selling them for?  

 

Were the other vendors complaining, "They won't buy from us we sell them too cheap".

Edited June 12, 2023 by rwill

[jacko45k]

14 hours ago, rwill said:

I understand the other charges but selling for inflated prices I don't.  Were they the only sellers at that temple?  What prices were the others selling them for?  

 

Were the other vendors complaining, "They won't buy from us we sell them too cheap".

When these temples go commercial it is an ugly thing. It had happened to the one near me and coachloads of Chinese tourists were coming and going all day. That of course brought hawkers and beggars and you could not get into the 7-11 nearby. It also caused traffic issues getting in and out at the main highway. Thankfully I believe a change of Abbot and it stopped. 

[mikebell]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

 

 

19 hours ago, Regyai said:

The simple retort for prospective buyers to use is

"but they don't work - they aren't lucky"

"how do you know that?"

" well you've got all these trays full of them

Plus the really lucky ones are 2nd hand so their previous owners are dead.  

[Regyai]

11 minutes ago, mikebell said:

 

Plus the really lucky ones are 2nd hand so their previous owners are dead.  

I think amulets bestowing immortality would be pushing credibility a bit too far in any event.