Deceit: Spiritual medium scams four Thais out of 600,000 baht

[webfact]

 

In a tale of deception, four residents reported to law enforcement their loss of 600,000 baht (US$17,015) due to a scam involving a woman claiming to be a spiritual medium. The culprit convinced her victims to perform an expensive ritual, warning that without it, their lives could be at risk. To add to the losses, the fraudster promised to provide cheap cars but never delivered.

 

Deceived by a 47 year old fortune teller and part-time soul guide known as ‘Luek Gaew,’ four aggrieved citizens found themselves out-of-pocket. The case culminated in a report to the Don Yanang Police Station in Thailand’s Bueng Kan province yesterday.

 

It all began in 2016 when Luek Gaew, a friend of the victims for over five years, embarked on an elaborate ruse, the potency of which did not become clear to the victims until it was too late.

Basing her operation in the close-knit community of Don Yanang, Luek Gaew managed to convince the victims of a curse they apparently fell under. She insisted they needed a ceremony conducted by herself to rid themselves of this ill fortune. Within her extensive fabrication, Luek Gaew claimed she was the host body for a spirit guide named ‘Pi Pia,’ with whom she shared her predictions of the victims’ unique National Identification and bank account numbers.

 

By Samantha Rose

Picture courtesy of Sanook

 

#news

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/crime/local-deceit-spiritual-medium-scams-four-thai-residents-out-of-thb-600000

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-07-07

 

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[ezzra]

When it comes to the super natural beliefs, Voodoo and shamanism Thais are the one of the biggest suckers in the world, they will gladly fork out good money in blind trust, and the scammers are always there to take.

[ikke1959]

No problem, I am sure there is more between heaven and earth, but in Thailand everybody seems to be gifted..I know that the supernatural never will give lucky numbers, and never tell about death....But in Thailand they believe everything.. dress up, act strange, and say you are a medium and people will give all you wish

[smedly]

fools and their money - they handed it over willingly, unless there is a written agreement that states otherwise - they paid for a service that they believed in - not the first and certainly not the last 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The culprit convinced her victims to perform an expensive ritual, warning that without it, their lives could be at risk. To add to the losses, the fraudster promised to provide cheap cars but never delivered.

Fools and their money.... 

[Bangkok Barry]

5 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

But in Thailand they believe everything.. dress up, act strange, and say you are a medium and people will give all you wish

I wonder if that is one of the professions forbidden to foreigners. I didn't see it on the recent list. If not......  Could even stream the 'ceremony' on the internet for extra income.

[rwill]

One time my wife took me to a Wat and the monk was telling our fortunes.  When it came to my turn he said something bad was going to happen to me next year and I would probably die.  So to prevent it we had to do this little ceremony where I laid down and he covered me with a cloth like I was dead and did some praying and then brought me back to life again.  That was supposed to change my future.  It made my wife happy.  And it must have worked because I am still alive a few years later!

[connda]

"Fools and their money are soon parted."

[RanongCat]

Same as scam of religion all places. I have a lucky palm but never win lottery.

[kidneyw]

33 minutes ago, rwill said:

One time my wife took me to a Wat and the monk was telling our fortunes.  When it came to my turn he said something bad was going to happen to me next year and I would probably die.  So to prevent it we had to do this little ceremony where I laid down and he covered me with a cloth like I was dead and did some praying and then brought me back to life again.  That was supposed to change my future.  It made my wife happy.  And it must have worked because I am still alive a few years later!

Which Wat? This sounds like the real deal.

[Rimmer]

Off topic in giant fonts removed

[khaowong1]

10 hours ago, ezzra said:

When it comes to the super natural beliefs, Voodoo and shamanism Thais are the one of the biggest suckers in the world, they will gladly fork out good money in blind trust, and the scammers are always there to take.

Amen.. I saw it daily there.  

[youreavinalaff]

14 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

No problem, I am sure there is more between heaven and earth, but in Thailand everybody seems to be gifted..I know that the supernatural never will give lucky numbers, and never tell about death....But in Thailand they believe everything.. dress up, act strange, and say you are a medium and people will give all you wish

"Everybody" is an exaggeration. " They" meaning those in Thailand, is an exaggeration. "Believe everything" is an exaggeration.

 

 

[cowellandrew]

You couldn't make this up only 4 thais have been tricked out of giving money to hosks posks events!

[brianthainess]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

‘Luek Gaew,’

I have put a curse on you, send me all your money or your first born, otherwise I'll send a mosquito or two to pierce your skin and suck YOUR blood.