Local restaurants warned of sophisticated wine scam circulating in Hua Hin

[webfact]

An elaborate wine scam, which previously made headlines in Bangkok, has made its way to Hua Hin, with restauranteurs urged to remain vigilant.

 

The scheme came to attention earlier this week when a Hua Hin restaurant narrowly avoided falling prey to it. The modus operandi involves scammers making a reservation under the guise of hosting a high-end event and then pushing restaurants to procure wine from a specific vendor.

 

In a recent instance, a reservation was made for a table of 25, under the name ‘Mook’. The fraudster then urged the restaurant to prepare wine, steering them towards a vendor they recommended.

 

When the establishment reached out to this vendor, they were met with a demand for a 60% upfront payment before any wine would be shipped. The order for the six bottles totalled over 58,000 THB.

 

By Online Reporter

TOP: File Photo

 

Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/hua-hin-restaurants-warned-of-sophisticated-wine-scam-circulating-in-thailand/

 

-- Hua Hin Today 2023-08-28

 

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[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

When the establishment reached out to this vendor, they were met with a demand for a 60% upfront payment before any wine would be shipped.

This is the point at which you simply hang-up.

[ikke1959]

The wines in Thailand are ver overpriced by the taxes.. In Europe in a restaurant you pay 15 euro for a good bottle = about 600 THB.. For this amount here you have almost undrinkable wine...I don't talk about the expensive wines in Europe, just normal good quality..

[sikishrory]

It's happening in phuket too. I heard two stories last week. They call saying some Chinese vip is coming and he needs this wine. They transfer money to the restaurant but the transfer fails as it's a weird Chinese bank. Then as above.

[sammieuk1]

So normal price then where's the scam ????

[Scouse123]

Not following this 100%.

 

The only way there could be the scam is that the 60% deposit gets lost to a non existent wine company?

[Grumpy one]

If someone asks you to get these wines at a cost of 58000 baht, just ask for 80000 baht deposit for the event 

No scam 

[placnx]

The restaurant could just say that the corkage fee is X, so the customer should arrange the wine themselves (to be sure they get what they want).

[DJ54]

Speaking of wine… in the news today……

 

France has too much wine. It's paying millions to destroy the leftovers.

[PETERTHEEATER]

The modus operandi involves scammers making a reservation under the guise of hosting a high-end event and then pushing restaurants to procure wine from a specific vendor.

 

Wow! That is elaborate. ????

[GroveHillWanderer]

On 8/28/2023 at 7:38 AM, Scouse123 said:

Not following this 100%.

 

The only way there could be the scam is that the 60% deposit gets lost to a non existent wine company?

I would think the scam is that the restaurant pays 60% up front and the scammers just keep the money, without supplying any wine.

[xylophone]

On 8/28/2023 at 2:56 PM, DJ54 said:

Speaking of wine… in the news today……

 

France has too much wine. It's paying millions to destroy the leftovers.

I thought any mention of wine on the forum was banned?? At least that's what I was informed by someone from the moderator's team, and I know this because I had to change my avatar which was a bottle of "The Hedonist" wine!

 

However I did notice somewhere else that there was a post/advertisement for a huge wine showed/exhibition in Hua Hin – – so I'd like to know what's going on if possible.

 

Thanks in advance to the moderator team.

[DJ54]

5 hours ago, xylophone said:

any mention of wine on the forum

I think you can’t post pictures of alcohol….. someone can clarify. It’s also a no no to post pictures of alcohol beverages on social media… you’ve probably noticed a beer manufacturer commercial is water …. 

[ExpatOilWorker]

The Chinese have arrived and are opening their "business"....

[GroveHillWanderer]

5 hours ago, xylophone said:

I thought any mention of wine on the forum was banned?? At least that's what I was informed by someone from the moderator's team, and I know this because I had to change my avatar which was a bottle of "The Hedonist" wine!

I'm pretty sure just mentioning it is OK  - there have been numerous discussions about wine on the forum (and beer, and even some other alcoholic beverages, if I'm not mistaken).

 

 

[mokwit]

Hua Hin restaurateurs being scammed themselves. How does it feel?

[xylophone]

10 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

I'm pretty sure just mentioning it is OK  - there have been numerous discussions about wine on the forum (and beer, and even some other alcoholic beverages, if I'm not mistaken).

 

 

You are right because I used to post regularly on the "Wine Thread" because collecting wine has been my hobby for 50 years (drinking it also I may add!).

 

It had a few followers at one time, but if the law says we can't post/talk about it, then so be it. A pity really because it's such an interesting subject.

[Deserted]

Very Thai.

[JayClay]

On 8/28/2023 at 7:38 AM, Scouse123 said:

Not following this 100%.

 

The only way there could be the scam is that the 60% deposit gets lost to a non existent wine company?

Right. So which bit exactly are you not following? ????

[JayClay]

I like the way that this scam is described as "sophisticated"... ????

[impulse]

On 8/28/2023 at 2:40 AM, webfact said:

In a recent instance, a reservation was made for a table of 25, under the name ‘Mook’.

I don't know about Thailand, but back in the USA "Mook" would be a dead giveaway.

 

[ChipButty]

For such a booking it wouldnt be out of order to ask for a deposit? a friend of mine does