WASHINGTON — As Chinese tourists return to Thailand after the pandemic curtailed travel, so are the scams that Thai authorities worry will taint the country's reputation even if most of the victims and perpetrators appear to be Chinese.

 

Deputy Police Chief Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn said at a news conference last month that 18 Chinese were charged with fraud for allegedly selling overpriced, supposedly holy, amulets to Chinese tourists visiting Khao Chi Chan temple in Chonburi province. The temple, a Buddhist landmark, is about 160 kilometers southeast of Bangkok in an area famed for its natural beauty and delectable seafood.

 

The alleged fraud involves sales of amulets, objects of either faith or fashion, coveted by Chinese tourists. Real ones sell for thousands of dollars depending on their provenance and material. The ones sold to Chinese tourists, while expensive, are fake.

 

The fraudulent sales occurred during the first half of 2023, and 20 people have been charged, according to police. Sixteen are male, 18 are Chinese and two are Thai.

 

by Yiamyut Sutthichaya

TOP: Thailand's Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, right, gives garlands to Chinese tourists on their arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn province, Thailand, Jan. 9, 2023. 

 

Full story: VOA NEWS 2023-09-16

 

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And behind the Chinese fraudsters comes Chinese state security.

 

Quote

In Southeast Asia, Beijing similarly uses criminal gangs as instruments of statecraft. The archipelago of SEZs along China’s southwestern flank were, in essence, “splinters” of Chinese sovereignty, where local law enforcement had little to no jurisdiction.

 

  https://www.rfa.org/english/commentaries/china-southeastasia-crime-09142023181235.html

Note: 100% of amulets are fake

2 hours ago, Peabody said:

Note: 100% of amulets are fake

I beg to differ, i don't know what is your knowledge and experience with buying amulets, but if you know your amulets well, you can find a real and good ones, ( not cheap though) i should know as i use to deal with them but now i only deal with stuff such as valuable Thai banknotes, coins and medals.

7 minutes ago, ezzra said:

I beg to differ, i don't know what is your knowledge and experience with buying amulets, but if you know your amulets well, you can find a real and good ones, i should know as i use to deal with them but now i only deal with stuff such as valuable Thai banknotes, coins and medals.

You mean they protect you from bad spirits, car crashes etc? How can that be determined at the time of the sale?

47 minutes ago, ezzra said:

I beg to differ, i don't know what is your knowledge and experience with buying amulets, but if you know your amulets well, you can find a real and good ones, ( not cheap though) i should know as i use to deal with them but now i only deal with stuff such as valuable Thai banknotes, coins and medals.

You must love the JEATH museum in Kanchanaburi.

 

Though I prefer the Aussie run museum for WW2 details, I was astounded at the JEATH museum's collection of coins and notes and other Thai antiquities.

 

I suspect it's politically incorrect to even ponder, but I couldn't help but wonder how much they could get for their collection.

 

3 hours ago, Peabody said:

Note: 100% of amulets are fake

Now that's the truth right there.. 

 

taint the country's reputation  

 

555 love it ????

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

you can find a real and good ones,

Define real and good.

I'll stipulate that they exist. That's it.

10 hours ago, webfact said:

The alleged fraud involves sales of amulets (...)

LOL. Thailand, for good reasons, is infamous for all kinds of scams targeting tourists (and locals). Some scams and frauds have been around for decades, without the authorities doing anything against them. Sales of overpriced amulets is just one example. Thailand without scams? - Like Haiti without kidnappings...

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

taint the country's reputation  

 

555 love it ????

Thailand - no prostitution, no (or few) scams, and only law-abiding citizens... Land of lies.