Shop Owner in Khon Kaen Duped into Purchasing Water Instead of Beer

snoop1130 · August 5

A grocery store owner in Khon Kaen was tricked into purchasing a crate, she believed contained beer, for 500 baht, but found out it was filled with ordinary water instead. She posted a video online to caution other shop owners about this scam.

The incident happened on August 4, around 7pm. The shop owner, 64-year-old Suphan, was at her shop in the Ban Samakkhi area in Mueang district, Khon Kaen, when a man rode up to her on a motorcycle.

The man, who had a short, stout build and dark skin, offered to sell Suphan a crate of beer for 500 baht, which was significantly cheaper than the market price of more than 600 baht per crate. Suphan, considering the late hour and recent news of a beer truck accident near her village, thought the beers might be discounted due to being from the accident.

Suphan checked the crate, which appeared new, and decided to buy it. After paying, the man bought some local alcoholic beverage. Suphan commented on the unusual scenario of him selling beer then buying alcohol. The man casually drank the beverage and left on his bike.

Soon after, Suphan's son came to the shop. She asked him to open the crate and they found the bottles strangely sealed and some caps not fully closed. They discovered all 12 bottles were filled with water. Realizing they had been fooled, Suphan decided to record a video pouring out the water, posting it on Facebook to alert others of the scam.

“I was shocked and disappointed. I hope this serves as a warning to others to be alert and don't fall for such scams.”

Following the video going viral, several shop owners shared their similar experiences, suggesting the scam could be more common than initially believed. Suphan plans to report the matter to the Tha Phra Police Station.

Despite being scammed, she remains forgiving and wants the man to stop duping other people.

This scam emphasizes the need for small business owners to be vigilant, particularly in economic difficulties when scams are more likely. Suphan's experience is a reminder to verify products and sellers to avoid being tricked.

Suphan's local community has shown support and shared her video to raise awareness. The police is expected to investigate the incident in hopes of preventing future scams and bring the scammer to justice.

File photo for reference only

-- 2024-08-05

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