Liberian Duo Arrested in Bangkok for $90,000 Gold Scam

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Picture courtesy: Thai Rath

 

Two Liberian nationals have been detained in Bangkok for their involvement in a $90,000 gold-selling scam, in which they tricked a Thai businessman with counterfeit banknotes.

 

According to Pol Col Pansa Amarapitak, head of Thong Lor police, the suspects, Solomon Varney Gaddeh, 32, and Yousouf Cherif, 50, were apprehended on Udomsuk Road in Bang Na late on Saturday. The arrests came after the businessman reported that two Africans deceived him out of a cash sum when he attempted to purchase 2kg of gold on 2nd January.

 

The businessman was initially contacted by a foreigner called Richard on Facebook, who offered him gold bars below market value. They arranged a meeting in the car park of the Ibis Bangkok hotel in Soi Sukhumvit 24, where the cash exchange was to take place.

At the rendezvous, Mr Gaddeh and Mr Yousouf met the businessman instead of Richard, who relayed instructions over the phone and directed them to an outdoor parking area nearby.

 

Upon inspection, the gold bars appeared genuine; however, during the transaction, Richard called via video link, distracting the businessman. This allowed the suspects to switch the real cash for counterfeit bills.

 

Feigning a need for their passports, they left with the gold, promising to return shortly. When they failed to return and Richard became unreachable by phone, the businessman realised the banknotes felt unusual. A nearby bank later confirmed the money was fake.

 

The suspects admitted to the scam, revealing the stolen funds had already been transferred abroad. Police suspect that three more individuals were involved and are continuing their investigation, reported Thai Rath.

 

Picture courtesy: Thai Rath

 

-- 2025-01-06

 

 

 

[JoePai]

gold bars below market value

 

Now gibe me a minute while I think what is wrong with that 🤣

[Jim Blue]

Buying gold bars from Africans in a car  in a car park for cash.

Er did something in his mind get switched off ?

[mokwit]

5 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

Buying gold bars from Africans in a car  in a car park for cash.

Er did something in his mind get switched off ?

As they were below value he probably thought this was par for the course. You don't get bargains like this going through licensed channels you know.

 

 

[Peterphuket]

Businessman? With what intention would I sell gold below value, then you must know something is wrong.

[ronster]

Why would they be able to touch the cash ?

Surely you wouldn't hand it over until agreed to buy the gold and they handed it to you .

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

Buying gold bars from Africans in a car  in a car park for cash.

Er did something in his mind get switched off ?

Greed and a price too good to be true.

Nothing wrong in buying privately, nothing wrong with negotiating a low price...

Just make sure everything is cosher.

[black tabby12345]

My close encounter with African scammers 13 years ago.

It happened in 2011 while I was in Poipet(Thai-Cambodian border town) for Thai tourist visa from their embassy in Phnom Penh(using visa agent).

 

I came across a few shady African men while taking a shelter under the roof of the house facing the main street when suddenly caught up in a downpour.

 

Self-claimed Liberians with multi-million dollars  in Indonesian/Vietnames  banks, asked me for help.

They said they inherited huge amount of legacy from own fathers.

But unable to take the fund out. And currently short of money to sustain their life in Thailand. And they are willing to offer me reward when things go well.

 

Odd.  I was instantly alerted.

If the direct descendent cannot withdraw the money, how  the total stranger(not a legal expert) can help? Just cannot happen.

 

I could instantly predict what would he say next: Soliciting money.

So I immediately declined his  request and walked away; no longer raining.

And quickly walked away, back to the hotel I was staying.

 

I was certainly not born yesterday...

[Badbanker]

Its a bit sad that the governments in their own countries are so corrupt, that their citizens have to go overseas and scam innocent people!

[norsurin]

I never trust africans in Thailand.They r scammers.One person who stayed in the same hotel as i did said he was a goldtrader.. yeah sure The next day he was thrown out of the hotel because he didn't pay for the room the last 4 days.Told the manager that he would go to his agent in Pattaya to get alot of money.

The manager didnt believe him and empty his room and told him to never come back again.

I heard afterwords that he stayed with a african hooker.

[Jim Blue]

5 hours ago, black tabby12345 said:

My close encounter with African scammers 13 years ago.

It happened in 2011 while I was in Poipet(Thai-Cambodian border town) 

Sounds like they were Nigerian trained !

[BangkokReady]

6 hours ago, black tabby12345 said:

Odd.  I was instantly alerted.

If the direct descendent cannot withdraw the money, how  the total stranger(not a legal expert) can help? Just cannot happen.

 

Although obviously a scam, the logic would be that if you loan them some money now, they will repay you what you loaned, and much more, once the funds are released to them.  You would have no effect on the actual release of the funds.

[black tabby12345]

16 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

Sounds like they were Nigerian trained !

 

Have you me any Nigerian scammers like those?

If you know more about them, I would like to hear about.