Report Pensioner Scammed in Fake Facebook Watch Auction

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

A Thai pensioner, 65, was deceived into losing 48,100 baht through a counterfeit luxury watch auction on Facebook. Authorities are now probing the online fraud scheme.

 

Mr Nithikarn, the victim, reported the incident to Pak Kret Police Station after engaging with a fraudulent Facebook page, "24 Ticker," which masqueraded as a legitimate auction site for second-hand luxury watches.

 

On 4 July, Mr Nithikarn placed a bid on a second-hand Rolex Oyster Perpetual. The starting price was set at 29,000 baht, and it seemed like numerous users were engaging, with bids climbing to 47,000 baht. Mr Nithikarn eventually placed the winning bid of 48,000 baht just before the auction closed at 2pm.

 

After winning, the page administrator contacted Mr Nithikarn, asking for the 48,000 baht plus a 100 baht delivery fee. Trusting the page's legitimacy because of apparent bidder involvement and lack of negative feedback, Mr Nithikarn transferred a total of 48,100 baht to a Bangkok Bank account in the name of Thawatchai.

 

The scam unravelled when an alleged insurance company demanded an additional 9,999 baht for shipping insurance, not mentioned in the auction terms. Upon Mr Nithikarn’s refusal to pay and request for a refund, the fraudsters cut off all contact.

 

Mr Nithikarn suspects the presence of accomplices who staged bidding to create a veneer of credibility. He now advises other online shoppers to be extremely cautious when purchasing expensive branded items on social media, suggesting they visit physical stores instead.

 

The police have pinpointed the recipient bank account and are working on freezing it while preparing a summons for the account holder.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-07-11

 

 

[JoePai]

48k for a DayDate    🤣

[frank83628]

You boomers should be more careful

[bdenner]

Som Nom Na! There's one born every day and the scammers will find em.

[richard_smith237]

FaceBook Market Place is a great place to buy and sell items....  But it comes with major caveats

 

- Only ever make a transaction in person

- Verify the product & verify again

 

 

I see loads of Watches, Rolex Submariners etc on FB Market-Place - I'd never go near them... which is a shame, because cutting out the 'middle-men' from second hand dealers can save plenty of money, but that comes at such a risk... (If buying).

[Quentin Zen]

Facebook marketplace is never recommended.  However, if you do your research and find a good seller, you are OK.

 

you are buying the SELLER first, product second.    

 

Never, ever a Rolex or watch that can be faked.   No gold, nothing like that...... never cars, motorbikes, nothing that can hide problems.  

 

I have one amazing watch seller that sells the brand I like.   Zero problems, every time very satisfied.    If he doesn't have it, I won't go to another online seller.  

 

Sometimes you find someone with a lot of good reviews, in many groups, get a Thai to call them, have them send their ID, and the product is fine.  That's a lot of work.  I've done it about four times.

 

Other times I'll buy something cheap and it will be, well, cheap.   Shopee for that, and that place isn't the best.  

 

Got a good ebook reader from Bangkok on Facebook that I couldn't find anywhere.  5k or something.  was good. decided to trust the kid, send the money, and hope.   got some exercise clothing from other sellers.  garbage.  but they sent it.  ah, I learned.  

 

48k scam is next level.   

 

Note:  2025.  Bought one more watch from my reliable seller.  great.  and only one other item this year, was around 1500 baht, was fine.  I've cut way back from before.  maybe a few times a year now.  

[Toby1947]

I bought a fake Omega in Thailand 30yrs ago for about £15 still keeping perfect time. Who needs these bullsh#t expensive real things, and who needs a watch nowadays anyway 🤣👍

[richard_smith237]

7 minutes ago, Toby1947 said:

I bought a fake Omega in Thailand 30yrs ago for about £15 still keeping perfect time. Who needs these bullsh#t expensive real things, and who needs a watch nowadays anyway 🤣👍

 

Ah yes, the beige wallpaper of excuses: “Who needs a watch? I’ve got my phone” or “I’ll just ask someone the time”.... blurted out by some genius every time there is a watch thread.

 

These tired clichés are so dull they should come with a snooze button and probably a warning label.

 

A proper watch isn’t about telling time, its the final punctuation on dressing well. Doesn’t need to be a Rolex or Omega, just something that actually wears like you bothered to get dressed.

 

Meanwhile, the cargo-shorts, wife-beater brigade will never get it - blessedly doomed to wandering the fashion wasteland, forever missing the point while thinking they’re kings of casual.

 

 

[harryviking]

🤣🤣 How dumb can people actually become!! Original Rolex for around 50K Baht?? 😆😆😆

[renaissanc]

The only things you should buy on Facebook are goods for sale at about 160 Baht to 200 Baht. You can't trust any seller on Facebook because of all the scams there..

[hotchilli]

On 7/11/2025 at 3:52 PM, snoop1130 said:

A Thai pensioner, 65, was deceived into losing 48,100 baht through a counterfeit luxury watch auction on Facebook.

Pop's should have known better....

[Nickcage49]

He didn't realize it said "Rolux".

 

They say "there's one born every minute". In Thailand it's 10...

[Maybole]

I recall a stall on Changklan road 40 years ago which had a sign announcing GENUINE FAKE ROLEX.

[radiochaser]

On 7/12/2025 at 10:51 PM, Maybole said:

I recall a stall on Changklan road 40 years ago which had a sign announcing GENUINE FAKE ROLEX.

I used to see an ad in magazines, selling a TV antenna that looked like an expensive well known brand of TV antennaes, but sold for a lot less.

  

The ad claimed it was a "Genuine Imitation"!