Man Arrested Over Fake Gold Pawn Scam Worth 520,000 Baht

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod 

Police have arrested a 29-year-old man accused of deceiving a gold shop into accepting a fake 10-baht gold necklace as collateral, resulting in a loss of 520,000 baht. The suspect allegedly posed as a wealthy customer, dressing well and removing the necklace from his neck to gain the shop’s trust. Officers recovered cash, the fake gold items and the vehicle believed to have been used in the crime.

The arrest followed a complaint made on 15 December 2568 after a gold shop reported that a man had pawned a counterfeit gold necklace and received 520,000 baht in cash. The suspect reportedly arrived in a Mazda 2 saloon car, parked nearby and calmly entered the shop before presenting the necklace for pawning rather than outright sale. After the transaction was completed, he left the premises with the cash.

Acting on orders from Pol Maj Gen Kiatkhun Sonthinet, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2, and Pol Col Yutthasil Karin, Superintendent of Thung Song Hong Police Station, investigators reviewed CCTV footage and documents used in the transaction. The suspect was identified as Mr Wichasarut, aged 29, from Uthai Thani province. Police later located him at a residence near Phibunsongkhram Bridge on Pracharat Sai 1 Road in Bang Sue district, Bangkok and took him into custody late on 15 December.

During the arrest, officers seized the clothing worn during the offence, a gold-coloured metal bracelet, a fake 10-baht gold necklace, 520,000 baht in cash and the Mazda 2 vehicle. Initial questioning revealed that the suspect admitted pawning the fake necklace but gave evasive answers about the cash before eventually returning the full amount. He later claimed he had been hired by an acquaintance met through social media to pawn the gold at specific shops.

The suspect stated he had previously carried out similar acts seven times in areas including Lat Phrao, Bang Saen, Pattaya and Sattahip. He explained that the fake necklaces contained genuine gold only at the clasp, which shops typically test and that pawning was chosen to avoid damaging checks. He also admitted to using crystal methamphetamine, with a urine test conducted by police.

Khoasod reported that the gold shop owner acknowledged an error in verification, explaining that visual inspection, weight and official stamps appeared genuine and the clasp tested as real gold. Police are continuing to expand the investigation to determine whether the suspect is linked to other similar cases, before proceeding with charges of fraud and drug use at Thung Song Hong Police Station.

Key Takeaways

• A 29-year-old man was arrested for pawning a fake 10-baht gold necklace for 520,000 baht.

• Police recovered the full cash amount, counterfeit gold items and the suspect’s vehicle.

• Investigators are expanding inquiries into possible links with similar cases in other areas.

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 Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-12-17