Thai police probe online gold seller over fraud allegations

Thai police revealed that an online gold seller is facing multiple charges following complaints from customers. They allege the gold sold was falsely advertised as 99.99% pure. Police are currently investigating to determine the full extent of the allegations.

Police Major General Wichaya Sriprasertphas, head of the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), stated that the police are working in conjunction with the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) to examine the gold sold by Mae Tak Korakarn Suwannabut. The OCPB is responsible for protecting consumer rights in civil cases and will verify the authenticity of the gold in question.

Wichaya explained that the livestreams by Mae Tak, which claimed the gold was 99.99% pure, could lead to multiple charges including fraud, selling substandard products, price gouging, and misleading advertising. These actions may violate the Consumer Protection Act and the Computer Crimes Act due to the dissemination of false information.

Currently, no official complaints have been lodged with the CPPD. However, a group of affected customers is expected to file complaints tomorrow at 10am. Police Colonel Kraiwisit Saentaweesuk, head of Investigation Division 1 at CPPD, has been instructed to have investigators ready for the influx of complaints.

Wichaya advised consumers to purchase gold from reputable sources with clear pricing and physical locations. He also cautioned against making purchases from online sellers without thorough vetting.

Deputy Superintendent Prinya Pala of Investigation Division 1 at CPPD mentioned that the affected customers plan to file their complaints at the Crime Suppression Division in Phahonyothin. The investigation will determine the specific charges Mae Tak may face, including whether there were violations of the Consumer Protection Act or the Computer Crimes Act, Prina said.

Gold fraud

“In our legal system, it is the responsibility of the investigators to gather evidence and determine if the allegations hold merit before forwarding their findings to the prosecutors and the court.”

The complaints will be consolidated into a single case, with each complainant’s situation treated as a separate incident. This means that even if victims cannot file their complaints in person at the Crime Suppression Division, they can still do so online. The consolidated cases will then be submitted to the prosecutor’s office.

When questioned about the gold’s authenticity, Wichaya noted that the gold Mae Tak sold was found to contain no gold at all, contradicting her livestream claims of 99.99% purity. This discrepancy significantly increases the likelihood of fraud charges, reported KhaoSod.

“The reviews and live streams by Mae Tak were very explicit, claiming the gold was 99.99% pure. However, upon testing, it was revealed that there was no gold content at all. This situation poses a significant risk of fraud charges and violations of the Computer Crimes Act.”

Following the formal filing of the case, the next step is to trace the financial transactions involved to see if there are grounds for money laundering charges.