Congee con: Fraudsters target Thai restaurants with fake injury

A new scam involving a group of fraudsters threatening to sue a congee restaurant has gone viral on social media. The group claims that a piece of scouring pad was found in the congee, causing them injury, and demands 6,400 baht for medical expenses.

The Facebook page อีซ้อขยี้ข่าว3 recently posted a warning to restaurant owners about this new scam. They shared a story about a congee restaurant near Mahachai in Samut Sakhon being targeted by this group. The fraudsters threatened legal action unless the restaurant paid for supposed medical bills.

“Someone sent this picture to intimidate the owner of a congee restaurant near Mahachai, demanding 6,400 baht for medical expenses. They threatened to sue after claiming they found a piece of scouring pad in the congee, which got stuck in their throat.”

When the restaurant asked for a medical certificate and additional evidence, none was provided. Further questioning revealed inconsistencies, leading the restaurant to suspect these individuals were part of a roaming scam ring targeting eateries. The page cautioned all restaurant owners to beware of such deceitful tactics.

The Facebook post included staged images of a medical procedure, complete with gloves and gauze, to make the scam seem legitimate. The page urged everyone to share this information widely to prevent others from falling victim.

Similar scams

The viral post led to numerous comments and personal anecdotes from netizens. Many shared their experiences with similar scams, offering tips on how to spot and handle such fraudsters. For example, one user recounted an incident where they found a scouring pad in their food. The restaurant apologised and offered a free meal but they declined the offer, understanding the challenges of running a business with integrity.

Another commenter pointed out the importance of medical evidence in such cases.

“Medical certificates and treatment records usually include the patient’s name, date and time, and type of treatment. If someone is genuinely treated, there should be evidence. Without it, it’s clearly a scam.”

Online sellers also shared their frustrations with scam attempts, including claims of finding foreign objects in their products and demands for refunds or free items. One seller shared how they were accused of giving incorrect change and asked probing questions to verify the claim, which eventually led to the scammer hanging up, reported KhaoSod.

“Recently, someone called us claiming they received 500 baht less in change. We asked them to recount their order, which didn’t match their story. We then asked for details to check our CCTV, and they started yelling. When we insisted on checking first, they hung up.”