Fool’s gold: Chinese conman nabbed in Pattaya pawn shop scam
A daring con artist met his match in Pattaya, where Tourist Police arrested a 29 year old Chinese national for duping pawn shops with counterfeit gold jewellery. The dramatic bust unfolded yesterday, Christmas Day, along Pattaya Third Road in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district.
Officers swooped in after the Chinese suspect, Deng Huanyou allegedly pawned a fake gold bracelet weighing 3.5 baht. They seized 80,000 baht in cash, believed to be proceeds from the scam, along with a pawn ticket from the same day.
Local pawn shop owners had raised the alarm after discovering they’d been conned by a foreign man pawning counterfeit jewellery.
“The suspect vanished with the cash before the fake items could be detected,” explained Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phueakam, Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau.
Armed with a tip-off that Deng had just struck at a prominent pawn shop, police set up surveillance. The suspect was caught red-handed as he exited the shop, holding incriminating evidence. A search revealed the counterfeit bracelet, cash, and pawn ticket.
When confronted, Deng dramatically collapsed to the ground in shock, requiring police assistance to stand. Facing undeniable proof, he confessed to orchestrating the scheme.
Deng has been handed over to Pattaya Police and faces charges of fraud under Thai law. His arrest highlights ongoing efforts to protect businesses from con artists, reported ASEAN NOW.
Police warn pawn shop owners to stay vigilant, especially during the bustling holiday season.
“These scams are a reminder to double-check items before completing transactions.”
As the glitter fades on Deng’s fraudulent empire, his fate now lies in the hands of the Thai justice system.
In related news, a heated dispute erupted between a seller and a buyer over allegations of selling fake gold online. The seller insists the gold is genuine, while the buyer claims a loss of faith and calls for legal action.
