Gem Scams in Thailand are not new, but an increasing number of tourists seem to be falling for the conmen who operate in tourist sites.
The Bangkok Post last week issued a warning to tourists about falling for the gem scammers. Scammers operate by pretending to be a waiter from the victim's hotel, a friendly off-duty policeman, a schoolteacher, or a student wishing to practice a foreign language. The casual opening “Where do you come from”, tells the scammer all he needs to know
Before long he/she is recommending a temple or palace which “hardly any tourists know about”, I know “the real Bangkok” he will say. Around this point another local may appear and join in the conversation, backing up the first local's recommendation and further recommending a souveneir shop (almost always a jewellry shop).
Sometimes the jewellry shop will be called a Government Export Centre in the last few days of a gigantic sale of rubies and sapphires. Soon visitor and the scammers are on the way to the shop. The discounts are massive, the savings are enormous, anyone would be a fool to turn down such an offer, especially when a certificate of authenticity is provided with each item of jewellry bought.
One important thing to remember when in Thailand. There is no comeback when you've bought these goods. They are usually genuine gems but they are not worth the money you have paid for them. The mark up is astronomical but high profits are not against the law. Everyone is entitled to make a profit on his goods, it's up to the buyer to watch that he/she doesn't pay too much.
Greed operates on both sides of the deal. The seller is greedy for profit and the customer is greedy for something (s)he thinks is worth a lot more than the shop is selling it for. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
In Bangkok, the motto should be Caveat Emptor.
