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Latest scam report from Leela Lapidary Company - September 28, 2007
A reader reports: I am very surprised to see on your site positive reports in regard to Leela Lapidary Co., Ltd.
I am a recent victim of the jewelry scam (August 2007). It is worth emphasising that the touts at the entrance to the main tourist attractions often stand next to the official guards, they are well dressed and speak good English within ear shot of the guards. Sometimes they even have official looking identification tags. After having a series of 'chance' encounters similar to those described by other contributors to this site, my wife and I ended up at Leela Lapidary Co., Ltd. where we foolishly bought some jewelry. Everything was genuine: real rubies, 18 ct gold etcetera. The problem is that back in Britain a professional valuation has shown the jewelry to be worth almost exactly half the price that we had paid! Please warn your readers.
It is a great pity that action is not being taken to rid Bangkok of these scammers. My experience has left me with doubts about the integrity of the Thai people in general. Should I ever visit Thailand again I simply would not trust anyone...

Leela Lapidary - September 25, 2007
A reader reports: We were caught today by the classic scam - being accosted near the Golden Palace, being told it was closed over lunch for some reason and in the meantime he could get a tuk tuk for only 20 baht to take us to two other temples. We eventually ended up at Leela Lapidary where we admired and chose a Sapphire Ring. Fortunately, we did not have a credit card with us and realised during the course of the afternoon (after discovering that the Palace had not been closed etc.) that we had been set up. When the agent arrived at our hotel to take payment I was able to insist on getting my 1,000 Baht deposit back and the incident was closed without any tears.
The deciding point was finding information about the scam on your website - so well done and thank you.

Latest gem scam from Golden Argosy - September 7, 2007
A reader reports: I just suffered the standard thai gems scam. It was at the "Golden Argosy Factory Export Center", former "Blue Dragon...".
I details of the scam are not new to what you've read so many times.
I got back 83% of what I paid, but worst than the lost money is the feeling of embarrassment and humiliation.
What I am more scared about is that the police is also in the game, the tourist police as well as the normal police. They do absolutely nothing, they supported the store manager when he was claiming that the 17% I lost was to cover the export charges, the VAT and the credit card charge... when we all knew there is no such charges when the transaction is cancelled.
The police did not even want me to take a picture of the store, which I did.
The credit card charge cannot be cancelled, requires a claim which they would win since all papers are signed by me. I could not even return the good s without signing a paper confirming I was satisfied and no further actions would be taken. Didn't want to do so but, with the police in the room, they would not accept the goods otherwise.
I'll try now with the embassy and writing about this to the main tourist web pages.
More: Tourist police in Bangkok is completely corrupt by the way, they are in the game. When I took the picture of the store, the police tried me not to take it claiming he already had one pic... it was a pic of the same store but with different name!!
They came with me to ask for the refund but supported the guy in the store claiming he had charges of 17% that I must pay for... police and hotel security (sheraton) supported him, simply amazing!

Gem scam story: Blue Dragon Factory Export Center - March 12, 2007

Gem scam story: Blue Dragon Factory Export Center - September 14, 2006

Blue Dragon scam - February 10, 2007 [Where is the "Lucky Buddha"?] Nui writes: I just read your web page on the Thailand Blue Dragon Scam. Guess where I have been today? Anyway, I just thought you might like to have these photos that we took today to post on your website. They show the lucky Buddha, the temple and the outside. We didn't buy anything - (thank you lucky Buddha!) Anyway, thanks for your website and we will spread your message... PS. While we were there, a couple had a printout of your website in their hands and were spreading your message loudly in the store. Just to let you know, this is about the 10th store we've been invited into in Bangkok in 5 days. Advise your patrons do NOT enter a tuk tuk in Bangkok AT ALL. Everywhere else is fine.

(Photo: Nui)

Gem scam story: Blue Dragon Factory Export Center - January 17, 2007

Gem scam story: Blue Dragon Factory Export Center - January 7, 2007

Gem scam story: SSS Jewelry changes its name is SNP Jewelry - December 27, 2006

Gem scam story: Blue Dragon Factory Export Center - December 23, 2006

Gem scam story: Blue Dragon Factory Export Center - December 17, 2006

Latest from the Thai Gem Scam Group - November 21, 2006
The Thai Gem Scam Group writes: ...we're working on clearing out a backlog of information that we've received.  We'll be adding more stuff, but in the meantime, we have new pictures of people involved with SSS Jewellery, receipts of Piyanamee and we've also updated our information regarding Internal Trade in the hopes that someone else can repeat the experience we've added earlier today. You can see these on our site at the following links: Receipts - People - Internal Trade

Latest gem scam report - October 27, 2006
A reader reports: We have just returned from a trip to Bangkok, and unfortunately were involved in what we think was now a scam.
This is further confirmed after visiting your website and noticing that the place we bought the Jewelry from was mentioned.
Our experience is as follows: On our last day in Bangkok, after a lovely morning sightseeing, we were approached by a tout offering a tuck-tuck ride for 40 bahts taking us to various other tourist attractions, from near the Grand Palace, which was apparently closed. This tout took us over to a tuck tuck, and explained to the driver that we wanted to go to various places, and he was to wait for us. We thought this was a good deal, and so accepted. Our first stop was a Happy Buddha. It was very quiet when we arrived, and the driver told us to take our time. Upon entering the grounds, we were greeted by a gentleman who seemed very interested in where we were from etc. etc. After general smalltalk, he pointed out on our map a number of places that we might want to go to, one of them being The Oscar, which he said, was a wholesale jewelers, and for this week only, selling items to the public. We thought nothing of this, and then proceeded to enter the Buddha. Once inside, another man came in, and prayed to the Buddha, and then turned to us, and started to engage us in conversation. We found it quite moving, as he also told us he had just got married, as had we, and that this Buddha was lucky. He then told us he had also visited The Oscar, and it was a worthwhile visit, as today was the last day that they would be open to the public.
We returned to our tuck-tuck, and asked him to take us to The Oscar, on route to our next attraction, which he did.
Upon entering the store, we were greeted by a professional older lady, who explained the technicalities of precious stones, being the four C's etc.
We were obviously so taken in by the events of the afternoon, and after a great length of time, foolishly purchased a ring, which we now believe could be worth at least a third of what we paid for it. It was not until we returned to our hotel that we started to suspect that all was not as we had thought. As we had signed various papers, stating no refund was available unless the item was not genuine, then we felt there was nothing we could do. We did check with our hotel, and they advised us to go and get the ring valued, which we did, and this confirmed our suspicions.
We would be grateful if you could add this to your website to warn off other tourists, and possibly let us know if there is anything else we could do to prevent this happening again.

Latest scam from Yindee - August 29, 2006

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Latest scam story from Piyamanee - February 9, 2006
From an email: I would like to report another scam concerning the Piyamanee shop. What happened is very similar to the stories you published. On 1st Jan 2006, our fist day in Bangkok, a thai person approached us while waiting for a bus and was very friendly to us. We told him that we wanted to visit the weekend market. He told us that the market is closed the morning because of new year.
On a map he showed us what places we could visit instead and he also told us not to pay more than 10 Baht to the tuk-tuk driver because there is the Export Promotion on where tuk-tuk drivers can claim petrol vouchers. He then left us so we didn't find anything suspicious.
We then decided to take the tuk-tuk going to the black buddha. There another friendly Thai man told us about his experience in Brigthon/ England where he studied English. He also mentioned that he financed his study by buying and selling jewellery at the export promotion which is coincidentally on at the moment - and of course - last day! He said that during that promotion there is no tax, hence a 40% tax reduction and if you pay cash you then receive another 20%. During the promotion tourists are only allowed to buy one set of jewellery. We didn't really believe much what he was saying.
However, after 10 min a French tourist came to the place and when the Thai man asked him about the export he coincidentally knew about it. He confirmed that he buys there every year jewellery and that this is the way he finances his flights to and from France. Now we started believing the story about the Expo promotion and so we headed it. It was a bit of a surprise that the Expo was just a jewellery shop called Piyamanee - several times mentioned in your website.
All the rest is similar to the stories on your site. The shop provided a courtesy car, so that we can bring the jewellery straight to the airport and send them with EMS to our country.
Only the next day we became suspicious and then we found your web site. With the jewellery out of the country there was little we could do. In England we did an evaluation of the gems. The were genuine and the value was not too far off what we paid, however, if we wanted to sell to a jewellery shot, then we would only receive around 25% of the 80,000 Baht we paid.
What is disappointing, that the Thai government is still allowing Piyamanee to trick tourists day after day after so many reports.

Latest Blue Dragon scam story - January 27, 2006
It was our honeymoon in Thailand and on our last three days before going back to Stockholm we were visiting Bangkok for the first time. On the morning of the first day in Bangkok we were looking around when we were approached by a very nice middle aged man who asked us about what we were looking for and if we would like to see the temples. He started to talk about how he had been to Sweden on his honeymoon and talked about famous places in Sweden for about 10 minutes. We liked the guy who was very nice to talk to. He mentioned something called the export promotion that he urged us to visit in Bangkok. He then stopped a Tuk Tuk and talked to the driver, telling him to stop at the places we wanted to visit (including the export promotion). After we had visited some temples the Tuk Tuk driver had to find a resting room and we were waiting in the Tuk Tuk when another guy approach us asking us were we came from and how we liked Thailand. This guy was very friendly and he seemed very academic/well educated and his English was excellent. We told him about the export promotion and he was very amazed to hear that we knew about this. He told us that he had visited the export promotion a couple of years ago and that he had maid a very good deal and that it was only open for one week a year and that we were very lucky because this was the last day they were open this year. He then talked to us for a while about the Thailand economy, that jewelry was very important and that the government was sponsoring jewelry once a year in order to promote this industry. I said to the guy that I was not going to buy anything because I do not know much about jewelry but we were still going to visit the place just to look. The guy just said that the quality was guaranteed by the government and that he did not know anything about jewelry either and still maid a very good deal. Than the Tuk Tuk driver came back and we went to the export promotion which gave a very good and professional impression. I know that I took a great risk when I invested in 2 pieces of jewelry for about USD 7000. One argument they had was that we would be treated as VIP customers which entitled us to use their company car with a driver to show us Bangkok within the next 2 days and then take us to the airport, which they also did. In retrospective I understand that this was only to make sure that we did not find out about the fraud early enough to stop the credit card payment, we were too busy being guided around in Bangkok with their company car. Back in Sweden I made a valuation of the jewelry and found about that the value was about half what I had paid and I also found information on the Internet that this was a fraud. I was very disappointed, to say the least and I am now planning to go back to Bangkok within the next few months to visit the store together with the tourist police and claim my money back.

Latest gem scam report - January 11, 2006

(Photo: Anthony Mak)

Latest Blue Dragon scam: "She had to make a living somehow" - January 1, 2006
Latest scam report from Blue Dragon: Recently, in August me and my partner were scammed for $5000NZD at the Blue Dragon Jewellery Store in Bangkok, the day before we were due to fly back to NZ at 5 in the morning. Being the inquisitive person I am, when checking emails I decided to look into how much I would be able to sell my jewellery for when I reached Tiffanys in Auckland, and not finding a store by that – I smelt a rat. After some digging, mainly just typing blue dragon into Google and reading on your site I discovered I had been had, badly. We called back their “VIP” driver service and while she did come to get us, it was late and the store was closed. She first claimed to know nothing about it, then she admitted she knew full well what they did and claimed she had to make a living somehow. Unsurprisingly the Tourist Police and Police were apathetic and unhelpful. Thanks to Thai Airways we were able to change our flight to stay in the country to return to the store in the morning and when we did they were all standing outside the store waiting for us because we had made such a scene with their driver – they obviously did not want us scaring away their new victims in the store. They started yelling in Thai at our tuktuk driver to keep going but we jumped from the moving tuktuk and demanded a refund. The manager of the store came out, and took us to another location nearby – which was, surprise surprise, a TOURISM store they are running. She took us into the back room and refunded us the 80% “buyback”. So we lost a $1000, but thank god, after reading some of the stories on the site, it wasn’t all or more...
I prompt every person who has been had to return to Bangkok, and push for their 80% buy back, they will honour that (but not happily!). Just think, if you were going to lose $10,000 it is worth you plane ticket back with the chance of getting some of that money back.

Incredible gem scam story: 'Finally, she became tired and really went crazy, not pretendedly, by her body language such as her short breadth, shaking shoulders, beating desk hands, and angrily opened eyes' - December 22, 2005

Gem scam: Piyamanee - December 20, 2005

Gem scam: Blue Dragon - November 23, 2005
My girlfriend and I were walking down the street near sleeping Buddha, and one friendly gentleman walked up to us. He said he was a university teacher and began to ask us where we have been, as well as ask me about sites in his country. Then he told me of a couple places that "we couldn't miss our second last day in Bangkok." He showed us one temple and one jewelry market that we must go, because the temple was opened once a month, luckily, it was "today" and the jewelry shop was only open this week and today was last day. So he called a tuk tuk over to take us to the temple, jewelry market and our hotel and only 30 Baht for the trip. We thought we met a nice guy, so just followed the tuk tuk.
When we arrived the temple (I could not remember the temple name), it was doing innovation, very few people visiting. The time we were going to the jewelry shop, the tuk tuk driver said he need to go toilet, and he went quickly, we were just sitting in the tuk tuk and waiting. At the meanwhile one "kind" man approached us and asked same questions such as where we have been, where we were going etc. when we told him
we were going to that jewelry shop, he looked very surprised and asked me how I knew that news, then he told me something like: the shop only opened one week for students who study in other countries, that was a government policy to support them due to collapsing of economic since 1997, because now government had no more money to support them, that was why they allowed students to bring out the jewelry to sell with very much different prices as scholarship. And most important was the mining of sapphire was decreased, the price of it was increasing every year. He also bought two rings for himself, due to limitation of non-student buyer. Everything looked real, and we very trusted him. After he told us everything, the tuk tuk driver came back and took us to the shop. I purchased two sapphire rings for parents and girlfriend...
The address of the shop is
Blue Dragon factory export center
463/9-12 1st floor
look-luang road, Mahanak Dusit, Bangkok 10300
Once I came back to Singapore, I showed them to my friend who owned a jewelry shop, he says they were only few hundred Singapore dollars which I spent 4,000 Singapore dollars. Finally, I realized that is a scam.

Later: Could you let me know exactly what their advice to you was? TAT told me they will report this to tourist police and usually they will take 2 weeks --- 4 weeks to process, and asked me to wait for their news.after that i kept calling the person i spoke to whom is called kunbanjipong (that is what i can remember the name), but they always gave excuses saying the person not in. so i have no idea about that.
By the way, so far i did not contact the Gem store yet, but i asked my friend to come down with all the documents, Gems and my passport as well, but the store kept saying i must come down personally. As you know we signed with the store that we can sell back the gem anytime with 80% of original price?

Later: To: [name withheld]
I have already received your complainted from the Office of Tourist Development .The Tourist Police have checked at the Blue Dragon Jewelry company. The shop had agreement refund products in 90% condition that two ring each worth 1. 46,000 baht and 2. 51,900 baht of them have a different price you claimed. Tourist Police have already checked receipt found that is corrected two ring worth 98,300 baht. Please check your receipt again Because you didn’t sent it to me,I can’t confirm .So jewelry shop had agreement refund money to you 88,470 baht if you agree bring back jewelry by your or ask your friend action behave on you together with power of attorney contact tourist police.
Best Regards,
Pol. Cap. Kriangkrai Prompakde

Gem scam: Blue Dragon Factory Export - November 21, 2005
Great story from tourists who did not get scammed by Blue Dragon: I would like to inform you about another case of the gem scam. Finally we didn't buy the stories, but the way it was brought to us was very convincing.
On our last day in Thailand, 15 November 2005, we were on our way to the national museum when we were approached by a well dressed "student" in politics. We were on the big square in front of the museum at the time. The guy started a polite conversation in good English en asked where we were staying (khoa san road). He told us that the museum was closed for public holiday and that he knew some places we must see: the big standing Buddha, an old temple recently visited by the crown princess of Thailand and some other things. He also asked us if we had heard of the "export". When we said no, he seemed to be surprised, as commercials for the "export" had been al over TV and radio for the last days. This was the last week of the "promotional export" an thus the last opportunity to buy gems for very good prices, actually it was the last day! (at that time we thought it's a little strange that a promotional week ends on Tuesday, so we were careful already). The man approached a tuk tuk driver (an old man, looking trustworthy) and told us we should pay no more than 80 baht for the whole tour, including the promotional at the export. We agreed with the tuk tuk driver and he brought us to the standing Buddha. At this site we were not approached by anyone and afterwards, we were taken to an old temple. We visited this place and afterwards, the tuk tuk was replaced. It was standing next to a beautiful, expensive car, a Toyota fortuner, licenceplatenumber -- 6093 (we took a picture of the car). Our driver told us he had to go to the bathroom and we waited near the tuk tuk. A young, very good looking guy who sat on a bench, stood up, opened the car en took place in it. We started a conversation with the guy about the nice car and he told us it was from his father, who worked as a judge in Bangkok (to make the story trustworthy of course). Then he told us that he worked in London for a bank, after finishing his studies in another place in England. The he asked us were we were going next. We said to the export and he was very pleasantly surprised that we knew about the place. He told about the way Thai students pay for their studies abroad, buying sapphire jewelry tax-free and selling it in Europe for multiple prices. He told us this system was supported by the Thai Government. Profits were up to 100 percent immediately and 135 percent after 1 year. He was in Bangkok that time, because it was the week of the promotion, the week Thai students were allowed to buy the gems. He also told about the once in a lifetime opportunity for tourists, only this week they were allowed to buy the precious gems for the same prices as the Thai students. His friends from England came over this week to buy gems. He told that we should not say that we were interesting in buying for investment, because then we should not be allowed to buy anything. We should say it was for souvenir. He told about Japanese tourists who were kicked out of the export because they accidentally said they would use the gems for investment. Their money was refunded but they were not allowed to buy anything from the export anymore. He also told about the closure of the Thai sapphire mines, because of exhausting. To be short, he made it a very convincing, trustworthy story, full of believable details. He also asked us about our credit cards (what kind). He talked for an hour. When we finished our pleasant conversation, our tuk tuk driver came back, apologizing for the long visit to the toilet (saying he had stomach-problems or so). We said good-bye to the friendly student en the driver took us to the export.
When we came to the site, we were surprised. It was de Blue Dragon Factory Export. This is were their scam went wrong, because more than a week before, we were taken to the same store by another tuk tuk driver (without the whole circus around it). So much for things as "only one promotional week etcetera". We saw the story through, but decided to play a little longer (let them work for their scam!). We went into the store en were treated with high regards. We admired the beautiful stones an after a great effort of the salespersons to make us buy the stones, when stood up and left the building. Our nice tuk tuk driver seemed to have become another person. He was a little aggressive and yelled about petrol coupons and that he would take us to another place, something very big (?). We told him to bring us back to khao San road, as agreed, but he persisted in taking is to another place first. We can also be very convincing though, and finally he brought us, uninterrupted, back to the place we asked. Here ends our story. Fortunately we didn't get scammed, but we didn't see the museum either. But the warning is clear: be aware, keep thinking about the thing said to you, they are still out there, they are still active!

Latest gem scam report: SSS Jewelry - October 31, 2005
[We get get reports about every other day about Yindee or SSS Jewelry, but most are identical so we have given up posting them all. Here is a more interesting one about the tactics one tourist used to get his money back.]
A reader writes: I came for the 1st time in Bangkok for 3 days on transit on my way back home from Australia.
I never heard from gem scam before and during the 1st day (on my way to Grand Palace), almost the same story than the "S.S.S. Jewelry Limited Partnership (May 14, 2004)" happened to me. I used to be very suspicious and the first guy came to me I was! But it didn't implies anything for me and I thought "lets go have a look,..." The way I was convinced was when I met the friendly French (my first language), who told me approximately the same than in the story and also show me a receipt... same story, they just gave me free day city tourseeing with one of the employee after the purchases.
I was aware about the gem scam in the evening when I read a bit more my travel book (thanks Lonely Planet). I jumped on a computer and searched on google with the "sss jewellery scams" keywords and the first results was your website. I learned that my credit card was canceled and the transaction suspended (thanks to the security part of my bank didn't find normal a such big amount in Bangkok after a 3 months with low amount in Australia). We decide with my bank to cancel the card and all operations on my credit card until my return, but they told me that the transaction will be done until nothing can prove that was is illegal or fraudulent After a bad night, I phoned to my embassy (I was lucky enough to have the sister of a friend working there...) who gave me the procedure. I've been to the tourist police (wasn't very helpful from my point of view) who told me to go to the S.S.S. Jewelry to ask a refund. I arrived there, and told them the story with my credit card, that I have almost no more money until my return back home, pushed a loads of pressure (tell the tourist police to put their name in the report, asking the 2 different address given by my embassy to prove the value of the gems to be able to cancel the contract, telling them I gonna stay in front of their shop until I leave to tell everybody who want enter about their practices...).
After something more than one hour and an half I finally obtained a refund of almost 93%.
I was lucky to learn about the gem scam before I leave Thailand, it's just a shame that for this reason, I'm not going to leave this country with a good impression of this country (everybody around me who where in Thailand told me it's a great country with very "friendly" people). Here was my "bad story", hope can help other people to get around!

Gem scam report: SSS Jewelry - October 14, 2005 A reader sends his account of the scam: This is to report my recent Gem Scam at Bangkok. First of all, Thank-You for setting up this website. It is very helpful. Secondly, I just found out that it is not necessary greed that got the victims. It is important for people to know that, since I'd never thought of that before. I was just so happened to be thinking about buying something for my mother, and the price seems to be something I can afford. Date: September 29, 2005 Location: Bangkok, 386 Visuttikasat Rd., Pranakorn, Bangkok Result: received 100% credit back onto my credit card, but paid 5% cash to the store for credit card charges.

Gem scam report: Piyamanee - August 10, 2005
This letter illustrates how the police have been dealing with the scam lately--simply claiming there is nothing they can do because the stores are doing nothing illegal.
2Bangkok.com Staff,
In May of 2005 I was the victim of the Piyamanee gem scam. My embarrassing story was identical to the May 25th posting on your website - same wats, same set-up, same American involvement (Brad Hammer - I'll tear out his jugular if I ever see him again), even the same fake email address was used.
I came across your website and scam postings a few weeks ago. Luckily, I had the opportunity to return to Bangkok a few days ago.
I visited the tourist police office, where an incredibly helpful interpreter sympathized with my situation. She indicated that, unfortunately, this is a common story... but there was nothing she could do because these bastards are "not doing anything officially illegal." She did mention that I was lucky that Piyamanee was still in business.
When I went to return my jewelry today for the shameful 80% refund, I was not greeted by the smiling, uniformed staff of my first visit. Instead, scowling, plainly-clad women looked at me with confusion. When I entered the store, my heart sank as I saw that their entire inventory had been removed. The store looked closed. When I inquired about returning my ring, they were hesitant at first, but then began the return process diligently.
As I waited for my refund, I was told by a middle-aged man that the store had gone out of business and that I was lucky I hadn't shown up a few days later, as they will be closed for good. This sketchy guy was probably lying through his teeth... it's likely that they are just changing locations and name.
I can only hope that other scammed individuals that are still in Bangkok can get there before it's too late.
It's not a happy ending, but it's better that it could have been. I can't thank you enough for your helpful website and advice. Without your selfless contribution to the better good, my financial losses would have significantly greater. Thank you, thank you, thank
you.
I hope that your staff continues to stay abreast of the latest mischief in Bangkok. If there is anything else I can do to help, please let me know.
Thank you again,
An American tourist in Bangkok

Gem scamming at an all-time high: Piyamanee story - May 28, 2005

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Calling all Blue Dragon scam victims - December 18, 2004
In 2004, while gem scamming reached new highs (according to the reports we receive), the government took action. They simply declared the problem solved while the stores remained open. A victim of Blue Dragon is organizing a lawsuit against them. If you are a victim email us and we will put you in contact with him.

S.S.S. Jewelry on Visuttikasat Road - June 4, 2004
Anthony Mak reports on the latest gem scam shop within blocks from the main Tourism Authority of Thailand office:
I would like to confirm the recent story about S.S.S. Jewelry posted on your web site.
My wife and me were approached 2 times (31st of May, and 1st of June). First time by an "English teacher" on Khao San Road, second time at the exit of BTS National Stadium station. For whatever reason, they always claim a very low price tuk-tuk ride to raise people's interest, my turn was 20 baht per hour, because of tourist promotion by government.
We took the proposal and eventually reached the shop, took a glance and left. Then propably the tuk-tuk driver knew we did not make any purchase, he just drove us to a nearby pier and drop us off!

Latest gem scam shop: S.S.S. Jewelry Limited Partnership - May 13, 2004
S.S.S. Jewelry Limited Partnership at 386 Visuttikasat Road, Banpantom, Pranakorn, Bangkok 10200 is using touts (both Thai and foreigners) at Wat Pho and the Grand Palace to lure tourists in with the same old promises of 100% profit when gems are resold outside of Thailand.
Sources at TAT informed us in the past how they felt humiliated to have such activities so damaging to tourism just a few blocks from their offices and be unable to do anything about it.
We also have another report from Yindee and one from Blue Dragon. As we mentioned in the past it seems that the gem scam shops are only targeting Asian tourists these days. The only reports we are getting are from Malaysian, Hong Kong, Singaporean and Taiwanese tourists.

Another from Blue Dragon
The highly protected store strikes again... The full report is here. Some of the most interesting comments from the victim:
Today I went to the Tourist Police to lodge a complaint. The lady I spoke to was so unhelpful and was very patronizing towards me. However, I stood my ground and was very firm with her stating that I had been told lies and had been cheated by the shop. After a few minutes she told me to take a seat and a representative from the shop would be there shortly...

Rotating staff at gem scam stores - April 1, 2004
It is well known that the single powerful cartel that runs the Bangkok gem scam stores rotates staff from store to store once a store changes names. The Thai Gem Scam Group points this out: We got a scam update on Blue Dragon, and it appears that a driver for Universal/Majestic is now working for them. This is the character in question. We've identified him as "Loi" on our site here.

Tourist Police anti-gem scam brochure - January 8, 2004

This brochure is being given away at the Tourist Police Office in the south end of Don Muang Terminal 1. Despite the anguished English, at least someone is trying to alert the public. We were impressed to see our long-standing advice that "real" Thais do not just walk up to strangers and strike up a friendly conversation being featured in the brochure. It was stunning to see mention of the gold shops in relation to the scam. The front and back of the brochure is here-> 146kb and 130kb. The Tourist Police Office also has a bulletin board in front of the office with photos and stories of how the Tourist Police helped travelers (this appears to be updated monthly).

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Latest scam report for Leela - December 11, 2003
Latest Leela scam report: I was offered a 20 baht city tour by a "tuk tuk" driver outside the hotel that covered a few temples. After finish touring the first temple, I wanted to go to the second destination, and the driver said he wanted to go to toilet and leave me alone in the car park, then I was approached by another Thai, he said that he has a restaurant in Germany and coming back to Thailand for holiday. Then he said that this week is the last week that we can buy cheap rubies and sapphires as they are having promotion here in Thailand, and also mining in Laos has shutdown so the price of gems will increase next year. Then he showed me a receipt telling me that he has bought a few items from a shop call LeeLa. Then the driver returned and offer to bring me to the shop where I spent 11,000 baht. (The gems were later appraised to be worth a much less.)

Gem scam report from the Loog-Luang Road location - December 8, 2003 436/9-12, Loog-Luang Road, Mahannak, Dusit--one of the best-protected gem scam locations. See how easily the former shop (Imperial Jewelry Export Co. Ltd.-below right) is reopened under a new name (Blue Dragon Factory Export Center Co. Ltd.-right). Names of scam shops operating from this location in the past: Imperial Jewelry Export Co. Ltd. (last report mid-2003) Ma Mere Gems Collection Co., Ltd. (last report December, 2000) Blue Sapphire Gem Co., Ltd. (last report October, 2000) TGJ Thai Center Co., Ltd. (last report July, 2000)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com, December 2003)

Latest scam report (November 2003): I was on the street and was approached by a Thai telling me that today is birthday of lucky Buddha and said that I should go there since I were Buddhist. Then he helped me to arrange the "Tuk Tuk" to go to the temple. Upon arriving there, it was not many people around and then I was approached by another Thai saying that most of the people are chatting inside. Then he introduced himself as a PR in Singapore and having a Thai restaurant near orchard road, then he told me the Ruby and Sapphire going to have price increase due to mining in Laos will be closed soon, he then showed me a receipt when he bought a few Rugby and Sapphire from a shop called "Blue Dragon", and said that today is the last day for the promotion. He said that he will sell those ruby and sapphire once he go back to Singapore and said that he can easily earn double the investment as what he did last year. He offered me to visit him in Singapore to help me to sell if I can't get a good price in Malaysia. He gave me his tel number in Singapore (which I tried and it is not working) and his restaurant website (again the URL does not exist). Then the driver fetched me to the second shop called blue dragon and I spent 64,600 baht there. (The gems were later appraised to be worth a few hundred ringgit.) This store was the first (that we know of) to try to protect itself by making customers sign a declaration. The customer must hand-write "Souvenir for family--not for resale."

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com, January 2003)

436/9-12 Loog-Luang Road - December 5, 2003
Despite the government's declarations that there are no more gem scam stores, the stores are still open and cheating tourists as usual. Indeed, on the day the government announced all the rogue stores were closed, we received several scam reports and the group of downtown locations that we have followed for a decade were all open.
The 436/9-12 Loog-Luang Road location is operating under the name "Blue Dragon." This is one of the best-protected locations. Tourists who complained were interrogated by the police and told they risked getting beaten up by gem gangs if they pursued their cases further.
Presently the shop is called Blue Dragon, before that, Imperial Jewelry Export Co. Ltd., before that, Ma Mere Gems Collection Co., Ltd., before that, Blue Sapphire Gem Co., Ltd., before that, TGJ Thai Center Co., Ltd...
Each reopening of the Loog-Luang Road location is attended by several... high officials. We have attempted to be ready during one of these reopenings to photograph the proceedings, but we always miss it. There will be more to report on this location soon.

Gem scam refund - November 17, 2003

New Tourist Police chief & more gem scamming from Leela Lapidary - August 14, 2003

Police raid Gems Gallery - Bangkok Post, July 12, 2003
Tourists claimed the shop had sold them poor-quality, overpriced jewellery.

Scamming the gem shops - June 20, 2003
A tourist with time on his hands who teamed up with a tuk-tuk driver: ...It was 1997 and I hit Bangkok after swinging thru England and Europe on a three month "round the world" trip. After a few weeks in Ko Samui I need to return to BKK to replenish my funds thru a money transfer which ended up taking 3 days... during my previous stays in Bangkok I had befriended a tuk tuk driver who called himself "Tony" and always searched him out for the precise reason that he had never taken me for the "scam ride."
Well, this time I was well short of the funds... Normally I would have Tony take me to my venue of choice, pay him a very reasonable rate plus invite him to a beer or two because he always shared some tidbit of info and was good with a joke.
After telling him of my situation he suggested he could help me out if I was willing to reverse the scam with him. Seeing that I still had a day to wait for my cash infusion I took him up on is offer. I spent the afternoon going from gem shop to gem shop spending at least 20 minutes ohhing and ahhing , basically acting like a tourist with more money than sense while Tony collected his cut for bringing a sap to the fleecier. The hard part was escaping, but they always seemed to believe that I had to return to my hotel for cash. Twice the shops sent someone along with us to my hotel. In both cases I insisted the tout from the shop wait in the lobby while I slipped out the side entrance to meet Tony around the corner, down the street.
We hit five places that afternoon and later that evening Tony treated me to a great dinner at a little storefront cafe with Singas and a few shots of "snake water" with all on the money he made "setting me up"...

Owner of gem shop to face fraud charges - Bangkok Post, May 30, 2003
Police confiscated 30 million baht worth of jewellery items from the three-storey First International Lapidary Co Ltd on Rama VI road for quality checks. They also arrested seven tuk-tuk drivers luring foreign tourists to the shop and charged them with causing a public disturbance.

Plenty of gem scamming - May 22, 2003
We received our first scam report from Gems Palace (115/1-3 Prachathipatai Road, Bangkhunprom, Pranakorn, Bangkok 10200), a shop we had been watching for some time. This shop employs a French man who meets tourists near the Grand Palace with friendly advice about how much money can be made at the store. The shop is just a few units away from the notorious 121-123/125 Prachatipatai Road scam location which is presently called Kawin Gems.
We have also received reports of gem scam shops offering to let customers pay by Mastercard, however the charge made is a cash advance directly from Thai Military Bank (Banglaphu branch). Like similar situations with Visa, the local Mastercard company does not seem concerned that known gem scam shops have credit card machines that say "Thai Military Bank" and are using them directly on their premises. Tourists who think their purchases are protected because they paid by credit card are surprised to find the transaction booked as a cash advance directly from Thai Military Bank. A "young American named Brad" is helping lure tourists in with stories of how he makes a 110% profit by reselling Thai gems in San Francisco.

Move to stamp out `Zero Dollar' gem tours
Many tourists had given up on Thailand after hearing about firms offering Chinese ``free'' tours on condition that they buy jewellery, which turns out to be poor quality and over-priced...

Asset clamp threat for gem stores - Bangkok Post, May 8, 2003
The scams hurt tourism and affected the country's competitive edge in the gems trade. He cited one incident in which potential Chinese customers who heard about the scams turned away from a Thai gem exhibition staged in China. Mr Korn said tourist complaints against jewellery shops made little headway as tourists often had to return home before legal action could be taken. The proprietors, meanwhile, reopened their shops under new names and at new locations to continue cheating.

Typical response to the gem scam - April 24, 2003
An anonymous response (signed "Tourist Assistance Centre") to a tourist cheated by the gem scam store Mahachai. Mahachai closed in September, 2002 and immediately reopened as Chalermthai which closed in December 2002. Earlier in 2002, the shop was called Benjarong (until March 8, 2002), U-Thong, and Chalermkeht (late 2001-early 2002). Changing the name like this prevents the store owners from having to pay refunds.
-----Original Message-----
From: Tourist Assistance Centre [mailto:assist@tat.or.th]
Subject: The Jewelry Purchased from Mahachai Co., Ltd., Bangkok
Dear [name withheld],
Kindly refer to our e-mail dated February 7, 2003 concerning the jewelry you purchased from “Mahachai” located in Bangkok.
Please be informed that we have forwarded your case to the Tourist Police Division for preliminary investigation. According to their report, the store has permanently ceased its business operations without giving any notice. [Note: The store actually changed names for the fifth time in a year.] As a result, the police officer could not find any responsible person to negotiate for the refund on your behalf.
However, to take legal action against the store, you are advised to file the official police report with the inquiry officer in person or authorize any representative (an attorney) to do so on your behalf. The representative should be able to provide all details of the incident for the judicial process; in some cases the complainant will be asked to proceed to the court for testimony. Therefore, we would like to request the complainant, who wishes to act against the store, to directly forward the case to an attorney. For more information on legal action, please contact the Tourist Police Division, Section 5, Sub-division 2 at Tel. (662) 281-5051 or E-mail: tourist@police.go.th .
Please kindly understand that we have considered this problem a serious matter and have uninterruptedly endeavored to solve it. We have coordinated with the concerned authorities to join in an effort in initiating prompt action and seeking practical and effective measures to discontinue such unfair practice. We also published special leaflets that aim at exposing this gem racket to be distributed to tourists in various places.
We are sorry that the matter has turned out this way and sincerely hope that you
would understand the situation.
Yours sincerely,
Tourist Assistance Centre
Tourism Authority of Thailand
(http://www.tat.or.th)

Gem scam shops try to protect themselves - April 20, 2003

We received yet another scam report about the well-protected Look-Luang Road location. The location is the key. The store just changes names occasionally so the authorities can claim nothing can be done to get refunds for cheated tourists. This shop is also using a new tact to attempt to be immune from charges of lying to and overcharging tourists--having purchasers sign a declaration that says the following: 1. We are not a government shop but we are registered by the Ministry of Trade and Commerce. 2. Goods purchased are not refundable but if you're not satisfied you're entitle to change any items within 3 months. 3. All goods purchased are strictly for personal use or for souvenir only and no refund is possible.