Over 100 victims lose more than Bt60 million in Facebook alleged gold bidding scam

The Facebook page reportedly offered gold bars and ornaments at a rate cheaper than market prices.
Pol Colonel Sayam Boonsom, deputy commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), said the alleged scheme operator, Ratchuda Thongyaem, opened the bidding for gold bars and ornaments at starting prices lower than half the market price.
The victims were offered the opportunity to make profits from the gold by bidding at Bt3,000 to Bt5,000 lower than the market price for one baht or 12.5 grams of gold for a while before the scheme operator allegedly disappeared with their money.
Those who offered the best prices were reportedly required to wire the money to Ratchuda who later sent the gold to them via mail parcels.
Sayam said on Wednesday 60 victims had filed complaints with the TCSD and their losses amounted to about Bt28 million.
He said other victims had filed complaints earlier and about 100 people had allegedly been cheated with total damage at over Bt60 million.
One victim reportedly lost Bt13 million, Sayam added.
Naiphaporn Promsaeng, 32, a victim, said she started bidding for gold on the Facebook page since December. Initially, she got the gold after paying the money and managed to make some profit by reselling the gold to the gold shops. However, she alleged that did not receive the gold she had bid and paid for in February and March.
Ratchuda made her latest post on her Facebook wall on Saturday, saying she did not plan to flee with the money and she intended to send the gold to her customers. She also posted what appeared to be a statement recorded by police that she promised to honour the sale promise.