Woman arrested for alleged gold scam on Facebook

Ratchuda Thongyaem was arrested in Pathum Thani on Thursday and confessed to committing the crime, said Pol Maj General Supaset Chokchai, commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) on Friday.

He said they received complaints against Ratchuda from 60 people on Wednesday and an arrest warrant was issued for her on charges of public fraud and violation of the Computer Act. Police say that since the middle of last year Ratchuda’s Facebook page offered people the opportunity to bid for gold bars and ornaments at prices much lower than the market price. Ratchuda claimed she was pestered by people demanding gold in early March and she was unable to contact gold shops to get the gold to honour her promises.

Supaset said Ratchuda’s scheme became so popular that some people set up groups to raise funds and bid for the gold with the intention of reselling it themselves. Since February, however, successful bidders failed to receive any gold and their inquiries were met with excuses and empty promises of a refund. Ratchuda is due to appear in criminal court tomorrow (April 22) to apply for the first 12-day detention.