70-Year-Old Scammed by Fraudulent Photographer, Gets Haunting Portrait
A 70-year-old grandmother in Buriram was scammed by fraudulent photographers who delivered disturbing portraits showing only her torso, exploiting a yearly scheme targeting isolated elderly residents in the region.
A 70-year-old grandmother from Nong Maek village, Muang Fak subdistrict, Lamphlayamasai district, Buriram province, was victimized by a photography scam targeting elderly people living alone. The scammers—apparently a husband-and-wife team—approached her offering to take framed portraits at 300 baht each, claiming the images would be keepsakes for her grandchildren. They showed sample frames to build her confidence. When the finished photos arrived, she was stunned to discover the images looked nothing like what was promised: they showed only her torso with no feet, creating an eerie effect locals call a "spirit-attached photo." Though she acknowledged the background was pretty, the framing of her body disturbed her each time she looked at it. A neighbor reported that similar scam groups visit the area yearly, targeting isolated elderly residents. The scammers collect payment after delivering the framed pictures. Many villagers have fallen victim to this scheme. The family is warning parents, siblings, and especially elderly people living alone to verify the credentials of any strangers who approach with offers to sell goods or produce items at their homes, and to avoid trusting unfamiliar faces.
