Ex-SAO President Sells Fake Gold Amulets for 80,000 Baht
A woman lost 80,000 baht to a former SAO president who sold her two gold amulets claiming financial hardship. Expert testing revealed both items were gold-plated brass worth only 200 baht, containing just 5.9% and 1.5% gold respectively. The victim, who trusted the official due to his position, plans to confront him and may pursue legal action for fraud.
In a shocking revelation, a woman who trusted a former subdistrict administrative organization (SAO) president lost 80,000 baht buying gold amulets that turned out to be counterfeit. Four to five years ago, the former official — whom she knew and trusted — called saying he was in financial trouble and asked her to buy gold amulets so he could use the money for business. She went to the SAO office where he showed her a Luang Pu Thuad gold amulet. Feeling its reasonable weight and trusting his position, she transferred 60,000 baht. Shortly after, he sold her a Phaya Naga Raj gold coin for another 20,000 baht, totaling 80,000 baht.
She recently brought both items to gold expert 'Namo' for verification. The Luang Pu Thuad amulet weighed 3.599 grams (about 2 baht) but X-ray analysis showed only 5.9% gold content — 71% copper and 22% zinc. The Phaya Naga Raj coin contained a mere 1.5% gold. Both were identified as gold-plated brass, not solid gold. The woman was devastated, saying she believed they were real gold because 'someone at SAO president level wouldn't lie.'
Namo stated both pieces are simply low-quality gold-plated brass worth about 200 baht in the market. He noted that if a genuine transaction with money transfer occurred, it could still constitute fraud since the items sold were not gold as represented. The victim plans to confront the former official about whether he knew they were fake.
