First Exposed for Scamming Temple Over 8,000 Baht Fuel Money
A man in Udon Thani province posed as a rubber plantation owner to scam a temple and multiple victims out of money by promising to cast a Thao Wetsuwan statue, stealing 8,000 baht for fuel and attempting further frauds involving amulet shirts and ritual items. He also used the temple’s name to collect donations for flood‑relief kitchens, leading to police complaints. The abbot went public after recognizing the fraudster online, prompting an investigation.
The abbot explained that the scheme began in 2022 when a man calling himself ‘Ai Ouan’ messaged the temple’s Facebook page, claiming to be from Chumphon province, owning a rubber plantation, and having relatives in Kut Chab. After learning of the temple’s project to cast a Thao Wetsuwan statue, he offered to cast two statues at no cost, sending photos of a factory and the casting process to gain trust. When the delivery date neared, he said he was transporting the statues by truck but needed fuel money, requesting the temple transfer 5,000 baht first. After the transfer, he claimed to have reached Nakhon Ratchasima but run out of fuel, asking for another 5,000 baht; the temple had only 3,000 baht left and sent that, totalling 8,000 baht. Afterward he vanished and could not be contacted. The temple later discovered the factory photos he provided were genuine images used merely to appear credible, and the statues he promised were never actually made.
The abbot added that the man’s deceit did not stop there. When the temple later held a ceremony for the statue it had cast itself, the man reappeared acting friendly, offering to produce 200 amulet shirts and asking the temple to share half the cost, 15,000 baht, while promising to bring Brahmin priests and VIP celebrities free of charge. Investigation showed he instead used the temple’s name and the abbot’s name to solicit money from disciples, close friends, local politicians, and believers for bai sri ceremony items and ritual paraphernalia, each requesting 1,000–5,000 baht. Some who transferred money were later pressed for the remainder, raising suspicion and prompting calls to the abbot, which eventually exposed the fraud.
Additionally, some Brahmin priests and celebrities who attended the ceremony said they were affected similarly; the man later tried to charge the temple over 25,000 baht for ritual fees, but the temple refused after becoming suspicious and learning of his earlier conduct. The abbot decided to go public after seeing online news about the man, recognizing him as the same individual who had contacted the temple and caused harm to the temple and believers. Regarding legal action or recovering the money, the temple ...
