Four Chinese nationals arrested for market scam targeting elderly woman
Four Chinese nationals were arrested in Songkhla after conning a 66-year-old woman out of nearly 200,000 baht by convincing her that her son needed a protective ritual involving gold and cash.
On September 9, officers from Thung Lung Police Station in Songkhla, working with Songkhla Immigration Police, arrested four Chinese nationals suspected of conspiracy to commit fraud. The case began on September 7, 2569, when a 66-year-old woman visited Thung Lung Market in Hat Yai district, Songkhla, to shop. The suspects approached her, with one claiming her son was in serious danger and required an urgent protective ritual involving gold, silver, and rice. Believing the story, the victim returned home and collected jewelry and cash totaling 194,006 baht, including a one-baht gold necklace, two-salung gold rings, two bracelets, a pair of earrings, a gold pendant, and cash, along with a handful of rice. She brought these items back to the market. The suspects then invited her into a vehicle, placed the valuables into a black bag, performed a chanting ritual, and returned the bag to her. When the victim opened it at home, all contents had vanished. She immediately reported the theft to Thung Lung Police Station. Investigators gathered evidence and obtained a court arrest warrant before apprehending the suspects. Questioning of the defendants is ongoing, and the case involving foreign nationals has been reported to relevant agencies for further legal proceedings.
