Generous Photographer Retakes Portrait For 70-Year-Old Scam Victim

A 70-year-old woman named Boonma Jaichai has become the subject of an online warning after falling victim to a portrait scam where two people offered to take her photograph and frame it for her grandchildren to remember her by. When the finished product arrived, the composition was drastically different from the sample shown, with poor framing that made her appear to have no feet—what locals call a "ghost image." The victim paid 300 baht for the service but expressed frustration at the poor quality, prompting family members to share her story online as a warning to other elderly people living alone.

The post generated widespread criticism of the photographer for delivering unprofessional work despite charging a commercial rate. Many commenters sympathized with the grandmother, calling the result unflattering and unsettling. Following the story's viral spread, a 28-year-old freelance photographer named Thikhampon Kansong volunteered to retake her portrait for free after seeing her photo in the news and feeling genuinely sorry for her. Thikhampon explained that the original image had incorrect framing and scaling, and he wanted to help rather than criticize the previous photographer.

Boonma expressed happiness at having a compassionate photographer offer his services free of charge. Her daughter, upon learning of the incident, destroyed the old photograph by throwing it in the trash, though Boonma expressed regret that an image of a Buddha statue was discarded with it.