Roadside Vendor Loses 200 Baht to Counterfeit Bills
A 23-year-old tamarind paste vendor on Highway 24 lost 200 baht to counterfeit bills passed by two women in a Mercedes-Benz, marking at least the second time she's been defrauded by fake money.
On September 19, 2024, around 2 p.m., two women arrived in a new Mercedes-Benz at a tamarind paste shop operated by Ms. Mani, 23, from Buriram province, located on Highway 24 in the Takhok area. One woman ordered one kilogram of tamarind paste at 140 baht per kilogram and paid with two 100-baht notes, receiving 60 baht in change. The vendor felt slightly uneasy about the texture of the bills but assumed a wealthy customer would not pass counterfeit money. When she tried to spend the notes at a convenience store later that evening, she learned they were fake. Ms. Mani expressed deep regret, noting that she struggles to make a living and that 200 baht, though small to the wealthy drivers, represents significant lost income for her. She revealed that this is not the first time she has been victimized—she previously lost money to a forged 1,000-baht note and learned that other local vendors have had similar experiences. She is now afraid of receiving payment and does not know when she might be duped again. She is appealing to all customers to be honest and to the drivers to show compassion or, if possible, return the money.
