Warning Over Online Durian Purchase: 71-Year-Old Woman Defrauded by Scammers Impersonating Popular Facebook Page

On June 28, 2569, Deputy Inspector Thanit Thaipakdi of Sattahip Police Station in Chon Buri received a complaint from 71-year-old Nang Anu after she was defrauded by scammers posing as a durian seller on social media. She transferred 700 baht but never received the goods.

Nang Anu explained that she spotted a post selling durians from a popular Facebook page in the Sattahip area and ordered 2 kilograms for 700 baht, providing her phone number in the comments. A person then contacted her via Line messaging app, sending durian photos and order details that matched her information exactly, making her believe she was dealing with the legitimate seller. The scammer claimed to have many customers and asked her to wait for delivery, later saying the durians were left at her home and sending a QR code for payment. Her grandson helped scan and transfer the 700 baht.

Upon returning home, Nang Anu found no durians. When she contacted the real seller, she discovered they had never received the money and the person who contacted her via Line was not them. She realized she had been defrauded by scammers exploiting information from the Facebook order.

Although not concerned about losing the money, Nang Anu wanted her experience to serve as a warning to the public, especially elderly people, as the scammers use sophisticated methods and detailed knowledge of orders to deceive easily. She advised people buying online to carefully verify the seller's identity and avoid transferring money to individuals contacting them through private channels without confirmation from the official shop.

Investigators have registered her complaint and are gathering evidence to identify and prosecute the perpetrators. Police also urged the public to check the credibility of online shops before transferring money and to make purchases through platforms with buyer protection systems to reduce the risk of fraud.