I'm so bored here that I am going to try and get scammed this Sunday.
I've read up on where to stand to be targeted as a potential victim, and exactly what should happen.
If it ends up as something interesting, I will map out my experience on here. My friend also has a tempting little secret voice recorder than can record for decades if needs be. I will try to ask tactical questions, but in a uninformed way. Temptation to roll out a "Huh?... I thought sapphires were blue?" will be very strong.
Problem is, I'm such a dopey git, I'll probably end up still falling for the scam I was meant to be exposing. Then I'll spend the rest of the day on Google looking up how to void a $12000 sapphire ring purchase on a Visa card.
Anyway, if I can avoid this pit-fall, I don't know if I would 'out' myself to them. I'd rather just play with them until I got bored. Although I am tempted to nearly 'close' a deal on me, and then just break off to "phone this guy I met in the Bier Garden a few days ago - he works at the GIA lab. He knows about all this kinda stuff.."
This sounds hilarious. You're going undercover. I'd let them get you into the middle of it then tell them you're Interpol or FBI and watch them freak out. Flip the tables on them. Tell them the fine is 5K in sapphires.
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:12 am Posts: 484 Location: Chiang Rai Thailand
I was in the gem district of Bangkok early in the morning waiting for the shops to open and a motorcycle taxi driver kept trying to make conversation in English about gem connections he had etc. Since I had heard of these scams and also do speak Thai, I asked him directly how much was his commission if I didn't buy anything and whether or not he had children to support etc. He replied that he would get a gasoline voucher worth 100 baht/$3 at any store he took me to if I would stay inside for at least two or three minutes and he had two girls in school. Since I had already eaten breakfast and had a couple of hours to wait for the real shops to open, I had him take me to six stores. He got the 600 baht worth of vouchers and I got to look at some crap gems with big price tags. He was very thankful and offered to split the proceeds with me which, of course, I refused and he was absolutely delighted that I had taken the time to help him. I found it to be an amusing morning. Sometimes the scam goes the other way. Best regards, Lee
I'm so bored here that I am going to try and get scammed this Sunday
...
Then I'll spend the rest of the day on Google looking up how to void a $12000 sapphire ring purchase on a Visa card.
Sorry to resurrect such an old thread, but I'm curious--can these purchases actually be made on a card, or would they always be in cash? And if they were made on a card, would you expect any kind of consumer protection if you'd been scammed?
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