Gem scam story: Blue Dragon - January 17, 2007
A reader reports: Hello,
I was recently in Thailand and managed to become another foolish tourist
scammed in Thailand. When I returned to Japan (I am a canadian currently
teaching in Japan) I searched the internet for name Blue Dragon where I was
directed to your website. My heart sank as I began reading and realized I
had been scammed for over 33,000 baht. My story is identical as the others
on the website, the pictures of where i was approached, visited, and finally
scammed matched perfectly. It all started when tried to enter the grand
palace and was approached by a man who I thought was security (he was
wearing I.d. and was standing with a policeman) and he told me it was only
open to thai in the afternoon however because it was New Year's Day (2007)
however, I was very lucky because I could visit the happy buddha. He then
talked to the tuktuk driver and told me it would be 40 baht all day. This
was my first ride in a tuktuk so I just assumed they were very cheap.
At
the happy buddha the tuktuk driver was very friendly then had to go to the
bathroom. I then met a man who spoke English very well and drove a nice car
and claimed to be businessman here for a very special sale that happened
only on New Years which matched the government employees story so I (being
gullible) believed it. I went to Blue Dragon next where I was led to the
VIP room. They are extremely professional as they don't pressure you to buy
anything yet say the right things that make you want to. I was told of how
the blue sapphire mines were closing this year and the value will increase
significantly. In the end I bought a blue sapphire for 108,500 baht. I will
try to scan all the receipts and paperwork as well as business cards. Thank
you very much for your informative website because I would have never
thought anything of it until I went to Tokyo to try and resell it at
Mikimoto Jewellers as I was told I could...
Again I can't thank you enough for the information you
provide on your website. I felt so foolish and embarrassed because I was
warned not to get scammed however, from now on I will research the scams
before going to a foreign country or just spend 20 dollars and pickup a
lonely planet guide. But it's a little more comforting to know I am not
the only one out there.
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