Long prison word awaits website fraudsters
The e-shopping globe was rocked next quarter by an admitted gold fraud involving Kornkanok” Mae Tuck” Suwanbut and her father, Kanpon” Pa Bia” Rueng-aram, who sold “99.99 % true” silver jewellery through their social media live channels.
The couple’s customers made the allegations when they claimed another gold stores resisted buying the couple’s wedding jewelry, citing a lack of traditional hallmarking and claims that the goods had no real gold content.
More than 300 customers complained to the police and demanded that the couple get accused of common fraud.
They argued that the pair intended to deceive them into believing that the jewelry was made up using false advertisements.
The authorities received additional documentation from the police regarding purchases and results of golden content tests.
The Consumer Protection Police Division ( CPPD ) chief, Pol Maj Gen Witthaya Sriprasertpab, said public fraud is an offence that can lead to a long jail term.
According to him, “police view each deal as a separate matter of fraud, with each count enraging in the Criminal Procedure Code punishable by five years in prison.”
He claimed that there were instances where the court sentenced fraudsters to terms that equated to thousands of years in jail.
The growth in online commerce, according to Pol Maj Gen Witthaya, opens up opportunities for criminals to profit from it because everyone you work as a vendor.
The thefts range from dealers certainly delivering merchandise after receiving obligations, or the items, even when endorsed by celebrities and celebrities, turning out to be poor, he said.
He urged consumers to purchase from trustworthy online stores to reduce the chance of falling for online frauds.
He said metal consumers should check if the silver store is properly registered, by contacting the Gold Traders Association.
Purchases made from unregulated stores increase the chance of receiving subpar goods that cannot be resold.
State agencies may also get stringent measures in regards to product regulations and impose severe sanctions, he said.
Withholding information about the products may offend the customer security law, according to Kosolwat Inthuchanyong, a top counsel and head of the Office of Attorney-General’s office for rights safety and legal assistance.
Part 47 says anyone who consciously causes mistake about the nature, condition, quality, quantity or different aspects of goods or services may face a prison term of up to six months and/or a fine of up to 100, 000 baht.
Repeat offenders could receive a sentence in prison of up to a year, a fine of up to 200 000 Baht, or both.
Offenders will face a jail term of up to six months, a fine of up to 100, 000 baht, or both if the products have no labels or have incorrect labels, according to Section 52.
Mr Kosolwat said if customers were provided with essential details, such as the product’s gold content, and able to resell them at regular gold shops, there would not be any issues.
He doubted that the couple could avoid legal repercussions despite agreeing to return their gold jewelry in order to lessen the financial strain suffered by buyers.
Customers from the couple’s gold store in Bangkok flocked to the couple’s home to request a refund, but the store only offered a full refund if customers returned the item together with the gifts that came with the package.
According to a source, those who agreed the conditions were required to sign a document stating that they would not pursue legal action against the couple.
Police will look into the evidence to see if any information was kept secret during livestream sales sessions, according to Mr. Kosolwat. Because the sessions were broadcast to the general public, the couple could face charges of fraud or even public fraud if an investigation uncovers some information was withheld.
He claimed that the couple might face additional criminal charges.
Ms. Kornkanok and Mr. Kanpon have been accused of committing public fraud, inputting false information into the computer system, advertising deceptive messages, and causing confusion about the quality, quantity, and other important details about goods and services.
Luxury vehicles worth 120 million baht owned by the pair, including a Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe, a Lamborghini, a Ford Mustang Ecoboost Fastback and a Volkswagen Caravelle T69 were impounded by the police.
Witthaya: Fraudsters face long jail terms
Kosolwat: Lawsuits inevitable