Online gold sellers face fraud rap

Many people are looking to file a police complaint against a high-profile online retailer who allegedly sold substandard gold jewellery to customers.
Twenty people who claimed they had been cheated on by Kornkanok Suwannabut and her husband, Kanpol Rueng-aram, met yesterday with Pol Col Kraiwit Saenthaweesuk, chief investigator of the Consumer Protection Police Division, to seek legal action against the couple.
Anusorn Asurapong, a lawyer representing the 20 complainants, said that at least 135 other customers were unable to be present to file the police charge yesterday.
Some were living in far away provinces while others were overseas, he said.
Damages incurred among the 155 complainants were estimated to be at least 2 million baht, the lawyer said.
One of the 20 complainants said they tried in vain to file a complaint with Bor Win police in Chon Buri, he said.
Police refused to register the complaint, arguing the complainant was at fault for failing to check the quality of the merchandise before paying for it, he said.
The complainant said they decided not to complain earlier or take the complaint to the media, fearing the couple would sue them for defamation, the lawyer said.
Pol Col Kraiwit said further investigation may be needed to find out if the couple had placed a false advertisement.
Ms Kornkanok and Mr Kanpol, popularly known on social media as “Mae Tuck” and “Pa Beer”, are being accused of selling gold jewellery with less gold content than advertised by their customers.
Ms Kornkanok allegedly conducted the sale of the jewellery in live sessions on her social media channel. She reportedly said the jewellery business belonged to her husband.
The customers, who are believed to number in their hundreds, have flocked to the couple’s gold shop in Bangkok to demand a refund.
The shop insisted it would only offer a full refund if customers returned the purchase complete with the free gifts that came with their merchandise package.
Some customers were allegedly enraged over being denied a full refund and were seen tossing the gifts back at the shop as they left.
Other customers agreed to the refunds offered to them.
Those who accepted had to sign a document agreeing not to take legal action against the couple over the jewellery sale.
It was also reported that the origin of some of the gold jewellery items was unknown and therefore could not be resold to other shops.