Bangkok Gem Scam?

Question

What is Bangkok Gem Scam?

Answer 1

Someone will come up to a tourist, usually speaking perfect English and acting very friendly.  They will offer to sell them valuable gems at a great price, saying that they can be resold for a hefty profit back in the west, but in fact, the 'gems' are worthless.

Answer 2

One of the most pervasive scams in Thailand is the Bangkok gem scam. Typically, a tourist meets a friendly Thai at a tourist attraction who eventually offers to take them to a "government" gem stone shop where the tourist is told about how they can sell Thai "blue sapphires" or other gems back home and make a 100% profit. It is all lies, of course, and the tourist ends up with a pocket full of overpriced gems. Like Thais themselves, the scam is low-key and the touts are friendly rather than pushy. A rule of thumb for Thais is that "real" Thais do not just walk up to strangers and strike up a friendly conversation. Thais typically "speak when spoken to." If you are approached at a tourist attraction by a friendly fellow who just walks up and starts speaking to you, watch out!

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