A 49-year-old woman broke down in tears as she exposed a gang’s scheme to trick her into handing over 4 baht of gold by claiming they would take her to perform a ritual for lucky numbers. When she returned home, the gold was fake. She believes many others have also been victimized by this gang.
On 8 September 2026, reporters received a complaint from the victim who said she was deceived by a trick promising to take her to obtain lucky numbers, as she had won the lottery consecutively before. She was persuaded to remove all her valuables and place them in an envelope for the ritual. However, after the ritual, upon returning home and opening the envelope, she found only flowers, candles, and a fake gold necklace. She was so shocked she nearly fainted.
Ms. Korawan, 49, from Sahatsakhan District, Kalasin Province, the victim, revealed that on 13 June 2026 at 10:00 a.m., while selling vegetables at the fresh market in Non Buri Subdistrict, Sahatsakhan District, a woman around 55 years old approached and invited her to join a ritual to get lucky numbers since she had been winning the lottery regularly. Believing her, the victim followed her to Phu Por Temple in Phu Por Subdistrict, Mueang District, Kalasin Province.
Upon arrival at the ritual site, there were two men, two women, and a monk. Before the ritual began, the monk instructed everyone to remove all valuables and place them in envelopes for the ceremony. Trusting them, the victim took off her 4-baht gold necklace, a 1-salung gold ring, and 1,000 baht in cash, placing everything in the envelope. After the ritual, the group handed the envelope back to her, instructing her not to open it there but at home. When she got home around 3:00 p.m. and opened it, the valuables were gone; only flowers, candles, and a fake gold-plated bracelet remained.
She suspects that while the monk was chanting and sprinkling holy water, and she was bowing her head in respect, the scammers switched her envelope with another. After the ritual, they returned the swapped envelope, insisting she open it at home. Shocked by the discovery, she hurried back to the temple to ask locals if they had seen the group or the monk, but they said no. Gathering herself, she filed a police report the next day. Initially, the police promised full assistance, but nearly three months later, there has been no progress. Interestingly, the lucky numbers they wrote down did come up in the next lottery draw, but since she does not play, she did not buy a ticket.
“I believe many people have been scammed like this but gave up pursuing it because they never got anything back, so the cases just disappear. All these valuables were earned honestly, working from dawn to late at night selling at the market until 8 p.m. It was hard-earned money. I haven’t told my family because I don’t want them to worry,” the victim said tearfully. / The victim recounted her story tearfully.
On 14 June 2026, the victim went to Mueang Kalasin Police Station to file an official report with investigator Lt. Col. Uthai Kaewboon, after returning to the temple and finding no trace of the group. She believes she was defrauded of her valuables and seeks legal action against the perpetrators until the case is resolved.
The victim also reviewed CCTV footage from local residents, identifying the suspects’ vehicle as a black Toyota Revo pickup truck with Udonthani license plates, which entered the area at 9:36 a.m. and left at 3:48 p.m. on 13 June 2026.