An online seller of the highly-sought after Labubu dolls risks facing fraud charges after failing to deliver the dolls which over 100 customers had paid for in advance. The buyers reported the owner of the Facebook page “Chompoo Utaisincharoen” to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on Monday, claiming losses of up to 12 million baht.
One of the customers, who declined to be named, said the seller claimed to be an importer of Labubu dolls on Facebook, targeting customers who were looking to buy the popular toy figures to be resold.
The victims were then instructed to transfer the money to complete the transaction, the customer said, noting everyone complied with the order as they had never had any issues purchasing items off Facebook before.
About a month ago, the seller said there will be delays in the delivery of the dolls, citing supply issues caused by legal wrangling over a warehouse in China, the customer said.
Over the course of the next few weeks, the seller would come up with different excuses when asked about the delivery date, the customer said.
The seller then promised to refund the customers in full, but no refunds have been issued to date, prompting the buyers to initiate a lawsuit.
As of Monday, over 100 people have claimed to be a victim of the scheme, with a combined loss totaling 12 million baht. According to the customers, the online seller had been in business for two to three years. Recently, however, the seller began offering the dolls at a heavy discount, which attracted many eager customers.
One customer has reportedly contemplated suicide after spending her life savings to purchase the dolls. It was reported the doll seller lives in an upscale housing estate in Samut Prakan and used to run a shop in Saphan Lek neighbourhood of Bangkok.
I can’t believe people would fall for this kind of scam. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
That’s a little harsh. Not everyone is aware of how these scams work. Sometimes people just trust too easily.
I get that, Melissa. But come on, doing some basic research before handing over savings isn’t too much to ask, is it?
Exactly, Jake. People need to take responsibility for their actions. It’s unfortunate but true.
12 million baht?! That’s crazy. What’s wrong with people?
It’s tragic, honestly. These sellers prey on people’s trust and desperation.
I wonder if they did any background checks before buying. Seems like common sense would have saved them.
It’s heartbreaking that someone considered suicide over this. The emotional toll is just devastating.
Absolutely. This kind of mental health impact is the real tragedy here. People should think twice before scamming others.
Yes, Clarke. And it also shows how important it is for authorities to take fraud seriously.
Couldn’t agree more, Sophie. It’s not just the financial loss.
These scams are getting more and more sophisticated, making it hard for ordinary people to distinguish between genuine and fake sellers.
This is why I stick to authorized retailers only. No way am I buying from random sellers on Facebook.
Authorized retailers can also scam you. It’s about being vigilant, no matter where you shop.
Exactly, John. Sometimes the so-called authorized sellers are the ones who trick you the worst.
I hope this Chompoo gets what she deserves. How can someone sleep at night knowing they caused such misery?
What’s the government doing about these kinds of online frauds? They should be cracking down harder.
True, but the government can’t monitor every transaction. People need to be smarter about their online interactions.
A stronger regulatory framework could help, though. There needs to be better consumer protection.
The sad part is, this isn’t going to be the last time we hear about such scams. People keep falling for it.
Education about online scams should start in schools. The next generation needs to be smarter about these traps.
Couldn’t agree more, Lucas. Financial literacy is sorely lacking and it’s leading to these catastrophes.
Thanks, Hannah. A little bit of education could go a long way in preventing these tragedies.
Amazing that this happened in Samut Prakan. You’d think people in upscale areas would be more aware of these risks.
Fraud knows no boundaries. It can affect the rich or poor alike.
Feeling so sad for these people. I hope they get their money back.
It’s unlikely they’ll recover much, but I hope the scammer faces some serious consequences.
It’s sad, but also teaches a valuable lesson on vigilance and caution.
If she’s been in business for 2-3 years, why scam now? Was she just desperate?
Sometimes greed blinds people to the consequences. A few victims now, but a destroyed reputation forever.
Anyone have tips on how to avoid such scams? This story has me worried.
Always verify sellers’ backgrounds. Look for reviews and avoid deals that are too good to be true.
Thanks, Richard. Definitely going to be more careful moving forward.
I just can’t wrap my head around why people continue to buy expensive items via Facebook. There are safer options out there.