Bang bua thong: A con artist, posing as a close acquaintance of the mayor, tricked people into buying fake "miracle oil" before absconding with the money. A tour bus owner was devastated after being scammed by a well-dressed con artist who claimed to be close to the mayor of Bang Bua Thong. The con artist tricked him into believing he was selling cheap diesel fuel during a shortage, luring him to wait in front of the municipal office before absconding with the cash.
According to Thai News Agency, the "Nonthaburi News Page" received a report from Ms. Wariya, 38, owner of a tour bus business, that she was scammed by fraudsters posing as Bang Bua Thong municipal employees. The fraudsters sold her 600 liters of diesel fuel for 18,000 baht, then tricked her into paying in front of the Bang Bua Thong municipal office before absconding with the money. The incident occurred on March 20th, and a police report has been filed at Bang Bua Thong Police Station.
CCTV footage from the Bang Bua Thong Municipal Office at 12:40 PM on March 20, 2026, shows an elderly man, approximately 55-60 years old, with short hair, wearing a black polo shirt, black trousers, a blue face mask, and sneakers. He pretended to have the victim wait outside the building before going inside. He then came out and took 15,000 baht in cash from the victim, as agreed upon for the purchase of 500 liters of diesel fuel. He then tricked the victim into waiting inside before exiting through the back of the Bang Bua Thong Municipal Office, crossing the road, and escaping in an orange taxi.
Yesterday, reporters visited a gas station in Bang Len Subdistrict, Bang Yai District, Nonthaburi Province, where the victim, Ms. Wariya, had rented a parking space for her bus. She recounted the incident, stating that it occurred on March 20, 2026, at approximately 11:30 AM. A well-dressed, polite man, aged 55-60, whom she had never seen before, crossed the road to her bus parking spot at the gas station. He claimed to have 600 liters of diesel fuel for sale at 30 baht per liter, totaling 18,000 baht. He claimed to be acquainted with the mayor of Bang Bua Thong and said he had asked her to sell the fuel, which was stored in the back of a truck at the municipality. Interested, she agreed to buy only 500 liters for 15,000 baht, as her bus only has a capacity of 400 liters. She planned to keep the rest in jerrycans for emergencies.
The scammer then got into his car and drove me to the Bang Bua Thong Municipal Office, telling me to wait outside the building. He pretended to go inside the office before coming out again and asking for cash, claiming he could pay directly and would bring fuel later. I paid him 15,000 baht in cash. He then told me to wait inside the office. At the time, I didn't realize I was being scammed. After waiting for a while, I became suspicious and went to check the back of the office, where I saw a door that could be opened and closed. I then informed the municipal officials and explained the situation. The officials said the man was not a municipal employee as he claimed and took me to view CCTV footage so I could file a police report at Bang Bua Thong Police Station.
My family and I run a tour bus business with only one bus. Each fuel fill-up costs approximately 9,000-10,000 baht for 400 liters. We run about 4-5 tour jobs a month, using around 2,000 liters of fuel. A customer recently paid a deposit for fuel, and my husband is supposed to take the bus to pick up customers in Satun province. We feel terrible about this incident. We never thought criminals would prey on the current fuel shortage and restrictions. We urge the government to urgently address the fuel problem as it is severely impacting many people.