Caveat emptor - The jewellery scam.

He rang me from the Amari Rincome Hotel. They were on their honeymoon could I please go to see them. A bright young couple, they were obviously in serious trouble - with each other and divorce seemed the likely upshot of their honeymoon. This is what had happened.

Simon, showing off to his new bride, went along with a tout who picked them up and took them to a 'government' shop that was, for the final day, selling jewellery at a special price - this was in Bangkok . He knew he was safe as the salesman said that his credit card could not be debited until he approved it after returning to England and had had the value of the stones assessed. This was of course a lie. On arrival in Chiang Mai they came to their senses and tried to stop the charge to his credit card but it was too late. What could they do?

The answer was obviously nothing. With little hope I told them to report to the Tourist Police. Meanwhile I tried to save their marriage. That night there was a concert at the hotel. I gave them two tickets. I also had a bottle of Champagne, well sparkling wine, which I had managed to liberate after the Queen's Birthday Party, this I sent to their room with Her Majesty's compliments. Next morning they rang to say that they had had a great evening and were in love again - a victory for the much put upon Consul.

A few months later I had another case, this time in Chiang Mai. I took Peter and Jane to the Tourist Police who were not optimistic or helpful. Since we knew where the shop was, I managed to persuade a policeman to visit it with us. The shop was scarcely decorated. After a long wait we were escorted upstairs. There, behind a large desk in an otherwise unfurnished room sat an imposing man with his arms crossed. He listened impassively as Peter accused him of cheating and deception. Finally he spoke, "Greed, sheer greed". He picked up the stones on his desk, pressed a bell and said to the girl who came in, "Bring $2000". When she returned he pushed the notes across the desk without counting them. I could not resist asking him how we knew they were genuine. This produced a faint smile. Peter offered him the stones. "You can keep them, they are of no value."

Although Peter had paid $4000, he was extremely lucky to recover anything. We had a beer together with the policeman in a cafe' across the road to celebrate what was a quite unexpected victory.

Remember, gentle reader, caveat emptor.