Thai woman in US arrested for buying designer handbags, returning knockoffs to store

[Hans Mann]

A Thai woman in Virginia was arrested for being the mastermind behind an alleged handbag scam that involved high-end brands such as Gucci, Burberry and Fendi.

Praepitcha Smatsorabudh has been accused of buying designer handbags — some costing over THB70,000 — from department store websites. She then, allegedly, traveled to at least 12 different states to make in-person returns with knockoffs obtained from suppliers in China and Hong Kong, according to federal authorities.

Praepitcha, who is in her early 40s, has allegedly netted over THB35 million in profits by selling the authentic bags on eBay and Instagram to customers over the past two years. The scheme was so prolific, she was named one of the top online customers of a major international department store, whose name is withheld.

In Sept. 2014, she emailed one of her counterfeit bag suppliers: "The best fake bag I’ve ever seen! Can you send me more ... from this factory. They make bag IMPaCABLE!!!!" [sic]

In March, Federal authorities raided her home in Arlington, Virginia and found 572 handbags, many of them fake.

Praepitcha, who was born in Thailand, has been charged with one count of wire fraud. She could face 20 years in prison if convicted, ABC News reported.

Great Fakes! Thai woman in US arrested for buying designer handbags, returning knockoffs to the store | Coconuts Bangkok

[Conche]

The US should learn to accept thai culture a little more

[harrybarracuda]

Exactly, if the knock offs were that good the next purchaser would probably have never noticed.

[thaimeme]

Exactly, if the knock offs were that good the next purchaser would probably have never noticed.

Chances are that 95% of the mindless consumers wouldn't recognize the distinction of what's quality and what's not - be it original or copy....

[baldrick]

how many of the knockoffs are made in same factory as the originals ?

[wasabi]

Just goes to show you what a rip off these designer handbags are in the first place.
Made for a couple of yen , then flogged for a fortune.
Knock offs made for a couple of yen.
Same same.

[harrybarracuda]

how many of the knockoffs are made in same factory as the originals ?

I was quite amazed at the security of all these clothes factories outside PP.

Yet there are still plenty of people who will take orders and deliver out of the back door for you if you know the right people.

I think the security is more to keep nosey parker do-gooders out rather than goods in.

[Hans Mann]

....she was named one of the top online customers of a major international department store, whose name is withheld....

Hope she claimed her loyalty points like this one....

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