There must be easier ways of getting money from people than faking your own death. We're not talking about extracting cash from insurance companies, either - which would be slightly more understandable. We're talking family members.
Because that's what a Thai couple tried to do in order to scam their relatives for non-existent funeral costs. According to Coconuts Bangkok, Tachawit Janngiw and his wife conspired to deceive their relatives by posting pictures of his 'corpse' on Facebook and then asking for money to pay for funeral costs.
The bizarre plot made national TV last when it transpired that Tachawit wasn't, in fact, dead at all, despite photos which showed his 'lifeless' body on the floor. They'd even stuffed his nose with what appears to be cotton to add to the realism. Although, really, he doesn't look particularly dead - just like someone pretending to be dead.
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Alongside the photos of her dead husband, Tachawit's wife - who hasn't been named - wrote: "Last photo before deactivating his Facebook. Love you."
Friends of the couple naturally started commenting on the photos, enquiring what had happened while offering their condolences. Tachawit's wife explained that he had died of cancer and asthma after suffering for a long time, but that he'd been pretending to be alright for a long time which was why nobody had noticed how ill he was.
After posting the photos online, she then called Tachawit's mother, demanding that she transfer money to help cover the costs of the funeral. The family wired THB20,000 (about US$600) cash to Tachawit's wife so she could buy a coffin and rent a vehicle to transport his body back to his hometown in Lampang province.
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The family then contacted a temple and quickly began arranging a funeral for their beloved, whose corpse was meant to arrive the next day. And that's when this not very well thought-out plan began to unravel.
Neither Tachawit's body or his wife showed up, so the former's cousin called the dead man's phone call and was shocked when he actually answered. He hung up quickly when he realised who had called him, but by then it was too late. Surely, though, if you're pretending to be dead, it goes without saying that you shouldn't answer your phone.
With the truth revealed, the family had to cancel the funeral service, but were apparently unable to get back the THB60,000 (£1,370 / $1,800) they'd spent on it.
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And while Tachawit's mother has said she won't hold what happened against her son, she's cut off all contact with the couple. That sounds like she is holding it against him, really, which isn't a total surprise.
Featured Image Credit: FacebookTopics: World News, Weird