Praepitcha Smatsorabudh, believed to be in her 40s, was arrested in Arlington, Virginia by DHS on Thursday and has been charged with wire fraud.
According to court documents, Smatsorabudh allegedly purchased designer handbags made by Gucci and Fendl as well as other brands from high-end department stores online. The average price of these purses was $2,000.
It is further alleged Smatsorabudh also purchased a large quantity of knockoff handbags from China and Hong Kong. She would then take one of these knockoffs to the department store that sold her the designer bag and obtain a refund. Smatsorabudh would then sell the original expensive handbag to unsuspecting people on online sites such as eBay.
Smatsorabudh traveled to 12 states to return the designer handbags to the retailers who made the initial sale.
Investigators traced the online purchases to Smatsorabudh’s home in Arlington and her workplace. In one case, the DHS alleges Smatsorabudh purchased a Celine Ring handbag from a department store in October 2015. A few weeks later she returned the bag for a refund and then in December she advertised the sale of a Celine Ring handbag on eBay.
It was determined she bought at least one designer handbag a week during 2014 and 2015. She was one high-end department store’s top customer throughout the world. During this time, it is estimated she pocketed at least $1 million from the scam.
The alleged fraud was discovered by investigators employed by one of the retailers. The Arlington County Police Department and undercover DHS agents investigated and later arrested the woman for wire fraud.
ABC reports Smatsorabudh sent an email in 2014 to one of the foreign suppliers of the knockoff handbags. In the email she wrote, “The best fake bag I’ve ever seen! Can you send me more…from this factory? They make bag IMPaCABLE (sic)!!!!”
Smatsorahbudh appeared in an Arlington court yesterday and was remanded in custody until next Wednesday when she is due to be arraigned. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison.
