Note:
This had been regarded by TRAFFIC as a highly elaborated scam/hoax, but the ultimate and true purpose of this scam/hoax remains a mystery. Please provide feedback below or contact us if you had any clue or information.
The illustration below is probably part of the many traps and scams in this Tokay Gecko/Tokek saga.
Your friends are talking about the incredible price a Gekko Gecko / Tokay Gecko (Malaysians call it Tokek) can get in the market today. A Tokay Gecko/Tokek of 300 grams can fetch a whooping USD 8,000. The price sky rocketed for the Tokay Gecko/Tokek of 400 grams, bearing a price of USD 44,000,000.
One way or the other, you were tempted into the search for this oversized Tokay Gecko/Tokek. Even as a broker, the commission that can be earned are astounding.
After a tedious search, you came across a broker, claiming that he found a seller of his giant Gecko/Tokek, and is looking for a buyer. Using your contacts, you managed to found a buyer's broker. Of course, the buyer's broker require that you provide photographs and/or videos proof of the Gecko/Tokek, before he made a move to check on the Gecko/Tokek.
You quickly contact the seller's broker and request some evidences. The broker agreed quickly but explained that the seller demanded a small compensation for the photographs and/or videos, as many brokers had failed him before and no longer want to give out the photographs and/or videos easily.
The Catch:
This is the stage where things go in different directions in the whole Tokay Gecko/Tokek saga.
1) The seller and his giant Gecko/Tokek cannot be found.
While many videos and photographs had surfaced, the the seller and Gecko/Tokek are nowhere to be found in their supposed location. This is especially strange as buyers are offering incredible amount for these crawlers. Why is it that when the buyers or intermediates went to confirm these Gecko/Tokek, they are nowhere to be found?
2) The giant Gecko/Tokek turned out to be a regular Gecko/Tokek.
Despite the videos and photographs evidently showed the size (dimension and weight) of the Gecko/Tokek, it is nowhere near. So are the photographs and videos fake? Most likely, they are. The videos and photographs in question upon proper inspection revealed the use of camera angles and props for the desired effect. Although many claimed that the Gecko/Tokek lost weight during the transfer.
3) The giant Gecko/Tokek is "confirmed", but the buyer never arrived.
Although the confirmation of this giant Gecko/Tokek may be a trickery, the key here is that the buyer never showed up. While many claimed to know a genuine buyer who will be pay an absurb amount for the crawler, such buyer had never shown up for the transaction before. As such, the broker will required to pay a penalty to the seller or he will not be allowed to leave.
4) Plain robbery
Many times, there were no sellers or Gecko/Tokek. Once the brokers arrived in the Indonesia, Philippines, or any country, they were robbed off their possession, especially if the brokers had brought some money, up to RM 100,000, as deposit for the Gecko/Tokek.
Given that multiple scenarios, ScamBusters speculate that the Tokay Gecko/Tokek saga is orchestrated by various groups in South-East Asia. This is to say that both the sellers and buyers are part of the group. It is further speculated that the core of this elaborated hoax lies in the sale of the videos and photographs, while some groups take it a stage further and involve robberies.
The Shield:
Stay AWAY and DO NOT get involved with the Tokay Gecko/Tokek saga is the only way to save yourself money, time, and energy.
Additional Information:
You may refer this publication from TRAFFIC in 2013 in regards to the trade of Tokay Gecko/Tokek in South-East Asia. The research for this publication is done in late 2011, which is around the peak of this Tokay Gecko/Tokek fiesta.
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