1/23/2024 0 Comments Malibu gems scamEven though the lot was full, the hike didn't feel busy. We got there around 4pm on a Saturday evening and we were able to find 1 parking spot up at the top parking, but got lucky. "We suggest you buy your jewellery from a reputable jeweller, preferably in New Zealand," Palmer said.The walk was very beautiful. Advanced Gem has a list of overseas appraisers to avoid. McGough had also bought another ring from the website but was able to return the product for a refund.īest advice is to stay clear of internet sellers but if the allure of cheap jewellery is too strong, avoid appraisals by overseas appraisers. Palmer bought the fake ring from McGough for the price she paid to show others the dangers of internet scams. But they weren't interested and, in my opinion, are condoning it." "I even suggested the auction site get one worker to test each jewellery seller to ensure they aren't seen to be supporting fraudsters. "They sent me four automated emails in reply, so I wrote negative feedback on the sellers' page to warn others. "I had a huge dispute with the auction website but they couldn't care less," she said. "The ring wasn't what it was advertised to be," McGough said. McGough was alerted to the dodgy dealings when she visited Palmer. "I spent hours reading and researching the websites but I was never going to buy a ring worth thousands." "I was interested in the low prices you can pay," McGough, 35, admitted. McGough discovered the advertised blue sapphire was a cheap blue stone and cut glass in the diamonds. The ring had a recommended retail price of $5000. The food writer paid US$190 ($200) for a sapphire and diamond ring that came with an authentic-looking certificate from an overseas auction website. Genevieve McGough was one unlucky Aucklander who was caught up in an internet scam. If a jewellery buyer has certificates that appear to be lacking in quality or information it's best to go to a professional jewellery appraiser, the gem experts say. Most New Zealand insurers don't accept overseas appraisals but a few cases slip under the radar. People want to believe they are getting a great deal because they feel overseas jewellery is better, but it's not." "One day, we saw five pieces of jewellery from the same internet company. "We've seen about 80 cases," Bill Palmer of Advanced Gem Laboratory said. However Chris Ryan from the Insurance Council said people who innocently made the mistake of insuring their fake jewellery were unlikely to be charged with fraud. If the buyer had insured the ring for that sum, and later made a claim, they could technically have been charged with insurance fraud. The seller alleged with the "official certificate" the customer could get the ring insured for $4000. In one case, a seller claimed the ring was worth US$4000 ($5151) but sold it for US$900. Precious stones, like sapphires, diamonds and rubies, are offered at low prices, backed with so-called "official" appraisal certificates. What's more, buyers may unwittingly commit insurance fraud.Īuckland jewellery appraisal company Advanced Gem Laboratory has seen an increase in scams over the past two years, thanks to technology-savvy fraudsters using the web to push their products. Kiwis are being sucked into internet jewellery scams too good to be true.
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