1. Jewellery scam on Instagram: Woman shocked by overpriced purchase from seller
2. Instagram jewellery scam: Woman’s Rs crore purchase turns out to be worth only a fraction.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : In the ever-evolving realm of social media, Instagram has emerged as a bustling marketplace brimming with both opportunities and risks. Among the myriad of legitimate businesses, scams have been on the rise, targeting unsuspecting consumers with deceitful ploys. A recent incident has shed light on one such elaborate jewellery scam on Instagram, involving a businesswoman from the USA who fell victim to the fraudulent scheme.
The scam, amounting to approximately Rs 6 crore, unfolded when a man issued a counterfeit certificate of registration for selling hallmarked gold to a city jeweller, leading to his arrest. The jewellers, Gorav Soni and Rajendra Soni, are currently evading authorities. The accused, identified as Nand Kishore, was apprehended after investigations unveiled his complicity in the scam. This arrest came in response to a complaint lodged by Charish Nortez, the American businesswoman who had unknowingly purchased jewellery worth millions, only to discover she had been swindled.
Bajrang Singh Shekhawat, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) spearheading the probe, revealed that Nortez had been engaged in business dealings with Jaipur-based jewellers Gorav Soni and his father Rajendra Soni for an extended period. Allegedly, the duo misrepresented the jewellery by selling her 9-carat gold instead of the promised 14-carat gold and substituting diamonds with moissanite stones, which are significantly cheaper.
The deception came to light when Nortez had the jewellery scrutinized at an exhibition in the USA, revealing the fraud. Subsequently, she journeyed to Jaipur to confront the jewellers, who retaliated by filing a case against her at the Manak Chowk police station in March 2023. The intervention of the USA embassy prompted an investigation directed by the Jaipur commissioner.
During the inquiry, the authenticity of the gold and diamond purity in the hallmark certificates was scrutinized. It was uncovered that the certificates were spurious, leading to the arrest of Nand Kishore, the perpetrator behind the counterfeit certificates.
“The hallmark certificates were found to be invalid, and the individual responsible for issuing them was apprehended,” remarked Singh. The absconding jewellers, Gorav Soni and Rajendra Soni, are currently at large. Although a hallmarking licence is mandatory for the manufacture and sale of gold in India, many jewellers are circumventing this requirement by procuring fake certificates from laboratories, deceiving customers in the process.
This case underscores the prevalent issue of fraudulent practices within the jewellery industry and emphasizes the imperative of verifying the authenticity of hallmark certificates when purchasing gold and diamond jewellery. Authorities are actively pursuing the absconding jewellers to prevent further instances of such scams.
With social media platforms evolving into burgeoning marketplaces, consumers are urged to exercise caution and diligence to steer clear of falling prey to similar fraudulent schemes. The landscape of online commerce demands vigilance and awareness to safeguard against duplicitous activities, ensuring a secure and authentic shopping experience for all..
1. Jewellery scam Instagram
2. Woman purchases jewellery Instagram seller.
