Gem-A, the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, is warning the trade about an ongoing issue with fraudulent jewelry parcels that bear what may look like Gem-A credentials and logos.
According to the group, industry members in the United States and northern Europe have reported receiving a “diamond solitaire ring in platinum” in a gray or pink box, placed inside a pink gift bag with the word princess in gold lettering and accompanied by a laminated “identification certificate” said to be from the “Fellowship of Gemological Association of Great Britain”—with one m in Gemological (Gem-A spells it with two).
The packages also carry the logos of the International Gemological Institute, the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, Platinum Guild International, and the GIA, Gem-A said, but they have no identifying postage labels, receipts, confirmation letters, or other documents.
In a statement, Gem-A said it was initially alerted to the issue in March, when it received a handful of complaints from people about packages they hadn’t ordered branded with the Gem-A logo. In recent weeks, reports of the parcels have started again.
Gem-A CEO Alan Hart noted in a statement that his group is an education and membership association that “doesn’t provide jewelry, nor do we provide any kind of grading or stone identification services. Although our members and those in the trade are undoubtedly aware of this, the public is less informed.”
Anyone who receives such a parcel is advised to report it to Gem-A, the statement said.
“We have received no reports of follow-up requests from the senders, attempting to extort money or data from any of the recipients of these fraudulent parcels,” said Hart. “However, we are asking everyone to be on high alert. We urge you not to share your personal or business details in this scenario and encourage you to seek advice before taking any next steps.”
Top: One of the fraudulent parcels (photo courtesy of Gem-A)
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