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Scams in tourist destinations are common, but they can be avoided if you’re vigilant and know what to watch out for.
Unfortunately, this isn’t always easy, as one tourist recently found out while visiting the Mexican Caribbean.
In this case, a jeweler near Cancun sold fake jewelry to an American tourist for hundreds of dollars, but there are ways to spot the scam so you don’t become a victim too.
Hearing another traveler’s story is one way to know what to watch out for.
An American Tourist Buys Fake Jewelry Near Cancun
According to reports, an American tourist visited the Caribbean Island jewelry store in Isla Mujeres and purchased two rings from the jeweler working at the time.
Both of the rings were advertised as being white gold inlaid with diamonds, but the customer later found out that they were silver and cubic zirconia.
There would be a significant difference in price between real white gold and diamonds and silver and cubic zirconia, so the tourist got scammed out of a significant amount of money.
@chrisjamesgems 🚨Warning: Mexico Jewelry Scam🚨 Please share this with anyone you know that’s traveling to Mexico or going on a cruise soon! . . . My wife and I recently went down to Cozumel, Mexico for a weekend getaway and decided to stop in a few of the local jewelry stores. One of the shops tried to sell us a fake opal ring, claiming it was natural black opal and wanted an absurd price. This is really just costume jewelry and should cost maybe only $20-$30, but they asked $379 for it! …and that was AFTER a discount!!! The owner of the jewelry store, blatantly lied to us saying it was a natural black opal from Mexico, but Mexico doesn’t really even produce black opal! Folks, be very careful if you are buying jewelry while you travel! . . . If you want to protect yourself from scams like this and learn how to spot fake gems and jewelry with just a few inexpensive and pocket-sized gem tools, I can help! I teach an online, self-paced course that will show you how to do exactly that. If you want to try out a totally FREE lesson from the course… 💌DM/Message me the word “lesson” to get your FREE lesson! I’ll send it over right away! Be safe out there! #realorfake #gemstone #jewelrytiktok #jewelrytips #ringsoftiktok #tiktokjewelry #opal #opalring #opaljewelry #scam #travel #doyoutravel #traveler #travelling #tiktoktravel #mexico #cozumel #cruise #cruiselife #traveltips #visitmexico #jewelry #jewelrylove ♬ original sound – chrisjamesgems
The Difference Between Real And Fake
The American tourist paid over $500 for the two rings purchased at the jewelry store.
The estimated value of the fake jewelry is less than $300.
If the rings were actually real 14-karat white gold and diamond, they would have cost around $3,000.
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@genxjen #jewelry #diamonds #fake #moissanite #necklace #scam #jewelers ♬ original sound – Jennifer Sutton
If It Sounds Too Good To Be True…
The first way to spot a scam like this is always to remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
That’s not to say that you can’t get a good deal sometimes, including on jewelry.
But it’s very unlikely that a jeweler is going to sell $3,000 worth of jewelry for $500.
@marinahasbun Reply to @15dolabundle @dorojewelers ♬ original sound – Marina Hasbun
Think About The Pricing
If you’re going to make a purchase for something like jewelry, it’s important to know a little bit about the pricing in order to spot a scam.
If you know going in what the estimated cost would be for the jewelry you’re purchasing, then you know that somebody isn’t going to sell it to you for pennies on the dollar.
So the first way to spot a scam is to think about the pricing and ask yourself if it sounds too good to be true.
Look For Markings
If you’re thinking maybe you’re just getting a good price for some reason, but you’re still not sure, look for markings.
Most jewelry made out of real precious metals will have some sort of marking or stamp on it.
In the case of the rings sold to the American tourist, they were supposedly 14 karat white gold, so it’s likely that there would be a 14K, 14KT, or .585 stamp somewhere on the ring, although this is not always the case, but it is one thing to check for.
@chametals Trickier than it looks ! #alternativeengagementring #handmadejewelry #jewelrymaking ♬ original sound – Charlotte- jewelry designer 💖
Inspect For Wear And Scratches
Wear or scratches on jewelry is another indicator of its purity.
Real diamonds and certain other gems have a very hard surface, so they are not prone to scratches.
As far as metals go, if the jewelry is just plated rather than solid gold, you might find wear and scratches on it, especially if the jewelry is being resold, so be sure to watch out for this to avoid being scammed too.
@locaeclectic Replying to @Brie McMillan this is one of the many reasons why I love 9k gold for rings for daily wear #jewelry #jewelrytiktok #solidgoldjewelry #fashiontiktok #cartier #cartierlovering ♬ original sound – Alexis Nido-Russo
What Happened To The Jewelry Store And Customer
According to the manager of the jewelry store, the individual who sold the American tourist the fake jewelry was a temporary employee and has been terminated.
The manager has stated that they are willing to refund the money for the rings purchased.
The customer, a woman named Mary Sanchez, has not sought out that refund yet.
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