Surat - December 5, 2023: In a major crackdown, the Uttaran police have arrested a six-member gang involved in selling low-quality gold jewelry with forged hallmarks. The accused, who were operating across multiple cities in Gujarat including Surat, cheated jewelers by selling 5-7 carat mixed metal jewelry with a fake 916 hallmark inscription.
The modus operandi of the gang involved selling low-quality gold chains to shopkeepers at inflated prices. To gain trust, they would purchase a genuine 22-carat gold chain in return. The low-quality gold chains, made by the accused themselves, also sported a fake 916 hallmark. These chains contained significantly less gold and more other metals, cheating unsuspecting jewelers.
During the raid, the police seized valuables worth Rs 10,18,522 from the accused. This included gold chains, links, guineas, trowels, string fiddles, and paddles used for crafting the fake jewelry. All six accused have been arrested, and further investigations are underway.
Investigations revealed that the gang had cheated around 20 jewelers across Gujarat. The victims include jewelers from Surat, Valsad, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Junagadh, Morbi, Jamnagar, Gondal, and Amreli. This gang systematically defrauded jewelers by passing off fake gold as genuine.
The arrest of this gang serves as a strong warning to jewelers and the public to be cautious when purchasing gold ornaments. It is crucial to verify the authenticity of the hallmark and purchase only from trusted sources.
