CrimeAug 22, 2023
JSA Shares Safety Tips After Safe BurglariesGradingAug 23, 2023
Gem-A Issues Warning About Bizarre Jewelry Mail Scam
People in the U.K. and Europe have been unexpectedly receiving rings in the mail accompanied by fake Gem-A certificates.
Gem-A has issued a scam warning following reports of people receiving a package in the mail that they didn’t order containing a solitaire ring and a fake certificate, pictured above, bearing a variety of laboratory logos.
London—The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) has issued a warning following reports of people mysteriously receiving rings in the mail that are accompanied by certificates claiming to be from Gem-A.
The organization, which does not offer grading services or issue reports of any kind, said it is in no way involved with the packages.
People reported receiving a “diamond solitaire ring in platinum”—a claim that Gem-A said has not been verified via any laboratory testing, as far as it knows—in a gray or pink ring box, which arrived inside a pink gift bag with “Princess” in gold lettering.
Along with the ring is a laminated “Identification Certificate” allegedly from the “Fellowship of Gemological Association of Great Britain.” (The fake certificate contains a misspelling, as Gem-A uses the traditional British spelling of “gemmological” in its name.)
The fake certificate also includes the logos of the International Gemological Institute, the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, Platinum Guild International, and the Gemological Institute of America.
Gem-A said according to reports, there are no identifying postage labels, receipts, confirmation letters or information documents inside the shipment.
Recent comments on a post about the mysterious packages on Gem-A’s Facebook page indicate that people randomly received the ring after trying to order books from an e-commerce site called Ahodenare.com.
The organization, which does not offer grading services or issue reports of any kind, said it is in no way involved with the packages.
People reported receiving a “diamond solitaire ring in platinum”—a claim that Gem-A said has not been verified via any laboratory testing, as far as it knows—in a gray or pink ring box, which arrived inside a pink gift bag with “Princess” in gold lettering.
Along with the ring is a laminated “Identification Certificate” allegedly from the “Fellowship of Gemological Association of Great Britain.” (The fake certificate contains a misspelling, as Gem-A uses the traditional British spelling of “gemmological” in its name.)
The fake certificate also includes the logos of the International Gemological Institute, the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, Platinum Guild International, and the Gemological Institute of America.
Gem-A said according to reports, there are no identifying postage labels, receipts, confirmation letters or information documents inside the shipment.
Recent comments on a post about the mysterious packages on Gem-A’s Facebook page indicate that people randomly received the ring after trying to order books from an e-commerce site called Ahodenare.com.
“Organizations in the jewelry and gemstone sectors are no strangers to fraudulent practices, but this strange pattern of behavior whereby unsuspecting members of the public receive items of jewelry with fake ‘identification certificates’ is baffling and worrying,” Gem-A CEO Alan Hart said.
“As an educator and membership organization, we don’t produce 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. We are monitoring the situation closely.”
Gem-A said it was alerted to a similar situation in March of this year after isolated incidents were reported on social media and email, but said the practice has “reared back into action,” affecting multiple parties.
It said recipients are from geographically diverse areas, including the United Kingdom and northern Europe.
Related stories will be right here …
“As an educator and membership organization, we don’t produce 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. We are monitoring the situation closely.”
Gem-A said it was alerted to a similar situation in March of this year after isolated incidents were reported on social media and email, but said the practice has “reared back into action,” affecting multiple parties.
It said recipients are from geographically diverse areas, including the United Kingdom and northern Europe.
Also in March, the American Gem Society published a warning to consumers notifying them of a scam involving people receiving unexpected packages with “low-quality jewelry” accompanied by a counterfeit laboratory report.
Some of the fake lab reports claimed the jewelry was graded by Gales Gemological Research Association (GRA) and was set with moissanite. Others were branded GIA and stated the stone contained in the jewelry was a diamond.
GIA said it received more than 50 calls regarding the packages from California, Texas, and other states over the course of three months.
The March incidents as well as the current one involving Gem-A could be examples of a brushing scam, which the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) defines as a “person receiv[ing] a package from a business containing various items that they never ordered.”
The aim is for the scammer to pose as a verified buyer of the product so they can post fake positive reviews of it online to boost their product’s rating and popularity.
The DOJ warns that packages are often addressed to the person’s residence but lack a return address, and it may mean that the recipient’s personal information has been leaked.
Gem-A said on Aug. 22 a police report has been filed and the investigation is ongoing.
“We have received no reports of follow-up requests from the sender(s) attempting to extort money or data from any of the recipients of these fraudulent parcels,” Hart said.
“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.”
Gem-A can be contacted at +44 0207 404 3334.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Grading
The Latest
TrendsFeb 11, 2026
Halle Berry’s Retro Engagement Ring Is a Sapphire-Set StunnerSourced by For Future Reference Vintage, the yellow gold ring has a round center stone surrounded by step-cut sapphires.
MajorsFeb 11, 2026
Francesca’s Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy AgainThe clothing and accessories chain announced last month it would be closing all of its stores.
CollectionsFeb 11, 2026
Zales Turns Sweethearts Into Jewelry for Valentine’s Day CollectionThe “Zales x Sweethearts” collection features three mystery heart charms engraved with classic sayings seen on the Valentine’s Day candies.
Brought to you by
The MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program: Attracting & Training the Next Generation of Bench JewelersLaunched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.
TechnologyFeb 11, 2026
Gemvision Symposium 2026 Slated for AprilThe event will include panel discussions, hands-on demonstrations of new digital manufacturing tools, and a jewelry design contest.
Weekly QuizFeb 05, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsFeb 11, 2026
TJS Announces Roundtable, Launches New AppRegistration is now open for The Jewelry Symposium, set to take place in Detroit from May 16-19.
SourcingFeb 10, 2026
At Meeting in South Africa, Support for Natural Diamonds Picks Up Steam Namibia has formally signed the Luanda Accord, while two key industry organizations pledged to join the Natural Diamond Council.
Brought to you by
How Jewelers Can Fight Back Against Cell JammersCriminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.
TrendsFeb 10, 2026
Bad Bunny Wears Football-Shaped ‘Desert Diamond’ for Halftime PerformanceLady Gaga, Cardi B, and Karol G also went with diamond jewelry for Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show honoring Puerto Rico.
SurveysFeb 10, 2026
Shoppers to Spend Big on Jewelry This Valentine’s Day, Says NRFJewelry is expected to be the No. 1 gift this year in terms of dollars spent.
FinancialsFeb 10, 2026
Kering Plans Transformation as 2025 Sales Sink 13%As star brand Gucci continues to struggle, the luxury titan plans to announce a new roadmap to return to growth.
SourcingFeb 10, 2026
AGTA To Debut ‘Stuller Color of the Year’ Spectrum Awards CategoryThe new category asks entrants for “exceptional” interpretations of the supplier’s 2026 color of the year, which is “Signature Red.”
Policies & IssuesFeb 09, 2026
U.S., India Trade Deal One Step Closer to Being FinalizedThe White House issued an official statement on the deal, which will eliminate tariffs on loose natural diamonds and gemstones from India.
Events & AwardsFeb 09, 2026
JA Now Accepting Entries for 2026 CASE AwardsEntries for the jewelry design competition will be accepted through March 20.
IndependentsFeb 09, 2026
James Free Jewelers Unveils Revamped FlagshipThe Ohio jeweler’s new layout features a curated collection of brand boutiques to promote storytelling and host in-store events.
TrendsFeb 09, 2026
These 14 Jewels Will Melt Your Heart This Valentine’s DayFrom heart motifs to pink pearls, Valentine’s Day is filled with jewelry imbued with love.
CrimeFeb 06, 2026
Florida Man Sentenced After Selling Fake Native American Jewelry for a Decade Prosecutors say the man attended arts and craft fairs claiming he was a third-generation jeweler who was a member of the Pueblo tribe.
FinancialsFeb 06, 2026
Pandora’s North America GM Departs Amid Executive ChangesNew CEO Berta de Pablos-Barbier shared her priorities for the Danish jewelry company this year as part of its fourth-quarter results.
TrendsFeb 06, 2026
Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi Wear Matching Cece Jewellery Signet RingsOur Piece of the Week picks are these bespoke rings the “Wuthering Heights” stars have been spotted wearing during the film’s press tour.
MajorsFeb 05, 2026
Pandora to Begin Selling Platinum-Plated JewelryThe introduction of platinum plating will reduce its reliance on silver amid volatile price swings, said Pandora.
SourcingFeb 05, 2026
De Beers Lowers Production Guidance for 2026, Anglo Mulls Another WritedownIt would be the third impairment charge in three years on De Beers Group, which continues to grapple with a “challenging” diamond market.
IndependentsFeb 05, 2026
Borsheims to Undergo Massive Renovation in the Spring The Omaha jewelry store’s multi-million-dollar renovation is scheduled to begin in mid-May and take about six months.
CollectionsFeb 05, 2026
Marco Bicego’s Amethyst Collection Travels to a Purple ParadiseThe “Paradise Amethyst” collection focuses on amethyst, pink tourmaline, garnet, and 18-karat yellow gold beads.
FinancialsFeb 05, 2026
Watches of Switzerland Reports Strong Holiday Results in Q3The retailer credited its Roberto Coin campaign, in part, for boosting its North America sales.
ColumnistsFeb 04, 2026
January Jewelry Sales: More Dollars Spent, Fewer Units Sold Sherry Smith unpacks independent retailers’ January performance and gives tips for navigating the slow-growth year ahead.
MajorsFeb 04, 2026
What Designers Should Know About Saks Global’s BankruptcyFrom how to get an invoice paid to getting merchandise returned, JVC’s Sara Yood answers some complex questions.
TrendsFeb 04, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: February Birthstone BlissAmethyst, the birthstone for February, is a gemstone to watch this year with its rich purple hue and affordable price point.
