Grading

Retailers Warned About Fraudulent Email Purportedly From GIA

GradingSep 21, 2023

Retailers Warned About Fraudulent Email Purportedly From GIA

The lab confirmed it did not send the message.

GIA logo
A fraudulent email allegedly from GIA that addresses “weight or measurement differences” is making rounds, and the lab says not to click on any links.
Calgary, Alberta—The Gemological Institute of America recently has been receiving notifications from clients about a fraudulent email addressing “weight or measurement differences” that’s been circulating. 

Stephen Morisseau, GIA corporate communications director, said those who contacted the lab about the email were assured it did not come from GIA.

According to InStore, the message reads as follows. 

“Dear Client, 

The item in the attached file have weight or measurement differences between the stated weight/measurements  

(per the provided memo or parcel paper) and the actual weight/measurements given during servicing. We will continue servicing the item with the actual weight/measurements. 

Please contact your Client Services Representative if you have any questions or concerns. 

Thank you, 

GIA Laboratory” 

Morisseau said the emails appear different from the lab’s usual client communications. 

“Many of these messages have the characteristics associated with ‘phishing’ emails, including email addresses that do not match the sender’s name, obvious grammatical or spelling errors, or unusual links or attachments,” he said. 

David Blitt, owner of Troy Shoppe Jewellers in the Calgary, Alberta, told Instore the email “uses the GIA logo and very good disclaimer and a PDF of the correction.”  

According to InStore, Blitt did not click on the link or the PDF.  

He forwarded the email to his GIA customer service representative who replied, “We have received many notifications from clients advising that they have received this email. Please note that this was not issued by GIA and would strongly advise that you do not click on any of the links in that email and report it as spam.” 

Any future recipients of the suspicious email should also contact their GIA client service representative, Morisseau said. 
 
 Related stories will be right here … 

Lauren McLemoreis the associate editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments.
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