CIBJO issues warning about scammers

The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) has issued an urgent warning to the broader industry about individuals fraudulently claiming to represent the organisation.

The statement concerned recent reports from a businessperson in India, who informed the organisation that he was contacted by an individual claiming to offer products and/or financial instruments endorsed by CIBJO.

The businessperson was referred to a website page, which included intellectual property taken from the official CIBJO website.

“It is needless to state that, as a non-profit representative association, CIBJO does not trade in any commercial products, nor financial instruments such as gold futures, and persons making claims are not authorised to do so, and most likely are committing a criminal act,” the warning explains.

“CIBJO urges all industry members to practice extreme caution when approached with business offers that seem out of the ordinary, and always to do proper due diligence before making a financial decision, as did the Indian businessperson who contacted us today.”

The statement recommends that anyone contacted by an individual claiming to represent CIBJO verify their credentials by contacting the organisation. CIBJO was founded in 1961 and is based in Switzerland, with the stated aim of protecting consumer confidence in the global jewellery industry.