A Red Deer gold buyer warns fake gold is being pedaled in parking lots and door to door.
Jack Fortin, owner of Jaxville Gold and Silver Trading, said at least 15 people have come to his downtown shop in the past month looking to sell gold chains and rings that have turned out to be fake.
“Generally they’re being stopped in their cars in parking lots. Although I did have a couple of guys approached in a tavern,” Fortin said.
The sellers usually tell people they’re leaving town and need some money so they’re selling their jewelry really cheap, he said.
The chains are marked 14 karat, but turn out to be gold plated. The rings are stamped 18 karat, but they’re actually made of an alloy that mimics gold, he said.
Fortin said the jewelry popped up a few months ago, but there’s been more lately.
The last time someone came into his store looking to sell some was on Wednesday.
“Everybody has to be seeing it. We’re not the only place in town.”
Most people taken in by the scam are unlikely to report it to police, Fortin said.
Red Deer RCMP were unavailable for comment.
In February, media in Medicine Hat reported the same scam.
This week, RCMP in British Columbia were looking for suspects involved in selling fake gold jewelry they said was made from Taliban gold smuggled out of Iraq.
For information on fraud, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com