In Thailand, tourists were warned about a new method of counterfeiting gold jewelry – this statement was published by the Thai press concerning the Institute of Precious Stones and Jewelry of Thailand (GIT). The main problem is that it is impossible to distinguish a fake without a special study, which alarmed researchers.
For counterfeiting, fraudsters mixed stainless steel powder with gold, which made it almost perfect for the naked eye. They then turn this mixture into vintage-style gold coins, making it almost impossible for buyers to identify fakes without special equipment. Even small laboratories without the necessary tools cannot detect fake gold because of the complex mixing methods used: to detect a fake, you have to either melt the coin or cut it: real gold when cut will look uniform and shiny, but if you can see the layers of different metals, it is for sure. that other metals were mixed with it.
“To avoid detection, gold counterfeiting methods are evolving, especially as the value of gold has increased. This prompted criminals to look for greater profit opportunities,” GIT experts say. According to them, both gold shops and pawnshops are increasingly becoming victims of the sale of counterfeit gold.
Tourists who want to buy gold are advised by GIT to choose shops that have received quality certificates from reliable agencies. These are, for example, stores that participate in the “Buy with Confidence” (BWC) program, certified by GIT. When in doubt, it is recommended to contact the national laboratory for testing precious stones and jewelry, it has modern equipment at its disposal that allows you to clearly distinguish real gold from fake gold without damaging the product.