Metropolitan Police warn of gold-plated tantalum counterfeits

The Metropolitan Police Department has issued a warning to precious metal and secondhand goods buyers regarding a surge in counterfeit jewelry. Reports indicate that fraudulent necklaces made of tantalum, which has been gold-plated to resemble 18-karat gold, have been brought to pawnshops and secondhand stores.

Between June and August, similar incidents were reported across eight prefectures, including Tokyo and Hyogo. The police noted that because tantalum has a specific gravity similar to 18-karat gold, it is difficult to detect through simple density measurements alone. Authorities are urging businesses to use component testing and more rigorous verification methods to prevent losses.