Counterfeit jewelry and precious metal fraud in Japan

Authorities in Japan have issued warnings regarding different methods of precious metal and jewelry fraud.

In early September, the Consumer Affairs Agency reported a surge in fraudulent websites impersonating reputable brands like Tanaka Kikinzoku and Mikimoto. These scams use social media advertisements to offer extreme discounts on items such as 24K gold coins and pearl necklaces. Investigations found that the gold products were often composed of copper and iron, while the pearls were plastic imitations. These fraudulent sites typically operate via cash on delivery from outside Japan.

Later in September, the Metropolitan Police Department issued a separate warning concerning a surge in counterfeit jewelry entering the secondhand market. Specifically, fraudulent necklaces made of gold-plated tantalum have been brought to pawnshops and secondhand stores across multiple prefectures. Police noted that tantalum is difficult to detect through simple density measurements because its specific gravity is similar to 18-karat gold, prompting calls for more rigorous component testing.