Black Friday 2022 is here, and you may have presents to buy for Christmas - or a treat or two for yourself if you've spotted a bargain. However, shoppers are being warned not to fall foul of scammers when hunting for the best deals around.
A recent survey commissioned by the jewellery brand Pandora has shown that 17 percent of Brits have been duped into parting with their money for fake jewellery purchases, and a whopping 60 percent of 16-17 year-olds have been caught out by counterfeits.
And 44 percent of respondents said they've seen adverts on social media for what they suspect are fake products - even if they didn't purchase the product. All 16- to 24-year-olds surveyed said they had seen fake products advertised on social media.
Mum Thirza O'Boyle recently took to social media to share her experience of being scammed, after she was duped out of £61.80 she'd saved up when she mistakenly used a fake website posing as the official Pandora site.
The imitation website advertised discounted jewellery that appeared to be legitimately Pandora-branded, but sadly, this was not the case.
Head of legal from Pandora UK, Nicholas Golding, has revealed how to spot counterfeit jewellery to avoid falling victim to a scam.
Check it has the correct hallmarks
Nicholas Golding from Pandora UK explains: "First of all, look for any hallmark engraving somewhere on the piece of jewellery. Hallmarks are a set of marks applied to articles of precious metals, the presence of which shows that the item meets the legal standards of purity.
"They can also tell you who the maker is and where the jewellery was hallmarked and by law, in the UK any jewellery over the minimum weight which is claimed to be gold, silver, platinum, or palladium, must have a hallmark stating its purity and metal type. The UK Assay Offices independently check and hallmark jewellery to protect consumers.
"If in doubt, research the hallmark number you spot online to learn more about the purity and provenance of the jewellery."
Make sure it has authenticity certification
"Check that there is an authenticity certification with any jewellery with diamonds, like engagement rings," Nicholas said. "Any items that claim to have real diamonds should have documentation from an independent agency such as the IGI, EGL and GIA, which evaluates and grades the stone."
Check for brand inaccuracies
Nicholas suggested checking 'font, spelling, logo and colouring' on the jewellery to check that it's completely consistent with the brand.
He said: "Inspect images of other jewellery on the brand’s official page to help see if you can identify slip-ups on counterfeit pieces. It can be as minor as one letter that is slightly misshapen."
Is the price realistic?
If the product you've spotted is dramatically cheaper than the retail price, it may be too good to be true and something 'may well be amiss' Nicholas warned.
"Extremely cheap jewellery purporting to be precious metals and gemstones should ring alarm bells", he highlighted.
Go to trusted sellers
Rather than trusting random websites, go 'to a reputable, trusted seller'. He said: "If it is not possible to get the exact item you want directly, for instance if an item is discontinued, and your only option is to buy it second-hand, you could take the jewellery to an independent jewellery evaluator to verify its authenticity."
How to check it's real Pandora
If the Pandora jewellery is real, it should have the Pandora makers mark. It should feature 'ALE', the initials of Algot Enevoldsen, the father of Pandora's founder Per Enevoldsen. But in the wake of Brexit, it may be 'PJ' in a square, in addition to 'ALE'.
There should also be a crown on top of the 'O', and if these small touches are missing it is counterfeit.
If purchasing from the Pandora Brilliance range, there should be an accompanying Pandora Brilliance Certificate which warrants the size and quality of each diamond.
What to do if you’ve fallen victim to a fake item
Nicholas suggested: "If you discover that you have bought a counterfeit item, you may well have a legal right to a refund under consumer protection legislation and you should seek a refund from the seller.
"However, if the seller is knowingly breaking the law by selling counterfeits, they may not respect your consumer rights either."
Consider using a credit card when online shopping
He said: "You could consider using a credit card responsibly when making high-value purchases. Credit card purchases of goods sold for more than £100 are protected under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
"You can make a claim against your credit provider if things go wrong, so you have a higher chance of recouping the money when this protection applies. However, if you have any suspicion that the jewellery you are buying may be counterfeit, you should not proceed with the purchase."
While this advice may protect you when reporting a fraudulent item, it's important to note that shoppers should only use a credit card if they are in the financial position to pay it off.
Report it
In the UK, you can report any counterfeit sellers to the Trading Standards or Action Fraud (for online sellers) who can take legal action against the seller. Nicholas suggested checking Citizens Advice to find out more.
Will you be purchasing any jewellery this Black Friday? Let us know in the comments.
