A US woman visiting Jaipur was deceived into purchasing jewelry worth Rs 6 crore, only to later discover its actual value to be a mere Rs 300. The incident highlights the need for caution when engaging in high-value transactions abroad. The woman’s unfortunate experience serves as a reminder for tourists to be vigilant and seek reputable sources while making purchases in unfamiliar destinations.
When Cherish, an American traveler, went to Jaipur, she purchased jewelry for an astounding Rs 6 crore (about $870,000 USD). Back in 2022, she bought these items at a store in the city’s famed Johri Bazaar district. A father and son team managed the store. To reassure her that the jewelry was legitimate, they even gave her a fictitious authenticity certificate. Cherish, pleased with her purchase, returned the necklace to the United States.
But when Cherish exhibited the jewelry at a US show, things took a sharp turn. After examining the pieces, experts found that they were essentially phony and barely had a value of Rs 300, or around $4 USD.
Cherish, distraught and enraged, went back to Jaipur to face the store owners. However, the store owner, Gaurav Soni, dismissed her claims and refused to admit any wrongdoing. Cherish didn’t give up and filed a complaint with the Manak Chowk police station.
The case grabbed attention after Cherish sought help from the US Embassy in India. The Jaipur Police began an investigation and found evidence of the alleged scam. They discovered that the authenticity certificate provided by the shop was fake. They also made an arrest in connection with the creation of the fake certificate.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the jewelry contained moonstones instead of diamonds, and the gold content was much lower than stated. The accused jewelers tried to deflect blame by claiming that Cherish had stolen jewelry from their shop, but CCTV footage proved otherwise.
While Gaurav Soni and his father are on the run, the police have arrested one person involved in the scam. They are conducting a search operation to apprehend the main accused.
Cherish spoke to India Today TV and expressed her frustration, stating that Gaurav Soni and his father have been systematically cheating her and other designers. She mentioned that they had been sending her lower-quality gold and fake diamonds instead of what was promised.
The investigation is ongoing, with several other complaints of fraud against Gaurav Soni and his associates currently under scrutiny.
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