Mangaluru: A city-based jeweller has filed a complaint alleging that two men attempted to cheat him by selling lab-grown diamonds disguised as natural ones using forged authenticity certificates. The incident has raised concerns over the growing trend of frauds involving synthetic gems and counterfeit certifications in the jewellery trade.
Attempt to sell fake diamonds
According to the complaint filed by Arun Shet at the Mangaluru North police station, the first accused, identified as Ashraf, visited the complainant’s jewellery shop on October 7 around 11 am. He displayed a 3-carat diamond and claimed it was natural, quoting a price of ₹18 lakh.
A week later, on October 14, Ashraf sent his distant relative, Mehaboob, to the same shop with another stone—a 2-carat diamond—claiming it was genuine and priced at ₹6 lakh. To convince the jeweller, the duo presented Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certificates, which are globally recognised for diamond grading and authenticity.
Lab tests expose the fraud
Shet, who grew suspicious of the deal, decided to have the stones examined by experts. Upon testing, it was discovered that both diamonds were CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) lab-grown stones, not natural ones as claimed. Furthermore, the accompanying GIA certificates were found to be forged.
Investigators revealed that the actual market value of the 2-carat lab-grown diamond was only around ₹50,000, while the 3-carat stone was worth approximately ₹1 lakh, far below the prices quoted by the accused.
Police investigation underway
Based on the complaint, police have registered a case against Ashraf and Mehaboob for attempting to cheat the jeweller by creating and using fake documents. The charges include forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Officials stated that further investigation is in progress to determine the source of the forged certificates and whether the accused are part of a larger network involved in similar fraudulent activities. The police are also verifying if other jewellers in the region have been targeted in the same manner.
Rise of synthetic diamond frauds
Industry experts note that incidents of counterfeit certification and CVD diamond fraud have increased in recent years as lab-grown diamonds become more common. While these stones are chemically identical to natural diamonds, they are significantly cheaper to produce and sell. Unscrupulous traders often attempt to pass them off as natural gems to earn massive profits.
The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and various trade bodies have repeatedly urged jewellers to verify certificates and test stones using advanced screening tools before purchase.
Vigilance advised for jewellers
Police have advised jewellers in Mangaluru and surrounding areas to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious transactions involving high-value stones or uncertified diamonds. Authorities are also considering awareness campaigns to educate retailers about identifying forged gem certificates and lab-grown diamond frauds.
The Mangaluru North police have assured that the culprits will be brought to justice and that efforts are ongoing to trace the origin of the fake documents used in the scam.