Gems.
Ivana De Battisti.
I recently had a reader write to me with an upsetting story about a scam in India. Apparently one of his friends, a European woman, had fallen pray to a variation of the very prevalent "gem scam". The scam is widespread in Jaipur and Agra. However, this incident took place in Goa.
What was really shocking was the amount of money that the woman lost (nearly 50,000 euros, which is equal to almost $65,000), and the fact that she was an intelligent professional who saw all the red flags but still fell for the scam.
So, what happened?
The woman was approached by an Indian businessman who asked her to "buy" jewellery from him and post it to Australia, so that he could save on export duty from India. He told her that she didn't actually have to pay for the items, just mail them to Australia, collect them there (she was traveling to Australia) and give them to his contacts. He offered to give her 24,000 euros in return.
Of course, you're probably wondering how it all went so wrong, and how she lost so much money, since she didn't have to pay for the jewellery. This is where it involves an interesting twist. The businessman told her that she was likely to get a call from the Indian Customs Department, who would ask her how she paid for the items but would be satisfied if she could show that her credit card limit was sufficient.
Sure enough, she received a call from the "customs department" the day after she posted the jewellery. However, the person threatened to arrest her if she couldn't show evidence of payment and accused her of stealing the jewellery. When she told the Indian businessman, he confirmed that she was indeed in big trouble, and that she should make the payment to avoid any further problems. He would then return the money to her account after she delivered the jewellery to his contact in Australia. So, she transferred 40,000 euros from her bank account for the jewellery and made a further payment of 8,400 euros with her credit card for "insurance of the parcel".
You can read the rest of the story here. Needless to say, the jewellery was fake and she never saw her money again. After going to Australia, she's now back in India trying to take action and wondering what she should do.
The important lesson here is that although you may want to help people in India, it's best to avoid anyone who approaches you -- especially with business deals that seem too good to be true. Since the tourist season is underway in Goa at the moment, it's something to keep in mind.
More About Scams in India:
This seems to be scandal… this usually doesn’t happen with tourists who want to buy things, but help people who want to do smuggling and evade tax to Indian Govt. I wish somebody come forward and help this tourist.
Another variation of the 419 Nigerian scam .
could you please let me know if she got her money back? i have been scammed with same people in goa in late november. as i am not native english speaking country. did not know word scam? now i know. would be very thankful if you could let me know takle care .
Oh no, Mathew, I’m so sorry to hear that.
I will post any updates here, if I get them.
So she tried to illegally smuggle gems into another country and we are meant to feel sorry for her?
Right… all she saw was 24000 euros… now this… stupid people…
can you provide me with the contact of this woman? I am victim of same scam, same place, probably same people too.
will help to be a group to get our money back and have those scamsters stop their ugly thing
thx
Hi Joost, I’m so sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, I don’t have the woman’s details but the owner of the blog (which I linked to) has subsequently told me that she was successful in recovering most of her money. Perhaps you could leave a comment on the blog to get in touch.
Thank you, I actually did leave a comment on the blog of ashyverma, unfortunately, the page is now unnaccessible after another person testified for being the victim of the same people. It seems to go against spreading the awareness, pity.
If anyone contacts you about it, I would be grateful that you give them my email, besides if possible I’d like to get in touch with mathew -comment 3- as well
thanks
Hi, thanks very much for the blog.
Joost, what are you doing about the whole thing? I commented on the original blog and it is now shut down. Bad publicity for India?
Anyway I’m looking into my options now.
Sharell, sorry to ask you to be a go between but if you could also link me up with Joost then you will be of a huge help to our state of affairs.
I plan to take action against these people and so will let you know of the out come. Maybe to inspire hope for others. Anyway thanks for spreading awareness. Regards
I would be interested in finding out how she got her money back, including all the steps she took.
I similar incident happened to me in Goa, but one of the men had a knife and they said i had no choice but to do as they said,
both of you contact me on my gmail, please.
I can’t put it in clear so catch that:
surname(dot)name(at)gmail(dot)com
my name is band, and my surname is what I sign with, no capitals
considering what I read going into legal is also my opinion, the more we are, the stronger
Hi angry Hi Tops,
I don’t believe that anything will be done out of India, we must go back and file a police report in Goa. Besides if we do it together, we go stronger.
please send me email to the adress I provided above asap! this will make it easier to share all the info we have and tak an efficient action. thank you, Joost.
Hi, the same thing has happened to me and I am trying to deal with it now. Can someone also contact me who is working on this? Would love to be in touch with some others as I feel very violated.
Hi to all
Anyone have done such a thing contect me i will try my best coz i m aware of thease people. So pldo not hasitet to contect me and obene more thing for u guys its dificult to aproach thease guys coz u dont even know the name of them and u wont be able to find them unless haveindian guy with u . I have some personal issue with them so plz mail me at. pakkawala@safe-mail.co.net
I have been victimized by most likely the same exact party in Jaipur, India. I mean word for word. One moment I was a tourist on the final leg of my trip and the next moment my bank account is drained. I am adament about taking immediate action and need to know who to contact. Please link me up with this lady who has managed to get her money back. I feel terrible that I have lost everything but refuse to let them get me down.
Greetings fellow victims. I am a Australian citizen in my mid twenties. Just two days ago I arrived back in Australia after myself and my friend lost absolutely everything last week in Goa, specifically Anjuna beach. We had over 20,000 euros stolen from us and I’m doing everything in my power to stop these vile human beings from ruining the travel dreams of harmless friendly young travellers like myself and others that are posting on this forum. If anyone has any more information as to how I can move forward please contact my email at jsj1987@live.com.au. Kind Regards Jesse
Hi guy….
Nice to meeting all of you, unfortunately under these circumstances…Hell!!! probably we also see each other in the same places, being screwed!!! Me and my girlfriend were in Anjuna….
So if some one know how to get these bastards or how to take action, please send me and e-mail.
Thank you and try to think positive!
mirko.finotto@libero.it
Hi Karan Singh, if you can help us that is welcome. The email adress you povided is not valid though, please correct with the good one. thank you;
To others: I already provided my email adress a few posts higher (posts number 12) get in touch wiht me and share info.
Keep hope to strike back
The way I see it, if you are thick enough to fall for something so obvious and ridiculous, then you deserve to lose your money. As long as there was no physical coercion, this greedy, silly woman was outsmarted by a poor Indian and lost. When you gamble, sometimes you lose.