Calls are being made on jewellers to provide a Certificate of Authenticity to consumers guaranteeing that the jewellery they sell are not fake.

This is after a consumer was sold fake twenty-two carat gold bangles and despite being given a lifetime guarantee, the gold started peeling off within the first year of its purchase.

Consumer Council’s Manager Alternate Dispute Resolution, Pooja Singh says in the last ten years the Council has noted a growing number of consumers being duped into purchasing fake jewellery.

" There has been a hundred and fifty eight complaints that the council have received regarding gold jewellery and there are different types of natures of complaints that we have received. Some varies from misleading advertisement where jewellers actually tend to advertise that they are selling gold product and later it is found out that it is fake."

She adds that in a recent case, a consumer was duped into buying fake gold bangle and reported the matter to the council after being denied redress.

“The complainant found out that it was actually not gold bangle it was copper inside with gold layering after which the council took steps and got the bangles tested and that was the result it was copper bangles with 22 carat gold layering.”

The Consumer Watchdog says consumers should demand for Certificate of Authenticity while purchasing authentic jewellery.