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A group is once again fraudulently presenting itself as representing the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) and offering products and financial instruments it says the organization endorses, the organization has warned.
CIBJO became aware of the new claims, which are similar to ones that came to light in January, on Sunday, it said Monday. However, unlike last time, when an Indian-Japanese group said it was a gold-trading operation affiliated with CIBJO, this time the fraudsters registered a website domain named cibjo-as.org, and a person named Bruce Ikemezu professes to be associated with it, the organization said.
The trade group has already made a formal complaint to law-enforcement authorities in a number of countries, it revealed. The confederation is urging all industry members to practice caution when approached with business offers that seem unusual, and to do due diligence before making financial decisions. Any trade members approached by individuals claiming to be CIBJO representatives can verify their credentials by contacting the CIBJO secretariat.
“As a nonprofit representative association, CIBJO does not trade in any commercial products, the secondhand gold market, nor financial instruments such as gold futures,” it said. “CIBJO has no connection to ‘cibjo-as.org’ or Bruce Ikemezu. Any persons making claims in CIBJO’s name are not authorized to do so, and quite possibly could be committing a criminal act.”
Image: A jewelry-store display. (Shutterstock)
