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BBB Warns of Jewelry Scam Involving Supposed Fired Store Employee

The ruse starts with a disgruntled employee supposedly seeking revenge.

Published

2 months ago

October 5, 2023

INSTORE Staff

BBB Warns of Jewelry Scam Involving Supposed Fired Store Employee

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The Better Business Bureau has received reports of an online shopping scam on TikTok involving jewelry.

The ruse starts with a disgruntled employee supposedly seeking revenge and ends with victims ordering hundreds of dollars in phony merchandise.

Here’s how it works, according to BBB: “You come across a TikTok video featuring someone claiming they were recently fired at a high-end jewelry store. The termination was completely undeserved, and they are angry. To take their revenge, they are sharing their top-secret employee discount code with anyone who wants it. This code gives you up to 100 percent off the company’s merchandise. That’s right, they claim you can get expensive jewelry for free! As long as you’re willing to pay shipping, that is.”

But there may be red flags when you check out using the ex-employee discount code. According to BBB, one consumer reported: “As you add more things from the website to your cart, the shipping cost increases disproportionately … However, this still seems like a ‘deal’ because you are getting a 100% discount on (faux) jewelry that costs $100-200.”

And there are other warning signs. The consumer added, “There is no cancellation mechanism on their website/order confirmation email, no social media, no address, and no phone number. You can only contact them via an email address.”

Those who fall for the scam won’t receive the high-quality jewelry they thought they ordered. They may get cheaply made knockoffs or nothing at all, BBB stated. Also, they’ll be out any money they spent on “shipping.”

“The current version of this scam involves a jewelry store, but watch out for other variations as scammers change their schemes to avoid detection,” BBB wrote. “This con would work with high-cost items like electronics or designer handbags.”

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”