Buyers, Avoiding Swap Theft

It’s important for each of us to be very aware of scams, particularly during the holidays. We are targeted by scam artists regularly, including swappers. The scam only works when we are not vigilant, when we do not follow proper procedure. Here are a few essential procedures to avoid being taken by one of these scam artists.

1. Avoid leaving the customer alone with items; move items away from the customer’s reach while you work – The simplest way to prevent a swap is to never allow an opportunity for one.
2. Always re-check items if a customer is returning to the store or if your attention has been distracted – This situation is usually where we get scammed. It’s easy to be too relaxed if you have just evaluated an item, or if another buyer has looked at it before you. We’ve had Rolex swapped for replicas, and mounted diamonds swapped with CZs, in the past.

Scammers are hoping you’ll be eager to make a good buy and you’ll rely on your or your coworker’s previous evaluation of the item, so they can slip a fake past you. If a customer has left the building with an item, re-check it like it is new, no matter who has seen it before. If your attention has been away from the items — even if just to greet a customer or look into the microscope — a quick re-check with your loupe, scale, diamond tester, etc. will ensure a swapped item never gets past you.

Procedures for Diamonds and Watches:

Diamonds

Always use a diamond tester and visual verification for a diamond. Only one or the other is insufficient to catch all imitations or scams, all the time. A quick diamond tester check will catch a piece swapped during the buy, or swapped after leaving the building. A diamond with a noticeable inclusion can be easily re-checked visually, as well. However, it is more likely that a swap would occur with a high clarity diamond, since visually it and a fake would look very similar.

Watches

Re-check watches with a loupe any time your attention has been distracted or a customer leaves and returns. A watch swapped with a good replica may seem fine by heft and to the naked eye.