Fake gold sellers make lot of brass
Phoney gold rings are being sold on Black Country streets by unscrupulous traders, it was claimed today.
Jeweller Aaron Sheldon said he has been inundated with victims coming into his shop to sell on the rings, only to find they are made of brass.
The rings have fake hallmarks and Mr Sheldon, of Bojangles jewellers in Market Place, Wednesbury, says gangs are deliberately targeting elderly and vulnerable people.
"Over the last six months there must have been 100 people coming in with these rings.
"I have seen these gangs working on the streets and chased them away from people on occasions. They seem to be targeting a lot of elderly people.
"I have been told the victims are paying between £50 and £100 for these rings, so whoever is behind this is obviously making a lot of money.
"I have reported this to police on several occasions, most recently yesterday, but it still seems to be going on."
Mr Sheldon, aged 29, added: "I just want to warn people what is going on."
Sandwell Council's trading standards department has been informed of the scam and was investigating the reports today.
Councillor Mahboob Hussain, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: "We did have a report of someone selling gold in a Wednesbury street last week. We sent out trading standards officers, but we could not trace these people.
"We would ask anyone who sees or hears about people selling jewellery in the street to contact us so we can take whatever action we can to prevent illegal sales."
Councillor Hussain added: "Anyone who purchases anything from someone on the street should remember they will have no means of contacting them if there is anything wrong with the goods they have purchased."
"Anybody approaching someone in the street to sell jewellery should set alarm bells ringing. We would ask anyone with such reports to call us on 0845 4040506."
