Gold Fraud Surges on Social Media in Jordan
Al Jazeera
A growing wave of online fraud is targeting Jordanians through fake social media ads and groups offering cheap gold, often leading to vanished sellers or counterfeit goods. Victims report losing money after falling for promises of quick profits. Authorities and industry experts are urging the public to buy only from licensed retailers.
Jordanians are increasingly falling victim to a wave of online fraud as fake ads and social media groups entice them to purchase gold at unusually low prices. Many victims report that after transferring payment, the seller disappears or delivers counterfeit gold mixed with impurities.
Mohammed Nassar told Al Jazeera he was duped by an 'online store' offering gold at below-market rates, citing exemptions from manufacturing fees, government licensing costs, and store rents. After he transferred the money, the website vanished, and he realized he had been scammed.
In another case, Tala Al-Habashneh, a young woman, bought gold through a social media platform after agreeing on a price and making a payment. Upon close inspection, she discovered the gold was counterfeit, blended with other metals, and lacked any stamps or invoices proving its origin. Tala filed a complaint with the Cybercrime Division of the Jordan Public Security Directorate, and the case is being processed.
Wafaa Al-Momani, Deputy General Director for Regulatory Control Affairs and Director of the Jewelry Department at the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO), confirmed that JSMO is the sole authority in Jordan responsible for overseeing precious metal jewelry, including gold, silver, and platinum. She stated that all imported jewelry is inspected and stamped by JSMO before entering the market, and local workshops must also present their products for verification before sale.
JSMO has received complaints about fraudulent companies, websites, and social media groups 'advertising the purchase and sale of gold, especially scrap gold (used or damaged gold), through unlicensed individuals.' The organization coordinates with security forces to monitor and penalize fraudulent sellers, while also tightening inspections of gold shops.
Rabhi Allan, Chairman of the Jordan Jewelers and Goldsmiths Association, described selling gold via social media as 'foreign to Jordanian society' and stressed that such cash commodity transactions should only take place at official shops with invoices detailing weight, gold purity, and labor costs. The association has filed complaints with the Cybercrime Division against unlicensed websites and has noted numerous lawsuits related to gold sold on social media, where sellers often use edited or fake images to attract buyers, only to deliver counterfeit goods or nothing at all.
The Cybercrime Division of the Public Security Directorate also warns the public against buying gold through social media ads. Colonel Amer Al-Sartawi, a spokesperson for the division, confirmed receiving multiple complaints about gold-related fraud, including cases where buyers received fake products made from cheaper metals like copper or iron. He urged the public to purchase gold only from licensed and reputable stores.
