Jeweller accused of ringing up counterfeit luxury bling
Laine Clark |
Counterfeit Cartier has been discovered among bogus bling allegedly being sold by a Gold Coast jeweller for more than three times its value.
A Burleigh Heads business has been accused of selling fake French luxury brands that also included Van Cleef & Arpels, sparking a police investigation.
A 40-year-old man is set to face court after a joint task force searched the jewellery store on the popular tourist strip in December 2023.
The man gave officers access to a safe that contained jewellery, gold bullion and a sum of cash, police said. Jewellery was seized after a search of the store, safe and business records could not determine its origins or legitimacy, police said.
An investigation determined a number of counterfeit items was being presented for sale as genuine Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery, the Australian Federal Police said.
“The alleged counterfeit jewellery items were listed for sale in the store with a total sale value in excess of $100,000,” a statement said.
“An AFP valuation showed the true value of the jewellery to be about $28,000.”
The man faces a maximum of five years in jail and a fine of more than $180,000 after being charged with a string of offences.
“Selling counterfeit items and products is a deception and fraud that preys upon the goodwill and the back pocket of the customers involved,” Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said.
“The AFP has a zero-tolerance approach to anyone allegedly committing an offence that seeks to gain an unfair financial advantage via illegal means.”
The 40-year-old man is set to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday after being charged with 22 counts of possessing or exposing for sale goods with false trademarks.
AAP
