US woman pays ₹6 crore for jewellery worth ₹300, Jaipur shopkeeper on the run

In a shocking case of fraud, an American woman named Cherish has been scammed into paying ₹6 crore for artificial jewellery worth only ₹300.

According to reports from the Economic Times, Cherish believed she was purchasing genuine gold jewellery from a shop located in Johri Bazaar, a renowned hub for jewellery in Jaipur. Over the course of two years, starting in 2022, she bought several pieces from the shop owner, Gaurav Soni, whom she had connected with through Instagram.

The scam was uncovered when Cherish displayed the jewellery at an exhibition in the United States in April 2024. To her horror, experts revealed that the pieces she had purchased were not real gold but rather gold-polished silver jewellery of minimal value. Realizing she had been duped, Cherish promptly flew to India to confront Gaurav Soni and seek justice.

Cherish filed a formal complaint with the Jaipur Police on May 18, 2024, detailing her interactions with Soni and the fraudulent transactions. She also reached out to the US embassy in India for assistance. The police investigation confirmed that the jewellery was fake, valued at only ₹300, contrary to the ₹6 crore she had paid.

Gaurav Soni and his father, Rajendra Soni, who are suspected to be complicit in the scam, are on the run. The Jaipur Police, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police North Bajrang Singh Shekhawat, are actively searching for the duo.

“Investigations have revealed that the accused sold silver jewellery with gold polish, valued at ₹300, to the foreigner for ₹6 crore. They also provided her with a certificate of authenticity. Nand Kishore, who issued the fake certificate, has been arrested, and a search is underway for the absconding father and son,” Shekhawat said.

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