Corrupt Diamond Company (where to report it?)

[Anarkali]

Hello,

I wont say too much because I dont want the owner to recognize me, as I've had enough of trouble with them. But is there any place where I can report a diamond company for fraud? Or the owner itself in person? They are based in LA.

 

[ChristineRose]

Call the police. Fraud is a crime.

 

[cm366]

The better business bureau is also a good resource for US companies, although they won't pursue any remedies except issuing a bulletin. These days, a Yelp review is probably a good idea too... and naming and shaming here can be appropriate. It depends on your circumstances, though - if they're holding your money, for example, or you have a debate over the quality of a setting, then screaming about it publicly can exacerbate a touchy situation. The jewelry business seems to test the line between puffery and outright fraud pretty regularly....

 

[Anarkali]

The better business bureau is also a good resource for US companies, although they won't pursue any remedies except issuing a bulletin. These days, a Yelp review is probably a good idea too... and naming and shaming here can be appropriate. It depends on your circumstances, though - if they're holding your money, for example, or you have a debate over the quality of a setting, then screaming about it publicly can exacerbate a touchy situation. The jewelry business seems to test the line between puffery and outright fraud pretty regularly....

What they did is illegal. They intended to purchase a diamond from me, because I needed some money at the time (I'm not a diamond dealer). They had it for some days, to check the quality of the stone. Then suddenly they didn't want to purchase it (that's OK). But IF I wanted the diamond back, I had to pay them $3,100 in "release fee". I refused to pay of course, as the diamond already were mine. I never agreed upon anything saying that I had to pay them for returning MY diamond, it were they who wanted to look at it as they wanted to purchase it.

Then I filed 2 different Police Reports. But because I refused to pay $3,100 to get it "released", the Police refused to help me. This is 2 years ago. And I know that the person and company is still in running business. And now I just want to destroy their reputation... BAD!

 

[airplay355]

Did you sign any sort of contract with details about a release fee? Before you gave them the stone, did you have some sort of appraisal or certificate with it?

There is probably a statute of limitations on such things (though I don't know). But seeking legal advice is probably your best bet.

 

[bcavitt]

Then I filed 2 different Police Reports. But because I refused to pay $3,100 to get it "released", the Police refused to help me. This is 2 years ago. And I know that the person and company is still in running business. And now I just want to destroy their reputation... BAD!

This begs the question - Why did you wait 2 years to tell us about it?

 

[Anarkali]

Did you sign any sort of contract with details about a release fee? Before you gave them the stone, did you have some sort of appraisal or certificate with it?

There is probably a statute of limitations on such things (though I don't know). But seeking legal advice is probably your best bet.

No, absolutely non. I had (has) a GIA Report on it.

 

[Anarkali]

Then I filed 2 different Police Reports. But because I refused to pay $3,100 to get it "released", the Police refused to help me. This is 2 years ago. And I know that the person and company is still in running business. And now I just want to destroy their reputation... BAD!

This begs the question - Why did you wait 2 years to tell us about it?

Because the Police "case/report" has now expired. So there's nothing I can do, except telling it to other people. Therefore I did wonder if it were any online complaint website regarding jewelry.

 

[kenny]

This forum is for colored stones, including fancy colored diamonds.
Another Pricescope forum called Rocky Talk is for diamonds graded on the D-Z scale.
Here's a link: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/forums/rockytalky.3/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/forums/rockytalky.3/[/URL]

If this vendors sells white diamonds ask admin to move this thread or start a new thread on Rocky Talk.
Publish the name of the seller's business and his real name in the Subject line and mention it repeatedly in your opening post.
The more times you mention it the higher it will come up on a Google search.

Sorry you got ripped off.

 

[kenny]

BTW, here are two threads about another diamond seller in Los Angeles who is alleged to rip people off.
He does business under several names, one of which is Diamonds By Dino.
These threads mention other business names this guy allegedly uses.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/fancy-intense-green-fcd-need-opinions-kenny.182076/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/fancy-intense-green-fcd-need-opinions-kenny.182076/[/URL]

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/diamonds-by-dino-fraudsters-avoid.182555/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/diamonds-by-dino-fraudsters-avoid.182555/[/URL]

Is this the guy who ripped you off?

 

[Anarkali]

BTW, here are two threads about another diamond seller in Los Angeles who is alleged to rip people off.
He does business under several names, one of which is Diamonds By Dino.
These threads mention other business names this guy allegedly uses.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/fancy-intense-green-fcd-need-opinions-kenny.182076/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/fancy-intense-green-fcd-need-opinions-kenny.182076/[/URL]

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/diamonds-by-dino-fraudsters-avoid.182555/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/diamonds-by-dino-fraudsters-avoid.182555/[/URL]

Is this the guy who ripped you off?

This company is selling colored diamonds, it was a colored diamond they took from me. But no, it's not the same company as "THE LOOSE DIAMOND INC".

 

[kenny]

Well, what are you waiting for?
Post the company name and the owner's name.
You asked, "where to report it?"
The answer is here - though more eyeballs will see it at Rocky Talk than here on the colored stones forum.
You can also post about colored diamonds on Rocky Talk because they ARE diamonds.

I'd start a new thread on Rocky Talk with the company name and owners name in the subject line and also in the body of your post.

I think you'll avoid any possibility of successful legal retribution if you just post the facts, names, dates, diamond description with GIA report #, and post without judgement or hostile slander.
Did they email you the request for money?
If so, post that email, deleting your private info of course.

Stick to the facts and let readers form their own conclusions.

Perhaps you could even email the vendor to invite him/her to present their side of the story here on Pricescope.
Perhaps this visibility will result in a resolution for you.
That's why I'd stick to the facts and not get nasty.

EDIT: I'd also ask admin to delete the last sentence of your second post in this thread, since you can't edit after 45 minutes.
You can do that by clicking on the "Report Post" button of that post and explaining what you want.

 

[LD]

Did you sign anything when you sent the diamond to them?

 

[chrono]

Given that you'd let 2 years lapse, I am sorry that you are very unlikely to get your FCD back. I would have been far more aggressive from the onset but there is little you can do now. Moving forward, I would do as Kenny suggests to post in RT as it gets far more traffic than here and it is still considered a diamond. I agree that if you stick to the facts, there is little the vendor can do to you.

 

[blackprophet]

Couldn't you sue them?

 

[Laila619]

Take them to small claims court maybe?

So sorry this happened to you.