Counterfeit gold bars being sold by fraudsters are fooling merchants and Kijiji buyers alike, warn city police.

Police received information in late 2016 regarding the sale of counterfeit gold bars to various merchants in Edmonton. Upon further investigation, it was quickly determined that the counterfeit gold bars — which appear to be professionally packaged — were indeed fake.

“It can be difficult to tell whether this product is real or fake upon first glance,” said Const. Robert Wellon, with the criminal investigation section in northwest division. “We tested the product for authenticity and quickly determined these gold bars were nothing more than copper bars plated in gold.”

The counterfeit gold bars are being sold in various weight denominations — from 10 to 31 grams per piece — and range in price, anywhere from $300 to $800.

“There have been approximately 20 sales transactions involving the counterfeit gold here in Edmonton alone,” says Wellon. “Store merchants are usually the primary target of this type of crime, but we are now starting to see this product being sold online through buy and sell websites, such as Kijiji.”

So far, 220 grams — or $10,000 market value — of counterfeit gold has been recovered by city police. 

“When something seems too good to be true — it usually is,” warns Wellon.

Anyone with information about the counterfeit gold bars is encouraged to contact city police at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at http://www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.