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A group of disgruntled customers has come forward claiming they were scammed by a local influencer, who allegedly sold them lab-grown diamonds instead of real ones
According to the victims, the influencer had marketed jewellery and pendants to her followers using misleading descriptions that made them believe the pieces were natural diamonds, reported the New Straits Times.
"The influencer claimed that the diamonds she sold were natural, but when I had them authenticated, I discovered they were lab-grown," said a complainant.
Another added, "The influencer claimed she sold real diamonds, but we received lab-grown ones instead. If she had been honest, we could have negotiated the price accordingly."
MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said at least 30 complainants have lodged police reports against the influencer since 2023, with total losses amounting to around RM1 million.
Representing the group, lawyer Esther Hor claimed the influencer also sold makeup products falsely advertised as chemical-free, which were later found to contain mercury
Hor alleged that the influencer had also portrayed herself as a certified diamond appraiser and feng shui consultant.
She added that many of the complainants had tried to settle the matter with the influencer privately, but lost contact with her after demanding refunds.
"She also stated that there would be no refunds in her Instagram stories. We believe she started doing so because of the number of complaints sent," Hor said, as quoted by The Star.
Chong said his legal team will look into possible elements of fraud and urged the public to exercise caution when purchasing items from social media influencers
He added that there may also be victims in Singapore, where three to four police reports have reportedly been filed.
"This is just the beginning — we believe more cases will emerge," he said.
