The core defense: verify purity (stamp + test), confirm solid vs hollow vs plated, get the gram weight in writing, and compare the price to the melt value. Do those four things and almost every scam falls apart.
1. Plated sold as solid
The classic. A listing says "14k gold" but buries "plated" or "filled" in the details — or omits it entirely. You pay solid-gold money for a few microns of gold. Defense: demand the word "solid," check the stamp for GP/GE/HGE/GF, and run a magnet test on arrival.
2. Fake or over-stated hallmarks
A stamp can be forged or simply wrong — a 10k chain stamped 14k, or a plated chain stamped "585." The stamp is a claim. For anything expensive, confirm with an acid or electronic test or a jeweler before you pay.
3. Hollow sold at solid prices
Hollow chains are real gold but use a fraction of the metal, so they should cost far less than solid. Sellers may show a big, impressive-looking chain and price it like solid. Defense: ask "solid or hollow?" and check the weight — a big chain that's suspiciously light is hollow.
4. Weight and price games
Without a stated gram weight, you can't judge value. Some sellers avoid giving it, or quote a "price per gram" that's far above melt without disclosing markup. Defense: get the weight in writing and compare the total price to melt value plus a reasonable markup.
5. Pressure and "today only" deals
Street and pop-up sellers lean on urgency so you can't verify. Real gold is still real gold tomorrow. If you can't test it or aren't given time to, walk.
6. Secondhand and online fakes
Marketplace photos can't be magnet-tested. Lean on seller reputation, explicit solid-gold karat marks, stated weight, and a return policy — then verify the second it arrives, before the return window closes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I avoid buying fake gold?
Verify the purity with a stamp and a test, confirm the chain is solid rather than hollow or plated, get the gram weight in writing, and compare the price to the melt value. Those four checks defeat almost every common scam.
Is a gold chain with no price-per-gram a scam?
Not automatically, but a missing weight is a red flag — you can't judge value without it. Always get the gram weight before buying.
Are street-vendor gold chains real?
Some are, many aren't. The danger is the pressure to buy before you can test it. If you can't verify the gold and aren't given time to, treat it as fake.