Counterfeit GIA Certificates Scheme Revealed

The GIA has uncovered an international scheme using counterfeit GIA Diamond Grading Reports and filed a lawsuit in Chicago, Ill. The GIA revealed that it took a series of legal actions to stop the operation.

The GIA alleges that Moti Weisbrot headed the counterfeiting activity by either producing counterfeit reports or agreeing to sell diamonds accompanied by the counterfeit documents.

The diamonds that were accompanied by the fake certificates were clarity enhanced, which the GIA do not grade as a matter of policy.

In response GIA also filed a counterfeiting lawsuit against Weisbrot in Israel and initiated a criminal prosecution against him in Italy.

GIA President William E. Boyajian said, “The public places great trust in the accuracy and integrity of GIA Diamond Grading Reports, and we go to great lengths to preserve that trust. The counterfeit reports in this case were intended to add value to clarity enhanced diamonds by manipulating the public’s reliance on the GIA report. We took these legal actions in keeping with GIA’s mission to protect the interests of both the public and the gem and jewelry industry”.