BEWARE! CITIGEMS 999 GOLD COINS ARE ONLY 8.2% REAL GOLD!

This post is to warn other customers who plan to purchase the $18 Promotional
Gold Coin Hong Bao from Citigems.

My friend gave me a 999 Pure Gold Hong Bao from Citigems as a gift for
chinese new year. I was hesitant to receive such a big gift but reluctantly
accepted when my friend told me that it only cost $18. According to the
invoice my friend received, it states “YG999 / COLLECTIBLES / FIGURINE /
DISPLAYS (NON TRADE-IN AND NON-EXCHANGEABLE)” Here, I got suspicious. How
can real gold be sold at $18? And why is it not exchangeable?

Out of curiosity, I went to a reputable pawnshop to enquire if it’s real.
The pawnshop sales person tested on his machine and told me that it’s fake,
nowhere close to 999 gold and they do not accept it.

At this point, I was quite upset, wondering how a reputable company could
have sold a FAKE product. The gold product has “Au 999” craved on it. How
can it be fake? I wanted a second opinion, and found this place called
Singapore Assay Office that offered such tests.

Indeed, the official report from Singapore Assay Office states that the gold
content is only 8.2%. This is truly shocking and unbelievable. This is far
from what it claimed – 999! The advertisement on the newspapers (I got from
my friend), the product itself and the invoice clearly stated 999 gold. Also,
the company claims to be part of Aspial-Lee Hwa Jewellery Group and has been
certified by Case Trust.

I think this is a serious case of misrepresentation. Regardless of the price,
normal people like my friend and me should not be cheated. Some of my
overseas relatives often like to come Singapore to purchase gold due to the
trust and security. What happens if they bring back to their home country and
finds out that it’s not authentic?

I have since reported to Case Trust and hope that others will be more careful
when purchasing in future.

KK Lee
A.S.S. Contributor