Scams take shine off Valentine's Day jewelry buys

BALTIMORE - The way to a man's heart may be through his stomach. But when it comes to wooing a woman, you only need to think about one thing: diamonds. However before you buy, you need to be wary. ABC2 News Joce Sterman explains why in this week's Scam Alert.

If you're looking for the perfect Valentine's Day gift, you can forget flowers or dinner because the sure way to win a woman's heart is with something shiny. But before you lay down cash for diamonds or jewels, you've got to do a lot of comparison shopping. Angie Barnett with the Better Business Bureau says, "Ask your neighbors, ask people you trust, get references, shop around and don't make an impulse decision."

That’s because while you're heart is on fire, Barnett believes you could get burned by a scammer if you're not careful, especially if you’re shopping online. Many scammers advertise one thing on the web, but send you something entirely different. And it can be difficult to get refunds or even find the seller if a transaction turns out to be a scam. Barnett says, "They're going to hide their tracks so you're going to be stuck with that item and you've paid that money out."

If you're shopping online, the BBB says you should use a credit card or PayPal because that will give you better buyer protection. But Barnett believes your best bet is to go to brick and mortar, for the store at least. She also advises shopping locally and checking the store's BBB report before you buy.

And once you've chosen the perfect gift, you need to get any specifics about the jewelry (cut, carat, clarity) in writing, along with the store's return policy. Then consider getting an appraisal from a trusted jeweler to make sure you got what you paid for. Barnett says, "A second opinion really helps cement that is actual and factual."