In the past several years, I have noticed an incredible amount of FAKE gems coming from Thailand.  They, of course are described as "natural" & "untreated" and at ridiculously low prices.  They do an enormous amount of business via Ebay and most have a very favorable positive feedback.  Knowing that most of the gems sold by shady Thai dealers were actually glass, I purchased a few of these stones and, from my own pocket, had them authenticated by GIA.  Every one of them were rated as "glass" or "synthetic".

I wanted to warn all buyer of the Thai dealers, but for a different reason other that not to be scamed.  Many buyers purchase gems from the same Thai buyers and give positive feedbacks, many who purhased stones by the 100's, obviously to resell.  Here comes the problem....major legal problem!

Thailand gem dealers sell you several, if not 100's of colored gemstones.  All beautiful, all nice colored, calibrated, perfect faceting, etc...  They claim their stones are all natural and untreated.  You, believing this, think you're getting a great deal with great profit potential.  Here is the problem.  You resell the gemstones at a great profit in your store, flea market, trade show, resell on Ebay, whatever.   You relay the information given to you from your seller that the stones are all natural, untreated, etc...  You sell to a licensed jeweler or gemologist who has the stone tested, and guess what....Their going to take you to court for fraud, and if the business is conducted via mail, mail fraud.  They may sue you for literally for the cost of the actual gemstone if it were the real thing (could be $1,000's).

Bad news#2 - What are you going to do?  Try sueing the Thai dealer?  Good luck.   PayPal protection?  Hahaha.  Ebay has done a pitiful job by allowing these cons artist and scammers to exist.

Use your common sense and study the market and prices of what you are buying.  If its too good to be true, it probably is.  Your your head.  A 10 ct Tanzanite for $99?  A blue and green Ametrine (at any price)?  A 100 ct Amethyst for 99 cents (please, the rough cost much more than that). 

You have a lot at stake, not to mention a ruined reputation and legal headaches galore.  Remember, when you resell gemstones, people put their trust in you as an expert in this field.