Avoid losing cash to Counterfeits!

With convincing imitations popping up online and in resale stores, we asked experts for a few easy ways to ensure you're buying authentic gold, electronics and designer clothes

- by GABRIELLE LICHTERMAN

Spot solid gold jewelry

It's easy for jewelry sellers to claim high gold content—even if it's not true. Fortunately, there are clear signs that'll help you separate the real deal from the phonies, assures Howard Stone, Vice President of Global Asset Protection & Claims at Jewelers Mutual (JewelersMutual.com). A few of his strategies:

• Use a magnifying glass

Check the clasp, underside or back for tiny etched numbers and letters. “Genuine gold jewelry is usually marked with a karat stamp, such as 10K, 14K, 18K or 24K,” says Stone. These markings tell you how much gold the item contains— the higher the number, the purer it is. If a piece of jewelry lacks a stamp, consider it a red flag, he cautions. Need help decoding the mark you found? Visit JewelersMutual.com/resources/individuals/how-buy/your-guide-gold-markings-and-stamps-jewelry.

• Give it a once-over