By Aw Cheng Wei and Joyce Z.K. Lim
The Straits Times, Singapore
Friday, May 1, 2026
CHONGQING / SHENZHEN, China -- Office executive Xu Tanji was contemplating buying a gold pendant for her mother's birthday at a neighbourhood jewellery store near her house in Chongqing when she saw news reports about counterfeit gold.
State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) reported on April 26 that fraudsters had been mixing rhenium -- a silvery rare metal that costs a fraction of the price of gold -- with the precious metal to make fakes that are hard to detect.
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Worried she might fall prey to the scam, Ms Xu, 32, decided to take her mum shopping at a more reputable mall instead.
"It will be more expensive, but I feel more assured that I won't be cheated," said Ms. Xu, who works in the hotel industry.
Gold mixed with rhenium has emerged in the retail market as the prices of the safe-haven asset hit record highs amid growing global uncertainty. Previously, gold mixed with other cheaper substances, such as copper and tungsten, has also made headlines. ...
... For the remainder of the report:
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/scam-alert-fake-gold-that-is-hard-to-detect-emerges-in-china [2]
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