Since the start of this year, international gold and silver prices have surged, prompting many consumers to invest. However, one Chinese consumer spent nearly 50,000 RMB (about 28,400 MYR) on 2,000g of investment silver bars on the JD.com platform, only to discover that the bars contained just 0.16% silver. The merchant who previously pledged a “tenfold compensation for fakes” has since closed their store and disappeared, and JD.com customer service refused to honor the compensation promise on the grounds that “the compensation amount is too high,” only agreeing to refund the purchase amount. Mr. Zhang, the victim, believes this handling is inconsistent with previous promises and store policies, but has found no way to defend his rights.
According to Tencent Finance, Mr. Zhang, a consumer from Guangdong, stated that on February 26, 2026, he and his wife made two separate purchases from a JD.com store named “Jieyunmao Jewelry Flagship Store,” each order amounting to 24,999 RMB (about 14,197 MYR), totaling 49,998 RMB (about 28,394 MYR) for 2 kilograms of silver bars. The store advertised a “tenfold compensation for fakes,” and each 100g silver bar came with a “Zhongxin Yinke Gold & Silver Jewelry Inspection and Testing Center” certificate, certifying the silver bars as “pure silver 999.9”.
After receiving the silver bars, Mr. Zhang sent some of them for recycling and testing at a local mall, where results showed the bars contained as much as 50.54% copper and 47.04% zinc, with only 0.16% actual silver content, indicating they were fake.
To further verify their authenticity, Mr. Zhang sent all the purchased silver bars to the “National Jewelry and Jade Quality Supervision and Inspection Center” for re-inspection. The test report clearly showed that the silver bars’ main components were copper and zinc, confirming Mr. Zhang had bought counterfeit and substandard products. Mr. Zhang also paid 2,000 RMB (about 1,136 MYR) in testing fees.
The seller provided a “certification” with the shipment, issued by the “Zhongxin Yinke Gold & Silver Jewelry Inspection and Testing Center,” whose parent company is Zhongxin Yinke International Gold & Silver Jewelry Testing Co., Ltd. According to Tianyancha, the company was listed as operating abnormally by the Market Supervision Bureau of Xiuyu District, Putian City, in June 2025 because it could not be contacted at its registered address or premises. The institution could also not be found on the National Certification and Accreditation Administration’s official website for inspection and testing agencies.