Almost $40,000 in Jewellery Allegedly Stolen from Canberra Store in Fake Receipts Scam

Canberra police are investigating a suspected scam in which nearly $40,000 worth of jewellery was allegedly stolen from two Nepalese-owned stores in the Australian Capital Territory. The incident has left the small business owners reeling, with one of the victims describing the experience as 'devastating.'

Amrit Sunar, co-owner of a jewellery store in the suburb of Phillip, said the ordeal began when a group of individuals visited his shop last Tuesday. They appeared to be regular customers and conducted a transaction that initially seemed legitimate. The buyers paid via bank transfer and showed him a screenshot of the receipt, which he believed was proof of payment.

However, the money never arrived in Mr. Sunar’s account, despite the usual 24-hour processing window. He took a screenshot of the receipt but was later shocked to discover the items had vanished. CCTV footage revealed one of the suspects had concealed a chain in their pocket, with one person distracting him while the other took the goods.

The loss has been particularly harsh during a time of year when the business usually experiences a surge in sales, especially with cultural festivals approaching. Mr. Sunar’s partner, Karishma Hamal, described the incident as 'affecting us a lot,' emphasizing the emotional and financial toll it has taken on their community.

Ms. Hamal also revealed that another jeweller in the suburb of Florey had a similar experience, suggesting this may not be an isolated incident. ACT Policing has confirmed it is looking into both cases and is urging businesses to verify payments directly through the seller’s bank account, rather than relying solely on the buyer’s transaction evidence.

Police are recommending that businesses use instant payment methods such as PayID or Osko to reduce the risk of fraud. Mr. Sunar has already provided CCTV footage and contact details for the suspects to the authorities, but he remains concerned about the potential for more thefts, especially among Nepalese jewellers who often stock high-value, traditional 24-carat gold pieces.

'In our community, we only wear 24 carat pure gold,' Mr. Sunar explained, adding that this cultural preference may be making their businesses a target. 'It has been so stressful. We haven’t slept. And sometimes we feel very bad. Sometimes we think, let’s not do the business.'

This case highlights the growing risks small businesses face in the digital age, especially when dealing with online transactions that can be easily manipulated. As police continue their investigation, the owners are left to pick up the pieces and hope for justice in a system that feels increasingly vulnerable to such scams.