Man arrested for swapping $318k diamond ring with replica in MBS shop: Can you tell the difference?

The police called it a case of cheating by sleight of hand.

A man went to a shop at Marina Bay Sands on Nov 20 and on the pretext of purchasing a diamond ring valued at $318,000, held it in his left hand and diverted the staff’s attention to other rings.

When the staff looked away, the man purportedly swapped the diamond ring with a replica using his right hand.

The staff detected the discrepancy when she realised the price tag of the replica ring was of a different texture and alerted the in-house security.

The replica is below. Photos: Singapore Police Force

The man was detained and found in possession of the diamond ring.

The police were alerted at about 1.15pm to a case of cheating at a shop within a shopping mall along Bayfront Avenue.

The 43-year-old man was arrested at the scene and the replica ring was seized as case exhibit.

He was to be charged in court on Nov 22 with cheating, which carries an imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years and a fine.