They’ve Stolen Millions Using Super Clones. They’re Still Doing It.

From left to right, Ariel Zirkiyev, Gabriel Abramov, and Yitzhak ("Isaac") Ofier

A fraud ring has stolen millions using ultra-realistic counterfeit jewelry. Store after store, they repeat the same scam—and it still works. This is how they do it.

By Jacob Avital, with investigative support from a Licensed Private Investigator and firsthand accounts from jewelers, store owners, and industry experts nationwide.

How the 'Super Clone' Jewelry Scam Works

"Super Clones" aren't ordinary fakes. They’re expertly crafted counterfeit jewelry made from real gold and meticulously detailed. Each piece includes authentic-looking certificates that match real serial numbers. Jewelers usually discover the scam only after the criminals leave with genuine merchandise or cash.

Why Jewelers Trust Trade-ins:

Jewelers rarely expect fraud during trade-ins because criminals usually prefer cash, knowing stolen goods are hard to resell. But this fraud ring has strong connections in the Diamond District, making it easy for them to flip real jewelry from trade-in scams without raising suspicion."

How They Source Cartier Bracelets:

The crew sources counterfeit Cartier bracelets from Farid, a known distributor of high-end fake jewelry operating out of Manhattan’s Diamond District (55 W 47th Street, Booth 200). These "Super Clones," made with authentic gold and near-perfect detailing, are among the highest quality available. https://www.instagram.com/nycgoldanddiamonds

Fake Certificates Matching Real Serial Numbers:

Each counterfeit item comes with a certificate bearing a genuine Rolex serial number. This makes detection nearly impossible during quick sales.

Farid at his booth (left). Counterfeit Cartier (top-right). Fake Rolex Certificate (bottom-right)

How They Repeatedly Scam The Same Stores

Once a store falls victim, the scammers return repeatedly, using different faces but the same method. Stores that initially fall for the scam become ongoing targets, repeatedly losing money like an ATM that criminals can reliably exploit.

How Convincing Are These Counterfeits?

Jacob Avital: After buying the Audemars Piguet from Abramov, I showed it to ten different experts on 47th Street—real old-timers. They were all making offers. Even after a watch technician opened and inspected it, one expert offered me over $30,000. We realized it was fake later only because something felt off about the box.

The counterfeit Audemars Piguet that fooled multiple experts

Nationwide Reach

This fraud ring operates nationwide, repeatedly crossing state lines to evade detection. Most documented cases are in New York, but only because they are easier to track locally (our investigations are based out of NY). In reality, this is a widespread criminal operation, with many more cases likely undiscovered.

Why Police Can't Stop Them

They know the trick to never getting caught—jurisdiction hopping. Fake IDs, new states, new names. Every scam is in a different city, so to police, it looks like a one-off crime, not part of a larger operation. There’s no national task force tracking them, no one connecting the dots. By the time one store realizes they’ve been scammed, they’re already hundreds of miles away, pulling the same con again.

One of Ariel Zirkiyev's Many Fake ID's

“It’s a difficult case to prove because you have to prove that these guys knew what they were doing.”Scott Guginsky, Vice President at Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA)

When we spoke with Scott, he explained prosecutors rarely pursue these cases because scammers consistently claim ignorance—insisting they believed the jewelry was genuine.

Help Stop This Fraud Ring

This fraud ring is still active. Their scams follow the same pattern—convincing counterfeit jewelry, fake certificates, and carefully staged transactions. They pose as first-time sellers, often wearing designer clothing and driving luxury vehicles. Ariel Zirkiyev frequently appears in medical scrubs.

Key Suspects:

Gabriel Abramov

Gabriel Abramov

Yitzhak Issic Levy Ofier (Isaac)

Yitzhak Issic Levy Ofier ("Isaac")

Ariel Zirkiyev

Ariel Zirkiyev

Why We Say This Crew Stole “Millions”

The cases documented here are only a small fraction of the total. We identified most cases by cold-calling jewelry stores nationwide and gathering tips from Facebook jewelry groups. Many jewelers don’t realize they’ve been scammed until weeks later, and countless incidents go unreported. Reports suggest this group is highly active in Arizona, California, Florida, and other states. They also target individual buyers through Facebook Marketplace, making their full impact difficult to track.

What You Can Do

If you’ve approached by Abramov, Ofier, or Zirkiyev, or have information about their scams, contact us immediately.

Dedicated Tip Line: 516-212-5036

Email: tips@justiceinNY.com

A $20,000 reward is available for credible information leading to their arrest.

Disclaimer: All allegations are based on documented evidence, investigative findings, and reports from affected businesses, industry professionals, and a private investigator. Individuals named retain the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court.