Anger as woman finds out diamond is a fake

A DUNDEE woman was conned out of £175 for a diamond pendant which turned out to be fake.

Violet Shephard bought the jewellery after seeing it for sale on Facebook Marketplace, and even paid petrol money to the seller after she drove from Broughty Ferry to deliver it.

Violet had the diamond tested and was surprised to find it was a fake.

But after sending the seller a Facebook message to complain and ask for a refund, she was blocked.

Police Scotland advised Violet the matter was a civil one and said she should seek advice from a lawyer.

But Violet said she was unlikely to do this as she may end up paying more in legal fees than she did for the necklace.

“I just want the woman to do the right thing,” Violet said, adding that it was not really about the money, but the way she had since been treated.

“I am disabled and have health conditions, including breathing problems. I can’t go out and find her and now she has blocked me.”

Violet, 56, said the woman had arrived with a man and both were wearing face masks.

“The man kept looking away like he didn’t want to be recognised,” she said.

The seller did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Marjorie Gibson, head of operations with Advice Direct Scotland, which runs consumeradvice. scot, said: “It can be hard to make a safe choice when you are shopping online.

“We encourage people to always use caution when buying from an online seller for the first time.

“Unfortunately, there are lots of fake goods on sale and it’s easy to get caught out.

“If possible, always use a credit card if spending over £100 – your purchase will be protected under the Consumer Credit Act.

“Our advisers can offer free, impartial advice to anyone who has been scammed and we encourage people to get in touch with us so that we can help protect more consumers.”

MONTROSE Air Station welcomed a film crew for a shoot combining fact and fiction ahead of the Angus attraction’s planned reopening to visitors later this month.

The Broomfield base – site of Britain’s first operational military air station – was the setting for scenes for the short film, Otto, being created by Mearns filmmaker JJ Mcgechan.

His Talisman Media production tells the story of a young Second World War German pilot shot down in Scotland, and the human side of conflict.

JJ, pictured with cast and crew, said: “The

A TEENAGE girl who downloaded a toddler sexual abuse video and researched murdering babies has been allowed to walk free from court.

Denen Steven Anderson has been banned from having any contact with children under the age of 18 and prohibited from using social network sites.

Anderson, 18, was placed on the sex offenders register for two years.

Sheriff Alistair Carmichael told her: “You pled guilty to a serious matter here.

“It is something which would often require a custodial sentence.

“I have to look at whether other options are available and in this case there are.

“I will impose a community payback order because of the exceptional circumstances involving mental health and various other reasons.”

Dundee Sheriff Court heard how Anderson was found with horrifying material on her phone