In Dakar, a gold scam almost never looks like a robbery. It looks like a normal transaction: a smile, a quick estimate, a note handed over... and a seller who walks away with far less than the real value of their gold, without even realizing it.
| Karat | Purity | Price per gram (spot, USD) | Jayma Or buy-back price |
|---|---|---|---|
| … | |||
The good news? These situations can be spotted. There are precise warning signs, easy to recognize, that tell you when to stay — and when to leave with your jewelry.
At Jayma Or, we handle gold buying in Dakar every day, with one simple rule: everything is done in front of you — touchstone testing, weighing on a certified scale, an explained calculation, immediate cash payment. It is precisely because we know the good practices that we can describe the bad ones to you.
In this guide, you will discover:
- the 5 warning signs that give away a questionable buyer;
- how to check out a buyer before handing over your jewelry;
- your rights as a seller — and how to enforce them;
- what a genuinely transparent buying process looks like.
The 5 Warning Signs That Should Make You Walk Away
If you notice even one of these signs, politely take back your jewelry and leave. You lose nothing.
- No certified scale. A weighing done "by eye," on a kitchen scale, or out of your sight has no value at all. Weight is the basis of the entire calculation: if it is off by a few grams, the loss quickly adds up to tens of thousands of FCFA.
- A price quoted without testing. No one can know the purity of your gold — 24, 21, 18 or 14 carats — just by looking at it. A price thrown out without a touchstone test is an invented price, and it is rarely invented in your favor.
- Refusal to explain the calculation. The formula is simple: weight × purity × the day's gram rate. An honest buyer breaks it down for you line by line. The one who answers "that's the price, that's it" has a reason not to go into detail.
- No ID requested. It may seem simpler, but it is the opposite of a good sign: a buyer who does not check sellers' identity is, in effect, accepting gold of questionable origin.
- Deferred payment. "Come back tomorrow," "we'll call you," "a deposit first": refuse. The rule of the trade is cash payment, in full, at the moment of sale. Your gold should never leave your sight without its full payment.
How to Check Out a Buyer Before Handing Over Your Gold
A few minutes of checking are enough to rule out the vast majority of nasty surprises:
- A professional, established location. A fixed address, an identifiable shop, a visible business — not an improvised meeting with a stranger.
- Publicly posted prices. A serious buyer publishes their buying prices, carat by carat, and updates them according to the market. Compare their posted prices to the price of gold in Senegal today before making the trip.
- The tools of the trade, visible. Certified scale, touchstone, testing acids: if the tools are not on the counter, ask yourself why.
- A verifiable reputation. Years in business, reviews, word of mouth. Our guide to choosing a reliable gold buyer in Dakar details all the criteria that matter.
And if you are hesitating between several parties, also read how to recognize a trustworthy jeweler in Dakar: the instincts are similar, whether you are buying or selling.
Your Rights as a Seller
You are selling something that belongs to you: you are in a position of strength, not the position of someone asking for a favor. Concretely, you have the right:
- to witness the test and the weighing, without your jewelry leaving your sight;
- to demand a full explanation of the price: purity established, exact weight, rate applied;
- to refuse the offer and leave with your jewelry, intact, at no cost and without justification;
- to compare several offers before deciding — a buyer who pressures you is a buyer who fears comparison;
- to be paid in cash, in full, at the moment of sale.
Remember this sentence: nothing obliges you to sell, ever, at any stage. A serious professional relies on their price and their transparency to convince you, not on pressure.
What a Truly Transparent Process Looks Like
At Jayma Or, here is exactly what happens when you come to sell:
- Welcome and identity check. A valid ID is requested — it is a protection for you as much as for us.
- Testing in front of you. Each piece of jewelry is tested with the touchstone to establish its exact purity.
- Weighing on a certified scale, before your eyes, to the tenth of a gram.
- Explained calculation: weight × purity × the day's rate. You can check every figure.
- Free decision, cash payment. Do you accept? You are paid in cash, in FCFA, immediately. Do you refuse? You leave with your jewelry, at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if an offer is too low?
Compare it to an objective benchmark: the day's rate, posted publicly. Weigh your piece approximately, multiply by the gram rate for its carat, and you get a realistic range. Any offer far outside that range deserves a detailed explanation.
Can a buyer charge me for the test or the estimate?
With a serious professional, the estimate is free and without obligation. Be wary of any "testing fee" or "processing fee" demanded before or after the appraisal.
Why is my ID being asked for? Is it a trap?
On the contrary: it is the sign of a healthy operation. Identity checks protect honest sellers and keep out gold of questionable origin. A buyer who demands nothing accepts anything — and anyone.
What should I do if I've already been cheated?
Keep every record of the transaction (receipt, messages, amount) and get in touch with the authorities. And going forward, don't let a single one of the 5 warning signs slip by.
Can I sell safely without leaving home?
Yes. We can send a trusted courier to your home or office. The principle stays the same: test, explained weighing and cash payment, in front of you.
Take Action: Sell Your Gold with Peace of Mind
You now know the 5 warning signs, your rights, and how a transparent sale unfolds. You are equipped to sell at a fair price.
Take the first step at no risk: send a photo of your jewelry via WhatsApp to +221 78 111 66 87 for a free estimate, or book an appointment. Test, weighing and calculation in front of you, cash payment the same day — and the freedom to say no at any time.