Nelson Morales

LVNA by Drake Dustin denies selling fake diamonds, deceptive practices

Article (news)

Anna Cerezo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — LVNA by Drake Dustin has issued a statement denying an online allegation made by online personality Christian Albert Gaza that they are selling fake diamonds.</p><p>“We want to make it clear that these claims are entirely false and do not involve our company in any way. LVNA by Drake Dustin is a legally registered business committed to transparency, authenticity, and quality in every product we offer,” the statement posted on their instagram account read.</p><p>LVNA by Drake Dustin also assured the public they do not engage in “deceptive practices.”</p><p>“We take pride in the trust our clients place in us, and we would never compromise that by engaging in deceptive practices. We understand how damaging misinformation can be, not just to our brand, but to the trust we&#x27;ve built with our community. We are actively working to clarify the situation and ensure there is no confusion between our business and any other unrelated party,” it said.</p><p>The statement comes after Gaza posted a “blind item” claiming LVNA by Drake Dustin has scammed over P150 million.</p><p>“Sinetch itey nang-scam kay Ivana [Alawi] at sa maraming tao gamit yung business na &#x27;LVNA by Drake Dustin.&#x27; More than 150 million pesos all-in-all. Mahina. Medyo payat. Mas malaki yung nai-scam ko sa kanya. Haha,” he wrote on a Facebook post.</p><p>Gaza, a convicted scammer who fled the Philippines in 2019, also alleged the owner has developed a gambling addiction.</p><p>“Nalulong pala sa casino ang Koya mo. Nagbebenta rin siya ng fake diamonds. Nagtatago na siya ngayon sa abroad,” he claimed.</p><p>Drake Dustin seemingly responded on his Instagram story—which has been deactivated as of this writing—“fake news.”</p><div><strong>RABIYA MATEO DISTANCES SELF FROM LVNA</strong></div><p>Beauty queen Rabiya Mateo, who was one of the the endorsers and is a current investor of LVNA by Drake Dustin clarified in a statement issued by her lawyers on Sunday that  Mateo “has never been, a shareholder, owner, director, or in any other manner a part-owner or participant in the management, operations, or control of LVNA.”</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIXxKxyTg4i/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A4142234.9999999995%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="838" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);background-color:white;border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px;--darkreader-inline-bgcolor:var(--darkreader-background-ffffff, #181a1b);--darkreader-inline-border-top:var(--darkreader-border-dbdbdb, #3a3f41);--darkreader-inline-border-right:var(--darkreader-border-dbdbdb, #3a3f41);--darkreader-inline-border-bottom:var(--darkreader-border-dbdbdb, #3a3f41);--darkreader-inline-border-left:var(--darkreader-border-dbdbdb, #3a3f41);--darkreader-inline-boxshadow:none" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left="" data-darkreader-inline-boxshadow=""></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>“Ms. Mateo&#x27;s endorsement engagements with LVNA are exclusively for its jewelry products and do not, in any way, include the solicitation of investments or securities in LVNA. As current investor, Ms. Mateo was not issued any shares, stocks, or ownership interests in LVNA - her investment being restricted solely to the receipt of guaranteed interest returns for a specified period,” the statement posted on her Instagram account read.</p><p>“This Notice serves to correct any erroneous statements or implications regarding Ms. Mateo&#x27;s involvement in the ownership and operations of LVNA, and to advise the public to exercise caution in their dealings with parties soliciting investments in LVNA, claiming to be authorized or endorsed by Ms. Mateo,” it added.</p><p>The statement also alleged that LVNA by Drake Dustin “failed to comply” with their contract.</p><p>“In fact, LVNA has been failing to comply with its obligations to pay Ms. Mateo the purported &#x27;guaranteed&#x27; interest returns,” it said.</p><p>Ivana Alawi, who was an endorser,  previously cut ties with LVNA by Drake Dustin. While the reason was unclear, the jeweler said the parting was “mutual.”</p><p> “We deeply respect her decision to move forward in a way that aligns with her path as an artist, and we sincerely wish her nothing but success in all her future endeavors. Ivana and I mutually agreed some time ago to terminate our partnership as endorsers and business partners of the Cebu branch,” it said in the statment previously issued.</p><p>ABS-CBN is still reaching trying to reach out to Drake Dustin as well as his business partners to clarify the allegations.</p>

<p>LVNA by Drake Dustin has issued a statement denying an online allegation made by Christian Albert Gaza that they are selling fake diamonds.</p>

LVNA by Drake Dustin has issued a statement denying an online allegation made by Christian Albert Gaza that they are selling fake diamonds.