By Jack D. Young for Proxiblog
So, how bad has it been on the Bay? I asked that question in a Facebook group and the majority stated it has become worse for counterfeits. This article demonstrates how.
And a recent painful experience follows. As a counterfeit researcher and article writer I review many different sites and forums for new examples. One is AliExpress and the many offerings of fake coins in fake “PCGS” holders such as the following:
I just added this one to my files and waited. … And then this recent eBay listing popped up in my daily review:
OK, so the seller actually used the Ali images for his listing!
He also included images of what I assume he actually had in-hand, and both are bad.
Interestingly, both sets of images have the same bad obverse label and no-read barcode, but the reverse QR codes were different.
The Ali one and images used have a reverse QR code that takes one to the Chinese (CN) PCGS site as typical for that generation of fake in a fake, but his one in-hand leads to the Europe PCGS site as I disclosed in a recent article on these–a latest development!
And another surprise, the listing was reported to eBay and was removed. Seller was also notified that his coin was bad. He responded but allowed his listing to continue:
eBay seller’s response to my message
Instead, he relisted, this time without the Ali images.
Sellers relist after 1st was removed
Again multiple reports apparently resulted in the listing being removed.
So, then a 3rd try by this determined seller.
2nd relist
An entirely different set of images and setting, but same bad coin and not-PCGS slab and cert number. And the same nonsense obverse barcode with the reverse QR code taking us to France!
Revised images of the same counterfeit and 3rd seller Bay listing
And the “coin” itself? Not the same as the certified genuine example:
eBay subject example on the left, genuine PCGS example for the cert # on the right
And the disappointing twist–eBay would NOT remove this 3rd attempt after multiple reports.
And I guess I got a little testy after it showed sold:
Interestingly after this report the listing was removed, but no way to know if it saved the buyer. I suppose we just need to wait until the seller relists.
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