Chinese counterfeit sellers posing as Canadians on ebay

Has anyone else noticed this trend lately?


I guess they no longer can create an account on eBay with location as US if they are in a foreign country, because I see all of them now creating Ebay.ca accounts with seller location as Canada.


Always the same deal, low or no feedback, poor English in description, quoted shipping times and prices in line with items coming from China rather than Canada ($5.50 to $8 for registered shipping and 2-4 weeks transit time even if the buyer is in Canada).


Also seems to be the same silver coins over and over: Japanese yen/trade dollars, 18th and 19th century Russian roubles, Korean 5 yang, 17th century Augsburg thalers, etc.


The troubling thing is that these are high end modern replicas, appear to be struck from lazer etched dies onto solid silver planchets. They often get bid up competitively to the genuine article.


At least eBay has been pretty good with removing the listings and sellers after I report them, even if the listing already ended.


Below are pictures from some of the listings and what is normally seen from these sellers. Please note these are all fake. Some, like the first Japanese trade dollar, are VERY convincing from pictures:

 

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This is what I have been trying to explain for years when it comes to these counterfeits. People thought the best solution is to stop buying coins from China and I argued that this will not stop proxy sellers selling these counterfeits. I call this a lazy approach.

The only way you can combat this is to plainly refuse to buy any counterfeits and keep on educating others about counterfeits. Afterall, if counterfeiters cannot make money from selling their goods, they are forced to either upgrade their counterfeiting skills to keep on frauding people or go to other businesses.

 

I have alerted Mike Marshall about this thread. Mike is the guy who got the Canadian counterfeit coins pulled off eBay and has strong ties to eBay.ca corporate officers...

Can you post a few links of examples of these auctions??

 

The wrath of Mikey has caused them to change direction in the past (thru Paypal and then Ebay, first here on Ebay.ca and then for the US as well. Mikey closes down the money pay tree and it ends. I just hope it's the Chinese using a Canadian internet address .. I'd hate to think that one of us Canucks have anything to do with this.

 

If they are selling fakes and using a Canada address it should be a lot easier to get them shut down since selling fakes or copies, even marked copies, is illegal in Canada.

 

They get removed about a day or two after being reported, so a link would not be practical. I've taken some of the item pictures and posted them in this thread.

 

I suppose that I was not specific enough. Your photos don't exactly tell us which eBay seller is trying to sell these items on the eBay.ca site...

 

Providing me with the sellers name will allow me to follow his/her activities. They will not get away with it. It takes all of us to be pro-active. Regards Mike Marshall

 

Here are a couple that were not removed yet:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261224865375?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251283956126?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

Both of these sellers have listed new items, which I've also reported.

 

I appreciate your quick response.

 

No prob.

 

I have made contact with ebay.ca and the 2 sellers are now being watched. A great start. Communication and co-operation will make gains. Regards Mike

 

They are gone and will be watched.

 

Accounts of both sellers closed

 

Mike certainly has the power. Good job.

 

I have been running into counterfeit stuff on Ebay for a very long time. Back when I first started encountering it it was electronics stuff, radios, DVDs and computer boards. My solution back then, which is continuing through today, is when searching, I only buy from vendors here in the US. So far I haven't been stuck with fakes yet.

Hmm interesting they are using laser etched dies to make perfect replica coins. Kind of funny. If they just advertised new condition actual silver replicas of foreign Trade Dollars, as perfect replicas, heck, I would buy one (or 3). Just stick a tiny 'REP' mintmark somewhere inconspicuous on the reverse and no one would mind. As long as the silver content and the design was correct, very few would care. It is the fraud that angers people.

 

Another one, same coin types:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1641-German...4506655?pt=US_World_Coins&hash=item27d3a4a29f

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1750-Elizab...4505044?pt=US_World_Coins&hash=item27d3a49c54

 

Thank you!

 

poof gone