What's happened to our Secret Service and their enforcement duties, what's happened to them, anyone know? Ebay has more fakes than you can shake a stick at and there's a constant addition of more fakes daily and nobody seems to do anything about it! What gives, anyone know? Yeah most of them are obvious fakes but still, it's insane! This isn't the only seller of these 14k fakes and it's not just on US gold coins, it's across the board, it's a damn free for all! https://www.ebay.com/itm/365289633036?_trksid=p4375194.c101949.m162918
Regardless of the listing details, the coin is illegal as it should be marked "COPY". I've had it with eBay and their lack of concern about facilitating the sale of illegal counterfeit/replica coins. I've hounded them to no end. I don't know that my letter will get any real attention, but I am sending a letter to the US AG's office requesting their assitance in enforcing federal law as it pertains to the sale of these counterfeit/replica coins. Based on my reading of the law eBay should be held liable for these sales since they've been repeatedly told the listings are counterfiet and refuse to act. I would encourage everyone else to send similar complaints to the US AG. With enough complaints action will occur.
I couldn't agree more. It's sickening what's happening with fakes. If ignored it will ruin collecting. If somebody is new and to collecting and they wind up paying good money for fakes they will likely just hang it up.
The Secret Service doesn't enforce or have jurisdiction on this kind of stuff - the FTC does under the HPA (Hobby Protection Act). Which has been changed a few times in order to cover/include things like what you posted. All in all, it's a very complicated subject. You might want to read - https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/hobby-protection-act-undergoes-revision.html https://boards.ngccoin.com/topic/400682-the-hobby-protection-act-of-1973/ https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/pen...The FTC has issued a,and violates the FTC Act.
The SS does not have the funding to do much if anything related to coins. I wish they did. I'm not sure they even have the funds to chase paper money.
Here is a list of sites selling counterfeits advertised on Facebook over the last week or so. Facebook has responded to 7 of these with the message "we didn't remove the ad." The sites for another couple of ads, including ones for a set of 1870-1878CC half dollars and one for a double struck 1870-CC Trade Dollar now return a 404. https://2025neweagle.com/ https://livoai.com/products/1010 https://decalori.com/uncirculatedcoin01 https://2025-coin.onlysaleus4u.com/ https://www.tqkeqm.shop/products/1794 https://withgiftshop.com/products/2021-1-oz-american-silver-eagle-bu-today-is-only-usd19-99-16434377 https://onrcoinsbox.com/products/1883-cc-morgan-dollar https://owenhat.com/products/1921-1935 https://www.qalrlr.shop/products/ozgoldcoin https://amzkdt.online/collections/currency-collection https://2025-coin.onlysaleus4u.com/
Adding: https://www.pineappe.shop/collections/XXXXXX/products/10-oz-Britannia-Silver-Bar-|-The-Royal-Mint https://www.esteems.store/products/999-silver-bar
My question regarding the Secret Service is that as far as I know, none of the US coins being counterfeited have ever been demonetized. As such, these coins could still be spent, and are counterfeit currency under the jurisdiction of the Secret Service. Whether they have the funds to pursue it or even care is another matter. I'm sure if ebay was selling fake older style $100 bills, they'd be all over it.
I know when I worked in a bank many years ago I had to fill out paperwork and submit counterfeit bills we seized to them.
If I'm not mistaken not only is it illegal to manufacture and sell counterfeit coins but it's also illegal to buy and possess them.
From what I've read it is not illegal to merely possess or purchase counterfeit currency/coins. You have to know it is fake and use it to purchase something with the intent of defrauding someone for it to violate state and federal counterfeiting laws. In the case of ebay (and other sites), the issue is knowingly facilitating the sale of counterfeit numismatic items, which is a violation of the US Hobby Protection Act. It's the knowingly part that is probably a stumbling block. We all know that they actually facilitate the sale of these. When they receive multiple reports that a coin is fake and allow it to be sold anyway, to most rational people it's clear that they knew or should have known that it was fake. The fact that they eliminated their evaluation experts is also evidence that they know that they are selling these and don't care. They seem to believe that they are immune from consequences.
Since China counterfeits everything made, does anyone ever wonder if they have advanced facilities counterfeiting US cash? If they were how would anyone know and if they did what would anybody do about it? Likely nothing. I would think that introducing cash into "the system" globally, on top of what we already print could be a back door way to cause a lot of havoc and would be surprised if it wasn't going on. In comparison, counterfeit gold eagles and Morgans are small potatoes. Do I think an agency should be on top of it all? Yes. Is there? No. There's places counterfeiting US currency underground in the jungles of South America.
Yeah that makes it worse for youngsters or people who don't know any better and anyone who would buy one! I mean I've never known anyone to buy one of these fakes but people do! Duly noted, as usual good hearing from you Doug!
This is a subject that has been hashed and rehashed on this forum many, many times over the years. And the laws regarding counterfeits, as well as the definition of counterfeits, are so complicated that a whole lot of people just don't understand them. Many times people will call something a counterfeit that isn't a counterfeit at all. It may well be a copy and or a replica - but it isn't a counterfeit. Copy, replica, counterfeit, they are each entirely different things. So the laws that apply to one do not necessarily apply to the others. As an example, even the TPGs will not come right out and say the coin is a counterfeit. The most they'll do is say - it might be. 90 Questionable Authenticity – the coin is most likely a counterfeit.
