Disturbing Coincidences...

New member with rare coin/s pleads ignorance and seeks basic "Bottom Line" information which includes value and grade. Just a coincidence? Many times I think not... While this trend may have seen pretty obvious to some of the more 'seasoned' cyber-coin collectors it might appear as news to others. Personally, I've noticed an increase in OBVIOUS counterfeit coinage being posted (on this and other forums) along with a request from the (usually new) member/s to provide a grade and subsequent value. Many times afterwards with an offer to sell via PM when favorable opinions have been posted.

Now, these may seem like innocuous questions and indeed harmless to answer, no problem. Yes, they are harmless questions... if the coin is genuine. But, unfortunately many of the coins are fake and the questions which are being sought from the general membership help gauge the skill and handiwork of the counterfeiter.

Chuckle, some of the older members may recall a thread from the (ahem) Los Angles Police Department concerning some Early American Coinage the poster said they'd found on the street and were trying to verify the authenticity and value of... LOL. George Washington looked alot like Marlon Brando and was on an 1804 Dollar or something like that and the American Eagle looked like a penguin... Was this simply a Precursor or Beta batch of classic counterfeits in the neverending war on our coins and currency???

Sound crazy? On another site I volunteer time at (allexperts.com) it's happening at now.

Take Care
Ben

 

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Sounds like some people are doing some fishing. The scary part is if your hunch is true about counterfeiters testing the water with their handywork to see how it passes. They could keep refining them until they get passible coins.

 

Ben,
Nope, doesn't sound crazy to me. The information highway goes both ways. The same information that skilled and knowledgable collectors post here is available to anyone, at anytime, at anyplace in the world. Internet access and a webmail address are the only requirements. Even the info that is provided to a legitimate newbie (like myself) is neatly archived and indexed for everyone to use... including counterfeiters and other scammers. Sad but true.
Another collector forum I visited for WWII German Daggers became so paranoid about counterfeiters they immediately switched to pm's any time they started discussing one. So the smart got smarter and the newbies were left out in the cold. Can't say that I blame the experts, they were just trying to protect their hobby, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. I decided against collecting in that field.
You have definitely raised some interesting questions. I have alot of confidence that with the level of knowlege and honesty I've seen demonstrated on this forum that answers will be found. The bad guys don't stand a chance.

Andy

 

disturbing...

i see those red flags too, ben.

 

If you see me say any where on a post the word SPY in cap letters you'll know what I think, Infact there was one of them on here the other day.
I think a good number of you CT members will know what im talking about. ( Hi im from here and I have this to show BLA BLA BLA.) SPY's lol. I noticed this as well Ben, your not alone.

 

Scary!

The same things we knock on ebay are coming to "visit" us. Same tag lines too.
My grandfather passed away etc.

 

HAHAHAHAA, I see what you mean. Great Idea :thumb:

Take Care
Ben

 

hmmmm, I've seen a bit of this, but I'm not here often enough to get tagged with it very often

 

Thanks everyone. I never put 2+2 together on those posts until now. Glad somebody's looking out for us lemings.

 

It seems that when someone with no numismatic knowledge posts some potentially valuable coins, like trade dollars for example, they usually are fake or at least very suspicious looking...

 

I like Oldman's idea, SPY. Think I'll try it myself in the future...

Ben

 

We don't have nearly enough FACTS upon which to determine the true knowledge level and motives of such posters. I believe it's as or more likely that they are innocent as it is that they are guilty. As more counterfeits hit the market, it seems only logical that more unknowing/innocent people will end up with them.

 

No doubt Mark. I'm sure some are legit as there are actually a few on ebay that are.

The multitudes of scammers have blown it for so many people.

Perhaps not SPY but something like "SP?". Kind of a proceed with caution sign.

 

Just curious, but with a significant increase in both the number of fakes available and the number of "collectors" (mostly newbys), what makes you think that this is not the exact affect you would expect? I do not have the familiarity you have with such forums, but there is nothing about people asking opinions that would raise my suspicions.

 

Hmmm, reckon I get this streak of cynicism from my old man who was an elected Sheriff, and hardware store owner for 25 years. He always said to me to "Son, go with your gut when dealing with people." "When trouble appears, always expect the worst that way when things go down you'll be ready..." He (like most dads) was a very wise man when you took the time to think about what they said 10+ years later, LOL.

Take Care
Ben

 

I didn't notice anything strange about that poster other than the fact that he was from China. Maybe I'm just naive.

Lou

 

disturbing............

true true, but it doesn't hurt to be on guard..

 

I stumbled across this board a few weeks ago for the first time. I was looking for some information for a friend of mine who recently got a few coins as an inheritance. This came up in a google search. I've been collecting since I was a little kid, but haven't really acquired anything in the last 15 years or more. The coins I got from my dad and grandpa have just followed me through moves in the safe. Well...needless to say once I started to read the posts I was amazed by the amount of information you guys have!

To my wife's dismay I have started pulling out all the old coins. None of it's in great shape, but there is a decent variety of post 1850 coins, and currency. I will post some pictures for opinions in a bit, but for now I wanted to say thanks for the heads up on all the counterfeits! It's definitely a different world than when I started collecting as a kid.

I have already learned so much, and now that I am getting back into it I am glad to have this board as a resource to be sure I don't get scammed.

Cheers!

 

Boy, isnt that the truth and Welcome to the forum.

Take Care
Ben

 

now at least i know what spy meant ..tho i must admit, when someone asks for help, i try to steer them the best way possible. if they ask for a grade, i try to explain why i would give it a certain grade. i will say that i have never had anyone offer to sell me a coin nor have i spoken much w/ anyone via e mail or messenger.
probably just my personality combined w/ lack of money!!