Looking for fakes

I'm writing the outline for a class on Gold & Silver scams for an upcoming Rec Center class. As part of the instruction, I plan on testing a few pieces of dodgy jewelry, coins, and bars in front of the class.

I have some "925" stamped junk from China, some pot metal Morgans, and a ".999 mil 24k gold clad" art bar. Are there any other major scams that I'm forgetting to mention?

 

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silver pandas with china on the back, more then 1/2 i've seen are happy to stick to a magnet, others are only 40%.

 

Bumping this - what are the scams that you've run into?

I've recently read about tungsten carbide being passed off as gold (especially when gold bars are hollowed out and filled). I picked up a tungsten carbide ring for $5 that looks and feels convincingly like gold and plan on using it to illustrate the danger.

 

There is something on ebay called "German Silver" it is not silver. Seems very misleading to people.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Troy-oz-G...145?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7d331dd9

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Troy-gram...129?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c6b54a7d9

 

Thanks - it's up there with Tibetan silver on the 'misleading name' scale, right?

I've also run into jewelry stamped "XXk Italy" (ie 18k) that is nowhere near 18/24th's pure. Apparently there are very lax laws in Italy about purity labeling, especially if it's being sold to tourists.

 

I love how the listings talk up this garbage like it is really something precious and collectable, when it is a shiny piece of junk.

 

100 Mills Silver which is plated and German Silver of course not being silver at all

 

Based on these two auctions that were cited, I don't think "German Silver" is misleading to anyone. The sellers in those two auctions state, "This is not silver" and that they contain "little to no silver". I think the potential is there for some sellers to mislead people by intentionally omitting this information but I think these German Silver bars are interesting. Unlike a real bar of silver, they are affordable and can be bought by the rich and poor alike. I may now buy one myself and have the members of Cointalk to thank for introducing me to German Silver.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/24-Hour-Lis...097?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d7e9f3a1

Unbelievable how in the ad it states "To be clear German Silver is not the same as Elemental Silver. This bar contains little to no .999 pure Elemental Silver, this is an alloy." yet it still ends up being sold for $34.

 

What is so unbelievable about what the ad states? This German Silver bar sold for $34 because people wanted a piece of art from a company that is going out of business, not because they were duped into thinking they bought real silver.

 

Got to love the word "elemental" to throw off some of the uniformed buyers. I like how it says "German silver is highly collectible" Yeah maybe real silver not scam silver. Who in their right mind would want one of these?

 

Lets just say that is the case why not purchase this http://www.ebay.com/itm/German-Silv...860?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51a663f9dc for much less? Either way bidders didn't do their research.

 

That bar appears to have been made by a different company. The one that sold for $34 was made by a company that (according to the seller) is going out of business.

I guess you didn't read my last sentence in post #8? I haven't worked in two years and feel buying a German Silver bar is an affordable alternative to buying an actual bar of silver (which are way overpriced in my opinion).

 

But they are being sold for the same price as a REAL silver bar disproving your point.

 

Exactly my point. If you want one because you find them interesting I am not here to judge, but Tyler is correct in stating why would you want a clad bar when you can buy a silver one for the same price. I am sure most of the people buying these thinking they are getting .999 silver are wishing they didn't buy them when they realize they are not silver.

 

That comment makes no sense when they are being sold for the same price as .999 silver. If you can get a .999 bar of silver for the same price why would you ever want the German 'scam" silver?

 

He must be a troll. If money is tight and you want to have an alternative to silver, why pay similar prices as silver for a worthless alloy? I don't even know why we are arguing this lol.

 

Who said I would buy one for the same price as a real silver bar?

Here the bidding is presently at $0.06, making it pennies on the dollar if no one else bids: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Troy-oz-G...145?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7d331dd9

Here you can buy them at the BIN price of $7.99 with free shipping: http://www.ebay.com/itm/German-Silv...860?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51a663f9dc I bet I can buy them for less than that if I look hard enough.

You call me a troll when I have been a member of this forum for eight years, always being held in the highest standing with people? I never said money was tight, only that I haven't worked in two years and feel buying a German Silver bar is an affordable alternative to buying a real bar of silver.

 

First, there is over 5 days left on the bar you linked. It will probably rise much higher especially since shipping is included.

Second, If money is an object is it smarter to purchase a "fake" 1 oz silver bar at pennies on the dollar rather than invest in smaller denomination silver that has historically held its value? If you think silver is overpriced why not put that money toward a different investment? This is the most silly topic I have ever discussed.

 

Nos, I'm not judging you if you want to buy one for even 7.99. I am just scratching my head for the ones who have already bought bars that sold for over the spot price for an oz of silver, there is no explanation for that besides ignorance.