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In case you weren't aware of this Chinese website selling fake bars...

considered yourself at least somewhat educated of what is going on. Forgive me if someone has already posted this, but this is some scary stuff we have to be aware of these days.
Fake Engelhards, Johnson Matthey, Scottsdale, NWT and more
To forgive is to free a prisoner, and to discover that prisoner was you.

Comments

  • nibannynibanny Posts: 2,761


    << <i>considered yourself at least somewhat educated of what is going on. Forgive me if someone has already posted this, but this is some scary stuff we have to be aware of these days.
    Fake Engelhards, Johnson Matthey, Scottsdale, NWT and more >>



    It should be a spin-off of AliBaba.com! Top notch seller! image
    The member formerly known as Ciccio / Posts: 1453 / Joined: Apr 2009
  • Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Our local B&M shop has a bid
    board and these have been
    sell like hot cakes for crazy
    prices !!! image
    Timbuk3
  • tneigtneig Posts: 1,505 ✭✭✭
    So, how you going to know what you do have, or will have will be silver if these weigh the same? WTF...
    COA
  • Downtown1974Downtown1974 Posts: 6,796 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The Johnson Matthey fakes in that link didn't have a serial number. Did JM make any without a serial number? All of mine have one.
    Scary stuff regardless. Maybe 90% is where I should be.
  • piecesofmepiecesofme Posts: 6,669 ✭✭✭
    Specific gravity of .999 silver is 10.5.
    This video shows a very crude way to test if the item in question is close to what it should be, 10.5.

    I would use a fine fishing line tied around the object and tie or clip the other end to a fixed object above but dont let the object touch the bottom or sides of the plastic container holding the water, rather than tweezers as this guy does.

    This is helpful for suspected fake items, but rememebr it is just a crude way to test. With fake bars being so close now to what an actual bar weighs, you really need a scale that is calibrated and weighs out to the .000 at least.

    But the point of all this is, are you going to sit there and do this with every bar in a bag of 200, or even 100 you just purchased? That's alot of time invested for what some of us flip faster than a pancake sometimes. If it's something you intend to keep, grab a 40 oz of your favorite beverage and weigh away image
    To forgive is to free a prisoner, and to discover that prisoner was you.
  • nibannynibanny Posts: 2,761
    Has anyone bought from them yet?
    I am tempted to get one of each of the most common product and check them out.
    They must have something wrong: the font, dimensions or weight.

    Is there any risk in importing these items into the US? Only US coins are supposed to have the "copy" stamp correct?
    The member formerly known as Ciccio / Posts: 1453 / Joined: Apr 2009
  • DrBusterDrBuster Posts: 5,380 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Unfortunately this is a reason I don't do bars. And I believe any 1oz bar in a plastic case is suspect like 99.999% of the time if all the reports on them are true.
  • piecesofmepiecesofme Posts: 6,669 ✭✭✭
    I am tempted to get one of each of the most common product and check them outI am tempted to get one of each of the most common product and check them out

    I almost did this today Matteo, but when it came time to pay, a little birdy spoke into my ear and said to me...you realize you are giving these b-tards your cc info.?

    So I bailed, just couldnt do it. It wasn't the fear of losing on a $90 order, it was giving that info. to people who are making a living from selling fake items. Actually, they are describing exactly what they are selling, THEY are selling them as fakes.
    I'm in no way defending what they are doing because they ultimately know the bars are so close to the real thing and know what a person with no consience will re-sell them as. So to me, they are just as guilty in all this as the person selling them as genuine bars when they know full well they are fake.

    Long story short, I just couldn't partake in something like that even if it was only $90. That's my $90 helping out a crook, not to mention like I already did, giving your cc info. to them too.
    To forgive is to free a prisoner, and to discover that prisoner was you.
  • LogPotatoLogPotato Posts: 2,177 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I am tempted to get one of each of the most common product and check them outI am tempted to get one of each of the most common product and check them out

    I almost did this today Matteo, but when it came time to pay, a little birdy spoke into my ear and said to me...you realize you are giving these b-tards your cc info.?

    So I bailed, just couldnt do it. It wasn't the fear of losing on a $90 order, it was giving that info. to people who are making a living from selling fake items. Actually, they are describing exactly what they are selling, THEY are selling them as fakes.
    I'm in no way defending what they are doing because they ultimately know the bars are so close to the real thing and know what a person with no consience will re-sell them as. So to me, they are just as guilty in all this as the person selling them as genuine bars when they know full well they are fake.

    Long story short, I just couldn't partake in something like that even if it was only $90. That's my $90 helping out a crook, not to mention like I already did, giving your cc info. to them too. >>



    Although I agree it would be nice to have some in hand for diagnostic purposes, I can totally understand your point. And is probably the final decision I would come to.
  • ZubieZubie Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭✭
    I'm in Shanghai today and I'm going to go look for some silver and gold bars this afternoon. I'll keep ya posted if I find anything.
    Its getting scary, makes me want to buy only new 100 oz bars direct from Apmex or Goldmart.

    Edit...
    Struck out finding any bullion today. I'll be in Hong Kong in a few days and will look around there if the typhoon has moved on.
    Positive BST Transactions with:
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  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,294 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Tongue's tin is silver !
    Tungsten is gold
    image
    Ching Ching is Kaching and Kapow makes dollars and cents !


  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nasty market out there... I will stick to known entities....Cheers, RickO
  • OPAOPA Posts: 17,121 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Unfortunately, aliexpress has been in operation for years and has been the subject on the coin forum several times over the years. Once you peruse their replica coins for sale from all over the world, chances are good you'll only buy certified coins from a reputable dealer. Likewise with bullion related items.
    "Bongo drive 1984 Lincoln that looks like old coin dug from ground."
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    Glad to know our government is doing it's job on this. Are they partners with the Chinese?

  • drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,038 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Glad to know our government is doing it's job on this. Are they partners with the Chinese? >>


    Nah...just a subsidiary.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,140 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Wow! The bars in his pics look scary good---especially the 5 oz old pour Engelhard bar.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

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