Sham auctions with photos stolen from Coinfacts

kaz · June 21, 2008 11:11PM

More and more, scammers are stealing images from Coinfacts and using them in sham auctions on eBay. Members of the Coin Forgery eBay group (and others) are actively trying to have them taken down, but eBay contends that unless the owner of the photos contacts them to confirm that the images are stolen, there is nothing they can do. Meanwhile, crooks are making off with thousands via PayPal, and these auctions continue to flourish. Does anyone here have a suggestion as to how to put a stop to this? Does anyone know of a link to an official at Coinfacts? What if Coinfacts were to message eBay Trust and Safety that "under no circustances" may images from Coinfacts be used in eBay auctions? Any serious suggestions are sincerely appreciated. Thanks.

Robb · June 21, 2008 11:33PM

It would be nice if coinfacts would take the time to watermark the images. Wouldn't take long and would certainly deter image theft though it would do nothing to stop what is already "out there" from being reused.

From what I understand of eBay policy, coinfacts would not be able to issue a blanket statement for eBay to enforce like you suggested. It would be a case-by-case incident.

ambro51 · June 22, 2008 1:12AM

Its just ashamed that when the knowledegable collectors and experts on this forum see a bogus auction they can no longer contact the bidders and let them know whats going on.

kaz · June 22, 2008 6:25AM

Thanks, Robb, that's what I was afraid of. A fake auction with stolen photos was just taken down, it was for a $3 gold piece, but it was ended by the seller. Some folks had emailed him that they knew what he was up to. No action by ebay on the weekend, of course. I have heard of watermarks being recommended, but I have also heard that they can be edited out. I am not tech-savvy enough to know about that.

Ambrose, you are exactly right. unfortunately, prior to making bidder id's secret, eBay already was aggressively punishing those who attempted to warn persons bidding on forgeries for "auction interference."

Thanks for your comments and I hope to hear from some more folks.

onejinx · June 22, 2008 6:29AM

Ebay doesn't really care what goes on as long, as the money from the fees keeps rolling in every second!!!

notwilight · June 22, 2008 6:46AM

Any examples? The posse here functionally nukes any auction we see with a stolen photos. Sometimes they get bid up to billions of dollars... Just post a link here and it will get all the attention it needs. --Jerry

notwilight · June 22, 2008 6:49AM

<< <i>Ebay doesn't really care what goes on as long, as the money from the fees keeps rolling in every second!!! >>

I have my beefs wtih ebay but this is an incorrect statement. Scammers drive off buyers, drive off sellers, and cost ebay money. Allowing this does not improve ebays bottom line so I think they are serious in trying to combat scam but they are ineffective as any large company with layers of managment and convoluted decision making processes will be. --Jerry

kaz · June 22, 2008 6:54AM

Thanks, I will try to do a better job of reporting the photo scams that turn up on the CFe group here. The more pressure that can be applied to bring down these scammers, the better. Some of these characters have even been stealing other sellers' auction photos. It's like the Wild West or something.

TavernTreasures · June 22, 2008 7:11AM

<< <i>....unfortunately, prior to making bidder id's secret, eBay already was aggressively punishing those who attempted to warn persons bidding on forgeries for "auction interference."

>>

EBAY brass calls EBAY buyers and sellers the "EBAY community". But as mentioned above they put a stop to community members helping each other out. Now, with secret bidder ID's, no one in this "community" knows who the other member is............What a swell "community".

BECOKA · June 22, 2008 7:42AM

It's up to collectors to report what they see. It should not be but it seems that is the way it has to be.

morgansforever · June 22, 2008 8:15AM

Forget Coinfacts, look at all the pics here on this forum.

There are thousands of pics here, probably has already happened.

kaz · June 22, 2008 9:17AM

You're probably right. I know some folks who are very good at ferreting out the sources of stolen photos, some sites I have never heard of! Fortunately, most of the crooks seem to be pretty lazy and go to the obvious sources.

You know, you can't even mention another auction site on the eBay discussion boards, even to diss it! eBay claims it's because they can't guarantee your safety and security off-site!

Sham auctions with photos stolen from Coinfacts

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