FRAUD ALERT: Ebay pulls all of pack counterfeiter (hotstuffcollector)'s listings!!
summerof68
Posts: 748 ✭
Five months ago a vintage pack counterfeiter out of W. Virginia with the user ID (hotstuffcollector) began selling raw vintage wax packs on ebay. At that very same time he opened a second ebay ID (branscollection), also from W. Virginia to buy his vintage wrappers, bulk lots of high grade vintage singles, empty wax boxes & inserts
This seller is the smartest counterfeiter I have encountered thus far on ebay as he used several tactics to hide his criminal activity. He used the (private listing) format to sell all his packs and he used "stock photos" on 95% his listings. As a buyer he purchased almost all his wrappers in large lots so I or anyone else couldn't match up a wrapper to a finished wax pack. Also he was very shrewed in that he wouldn't list a bogus pack until at least 90 days (after) he purchased the wrapper so no one would be able to view the original listing in ebay's search files since ebay removes all pictures of listings after 90 days. Thus no one could prove where a particular wrapper originated from.
Unfortunately for him I set my sights on him months ago and I soon was able to positively Identify him as having the two ebay user Id's mentioned above. He made the mistake of using his buyer ID to (intentionally) win three of his own packs so he could mention in the feedback the great pulls he made: ("pulled Yount rookie", "pulled Henderson rookie", "pulled minty Rose"). This "pumping up" of his own feedback grabbed my attention and led me to discover his second Id. Also back in early September using the (branscollection) ID he purchased two 1977 Topps baseball factory 100-count wax wrappers rolls from ebayer (redvalleyforge). (redvalleyforge) you will remember was the same seller that (import-export-co) purchased his '77 topps bb wax wrapper rolls from to "hand make" all their '77 bb wax packs sold on ebay. And just six days after buying the '77 wrapper rolls (branscollection) then won a '77 bb vending box with 400 high-grade commons for $20.
Well that original listing back in early September showing the picture of the '77 wax wrapper rolls purchased by (branscollection) became no longer viewable 10 days ago and just as I expected only four days later (hotstuffcollecter) listed on ebay 36 absolutely pristine 1977 bb wax packs. Every pack had absolutely no signs of color loss on the corners--all 36 were "homemade".
I immediately sent all my findings to ebay three days ago and last night they pulled all of (hotstuffcollector)'s listings including the 36 '77 wax packs.
Incidently for your viewing pleasure (hotstuffcollector) last week sold eight 1974 bb wax packs in separate listings. Each pack had a very unique after-factory retail tag on it from "shoppers fair" store #62. (hotstuffcollector) purchased all eight of these wrappers using his (branscollection) id back on Aug. 29th from seller (rps35) in two separate listings of four wrappers each. And as usual he waited 90+ days until that listing picture was no longer viewable to sell the eight bogus wax packs on ebay last week.
Even though the picture of those wrappers is no longer viewable (branscollection) again made a mistake (yesterday) by purchasing yet another four of these unique 1974 bb wax wrappers from the same seller (rps35) and all four have that same after-factory sticker on it from (shoppers fair)! Obviously having just sold the previous eight '74 wax packs he needed more wrappers to repeat the process.
The ebay listing# for these (4) just won '74 wrappers is: 130348663515.
The ebay listing# for (1) of the 8 bogus '74 wax packs he sold on ebay last week with the same unique wrapper is: 270497510598.
Last night ebay cancelled all dozen or so of (hotstuffcollector)'s listings including some '71 bb wax packs for which he purchased the wrappers two weeks ago in a 14 wrapper lot using the (branscollection) Id. And just a couple days after purchasing the '71 wrappers he also purchased an auction containing several high-grade '71 bb commons and three '71 bb wax inserts!
This counterfeiter was very shrewed and made very tight packs with nice corner folds. He also used some type of roller device to give the appearance of "roller lines" as well. He also liked to end his listing descriptions with "God Bless"--another red flag.
But as smart as he thought he was and as good as he was in "covering his tracks" he was eventually "outsmarted".
*I also want to thank fellow board member (minnesotahusker) for bringing (hotstuffcollector) to my attention and requesting my help as he thought he had been wronged by this counterfeiter.
This seller is the smartest counterfeiter I have encountered thus far on ebay as he used several tactics to hide his criminal activity. He used the (private listing) format to sell all his packs and he used "stock photos" on 95% his listings. As a buyer he purchased almost all his wrappers in large lots so I or anyone else couldn't match up a wrapper to a finished wax pack. Also he was very shrewed in that he wouldn't list a bogus pack until at least 90 days (after) he purchased the wrapper so no one would be able to view the original listing in ebay's search files since ebay removes all pictures of listings after 90 days. Thus no one could prove where a particular wrapper originated from.
Unfortunately for him I set my sights on him months ago and I soon was able to positively Identify him as having the two ebay user Id's mentioned above. He made the mistake of using his buyer ID to (intentionally) win three of his own packs so he could mention in the feedback the great pulls he made: ("pulled Yount rookie", "pulled Henderson rookie", "pulled minty Rose"). This "pumping up" of his own feedback grabbed my attention and led me to discover his second Id. Also back in early September using the (branscollection) ID he purchased two 1977 Topps baseball factory 100-count wax wrappers rolls from ebayer (redvalleyforge). (redvalleyforge) you will remember was the same seller that (import-export-co) purchased his '77 topps bb wax wrapper rolls from to "hand make" all their '77 bb wax packs sold on ebay. And just six days after buying the '77 wrapper rolls (branscollection) then won a '77 bb vending box with 400 high-grade commons for $20.
Well that original listing back in early September showing the picture of the '77 wax wrapper rolls purchased by (branscollection) became no longer viewable 10 days ago and just as I expected only four days later (hotstuffcollecter) listed on ebay 36 absolutely pristine 1977 bb wax packs. Every pack had absolutely no signs of color loss on the corners--all 36 were "homemade".
I immediately sent all my findings to ebay three days ago and last night they pulled all of (hotstuffcollector)'s listings including the 36 '77 wax packs.
Incidently for your viewing pleasure (hotstuffcollector) last week sold eight 1974 bb wax packs in separate listings. Each pack had a very unique after-factory retail tag on it from "shoppers fair" store #62. (hotstuffcollector) purchased all eight of these wrappers using his (branscollection) id back on Aug. 29th from seller (rps35) in two separate listings of four wrappers each. And as usual he waited 90+ days until that listing picture was no longer viewable to sell the eight bogus wax packs on ebay last week.
Even though the picture of those wrappers is no longer viewable (branscollection) again made a mistake (yesterday) by purchasing yet another four of these unique 1974 bb wax wrappers from the same seller (rps35) and all four have that same after-factory sticker on it from (shoppers fair)! Obviously having just sold the previous eight '74 wax packs he needed more wrappers to repeat the process.
The ebay listing# for these (4) just won '74 wrappers is: 130348663515.
The ebay listing# for (1) of the 8 bogus '74 wax packs he sold on ebay last week with the same unique wrapper is: 270497510598.
Last night ebay cancelled all dozen or so of (hotstuffcollector)'s listings including some '71 bb wax packs for which he purchased the wrappers two weeks ago in a 14 wrapper lot using the (branscollection) Id. And just a couple days after purchasing the '71 wrappers he also purchased an auction containing several high-grade '71 bb commons and three '71 bb wax inserts!
This counterfeiter was very shrewed and made very tight packs with nice corner folds. He also used some type of roller device to give the appearance of "roller lines" as well. He also liked to end his listing descriptions with "God Bless"--another red flag.
But as smart as he thought he was and as good as he was in "covering his tracks" he was eventually "outsmarted".
*I also want to thank fellow board member (minnesotahusker) for bringing (hotstuffcollector) to my attention and requesting my help as he thought he had been wronged by this counterfeiter.
"You tell 'em I'm coming...and hell's coming with me"--Wyatt Earp
0
Comments
keep up the outstanding work!!!!
Steve
Not as of yet. I have found that getting ebay to NARU pack counterfeiters is a slow and painstaking process. Remember that even after I exposed Import-export-co ebay only pulled all of their current listings they had at that time and never did NARU them as far as I know.
$2,418.00
worth of pack-making supplies.
buys - give it time to load
.................................
In the last 90-days, goofbay says that hotstuffcollector sold about
$9,040.00
worth of likely homemade packs.
sales - give it time to load
//////////////////////////////////////////
EBAY/PayPal loves the money they make from such criminal enterprises.
Many pack counterfeiters will simply purchase non-sports Topps wax boxes from the late 70's. Many boxes such as Dukes of Hazzard sell in the $20 range thus giving the counterfeiter 36 pieces of authentic '70 era topps gum for little money. There are all kinds of late 70's non-sports wax boxes that are easy to pick up on ebay in the $20 range.
<< <i>With all due respect, he did buy a diaper genie >>
//////////////////////////
Excellent point.
I have now adjusted the buy-total by deducting the $22 he spent on the DG.
............
Under his selling account, he bought a few packs of cards, some "SCAN ME" stickers,
and an electronics gizmo. (Those were not relevant to the goofbay link.)
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Then beginning in late November Czarcowboy began routinely listing raw bb wax packs from these very same years on ebay--including about ten current listings. So one has to be very careful with packs from Czarcowboy as they are most likely bogus packs that originated from (hotstuffcollector). Czarcowboy might not have any idea they are bad.
"Molon Labe"
true dat.
Successful transactions with bouwob, lifeshouldbefun, SDSportsFan, Bkritz, tsalems1, kwtoz, johnny1976, Topps29, Calaban7, nascar20, bking, bedellsonics, Beck6, Dialj, Echocanyon, mdkuom, gosteelers, artimus.
summer, thanks for confirming what I had expected and reporting this "scam bag."
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
Need to buy something for the wife or girlfriend? Check out Vintage Designer Clothing.
<< <i>How about a negative, with a statement that he's a pack resealer who buys stuff raw as branscollection?
Nick >>
Just make sure to list all his alt's on your BBL first!
LeagueLeader; IJustLoveCards; Recbball; msassin; leathtech; lsutigers1973; Bosox1976; Dboneesq; Aric; Bkritz
...............
"Buys Wrappers & Cards To Make Countefeit & Resealed Packs. SCAM!"
............
As noted, put ALL of his alts on your BBL before leaving NEG.
Fortunately (tarheels17032) just received his second negative of the month. The buyer sent the five (5) 1970 bb wax packs to PSA and they came back "altered". The seller noted this in his feedback and also called (tarheels17032) a thief!
Yet the bids are still flying on (tarheels17032) current crop of bogus packs.
Ebay has been very reluctant to do anything with (tarheels17032) and his alias buyer ID (codyemma17) as he is making ebay & paypal alot of money. This morning I did sent ebay another perfect match on a wrapper and wax pack further confirming this criminal activity.
Hopefully ebay will act soon...
when the Poster of the Year chatter heats up again, consider this dude, too.
http://www.unisquare.com/store/brick/
Ralph
The person I alerted was dumb enough to forward my email alert to (import-export-co.) demanding his money back. Of course (import-export-co) forwarded the email to ebay who then contacted me with threat of suspension.
Needless to say I no longer alert anyone with my suspicions unless I know them very well.
I have been accused of this . That is true i apologize if you think you have been had. Simply send it back and i'll refund, I am not the original owner of these and i should have stated that in my description,several people did indeed ask this question PRIOR to bidding and i was honest with them just as i am with you , So if you feel you need to leave negative feedback then it is what it is,and i cannot change that. But i will still refund your money because i am an honest seller who is learning with every listing that information is vital to all of your listings.
<< <i>follow-up from the seller after I sent him a message about the pack I bought being bogus...
I have been accused of this . That is true i apologize if you think you have been had. Simply send it back and i'll refund, I am not the original owner of these and i should have stated that in my description,several people did indeed ask this question PRIOR to bidding and i was honest with them just as i am with you , So if you feel you need to leave negative feedback then it is what it is,and i cannot change that. But i will still refund your money because i am an honest seller who is learning with every listing that information is vital to all of your listings. >>
That's better than you'd get from most.
"I'm not the original owner of these packs" LOL!! That's rich coming from a guy who actually put together said packs with wrappers and NM caards!
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.