NOTICE: Fake Argor SA 10 gram bars

Discussion in 'Gold' started by goldpelican, Apr 30, 2013.

  1. goldpelican

    goldpelican Administrator Staff Member

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    I've had reports from two members that they have been sold fake 10 gram Argor SA bars via transactions on Silver Stackers. I'm advised that one of these transactions has been reversed to the satisfaction of the buyer, and efforts are underway to reverse the second transaction.

    These bars appear to have originated in Melbourne - however they are identical to fakes being sold on Aliexpress by a counterfeiter who is also producing fake Umicore and Heraeus 10 gram gold bars. These bars come loose, and are not in a certicard etc. Side by side comparison of the bars with genuine bars of the copied brand show obvious font and overall size differences - however in hand by themselves they are difficult to discern as fakes. Gold plated copper is what I've been advised they are analysing as.

    If anyone who has not been in touch with me already has recently purchased Argor SA bars on the forum, please send me a PM.

    I will move this to the public forums in a couple of days once the second transaction is resolved. At this stage it appears that they were initially sold to the member on here as genuine bars, and subsequently resold on the forum.
     
  2. Lunardragon

    Lunardragon Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    GP
    will you post the pic of the fake bar next to the genuine one?
     
  3. rbaggio

    rbaggio Active Member Silver Stacker

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    That sucks all around, especially if the seller here on SS genuinely believed they were authentic.
     
  4. hiho

    hiho Active Member Silver Stacker

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    You have to say thanks to the silver stackers and particularly GP for their efforts in informing us all of the scams over the years
     
  5. Nugget

    Nugget Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    I personally would prefer to think that the Silver Stacker genuinely believed that they were authentic. The alternative is to dreadful to consider :(
     
  6. dollars

    dollars Active Member Silver Stacker

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    Great that GP is alert and responsible enough to prevent this causing damage to members of the forum.

    Has this complaint/problem also been referred to the appropriate authorities to properly determine the circumstances surrounding the supply chain of the goods in question?
     
  7. dragafem

    dragafem Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    not yet...
     
  8. goldpelican

    goldpelican Administrator Staff Member

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    Not yet - as I am still trying to ascertain some facts. I'm not a party to the transactions - but I'm hoping that it's an issue the seller will pursue once they turn up again.
     
  9. goldpelican

    goldpelican Administrator Staff Member

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    Moved to public forum as per first post, due to lack of response from the seller.
     
  10. grinners

    grinners Active Member Silver Stacker

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    GP, I see you mentioned Hareaus bars, is it the kinebar's that have been faked before or the non-hologramy ones?
     
  11. goldpelican

    goldpelican Administrator Staff Member

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    Non holograms.
     
  12. Eureka Moments

    Eureka Moments Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

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    When did the sales occur?

    Just now or did it take a while for the buyers to find out they had crap?
     
  13. goldpelican

    goldpelican Administrator Staff Member

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  14. Numismatist

    Numismatist New Member

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    GP, can i ask if the ultrasonic TM8812 was able to detect the fakery on these bars?


    i am considering shelling out for one, hence the question.
     
  15. goldpelican

    goldpelican Administrator Staff Member

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    Haven't got one of the bars on hand, but they are too small for testing with ultrasonic. XRF apparently worked a treat though.
     
  16. Matthew 26:14

    Matthew 26:14 New Member

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    Credit Suisse, PAMP, Umicore, Heraeus, you can buy them all as fakes now. Chinese counterfitters are openly selling these brands as "art bars" but are identical to the real thing.
     
  17. Numismatist

    Numismatist New Member

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    you are not wrong there

    http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/gold-plated-tungsten-alloy-bar.html

    http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/tungsten-alloy-gold-bullion.html

    Oh look they do coins too......

    http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/tungsten-alloy-scan-gold-coin.html


    All this open forgery just makes me want to have a stiff drink..............

    [​IMG]
    http://www.offbeatearth.com/chinese-knock-offs/
     
  18. Numismatist

    Numismatist New Member

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    Is it just me or does anyone else here find their blurb about why we should be buying fake coins both hilarious and scary.

     
  19. dccpa

    dccpa Active Member

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    The Chinese should be glad that someone like me isn't in charge of US trade rules. Since this kind of thing would not be happening without the tacit approval of the Chinese government, I would give them a short period of time to make a serious dent in the forgeries. Then I would start banning a lot of products and the longer it went on, the more products that would be banned. Production of a lot of products would move elsewhere. If they wanted to, the Chinese government could clean up this problem quickly.
     
  20. Butch

    Butch Active Member Silver Stacker

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    Yes they put small lumps of lead in your left ear and you instantly lose interest in counterfeiting. :(
     

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