I was a bit suspicious of these bars when I was sorting the other day. They failed the diamagnetic test so I acid tested one of them & sure enough they're fakes. Goes to show the cheapest bars even when purchased from reputable sellers can often be plated copies. [imgz=http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/658_imag0848.jpg][/imgz]
On special from a local Perth internet dealer about eighteen months ago. I seriously doubt they even knew they were fake bars as they looked so perfect. If you've got any suss bars just gravity slide a neodymium over the surface on an angle & if pure silver it should markedly effect the speed at which it falls. (Slower that is)
^ that easy test should have been done by that reputable seller you bought it from. They are not reputable and you deserve a refund.
It was the bargain part of a bigger order & only four bars. I'm not going to worry about it, not worth the hassle for my word against there's.
Dealer? Most dealers would have a verified device of some kind or XRF analyser .... nowadays Best is to check every purchase..... no matter what it is....
Absolutely agree, but one can imagine how easy it is to adulterate the process from manufacture, wholesale to reseller. I also have a couple of fake Apmex bars in the mix but can't remember where I got those. I blame the Chinese counterfeiters for all this, the absolute proliferation of fakes of all types especially in the Silver market. Such a shame for the industry. I also heard recently that there minting indistinguishable Aus $2 coins over there and selling them for about 70 c.
I recently bought a fake 1oz pamp bar on eBay Before I joined ss forum. I basically destroyed it because I tried to melt it lol. The thing is the seller seems to have sold a fair few of these. And I doubt many if any buyers actually cut open a security card to melt lol.
^^^ We should have a list here.... LIST these people down... Sell FAKES is a big no no... Before it get into our Food Chain "Seller/Buyer that initial ordering those fakes.... " and sell them as Genuine stuffs ... Get them all listed.....
Unfortunately I threw away the packaging, the plastic packaging was professional. Though i knew something was wrong straight away when I touched it after opening it because it had rough edges. I wish I took some photos before, these are the after shots. ps sorry I should change the pixs to thumbnails. but I cant figure out how to change?
Photos are good!!! I hate Thumb photos , then I have to click every photos.... What have you done to the fake bar... ??
Regardless of its good packaging, I would have thought that a rusted out looking silver bar might not be a good choice to buy, even if it were real. That is one ugly a$$ bar. Jim
I dont buy 1oz minted bars anymore .there are so many fakes that in years to come they will be impossible to sell unless ftf with a dealer,then if every bar has to be tested the buyback price will be even less because of the extra work testing it all. Fake silver/gold just like counterfeit money is more likely to be passed on to others once discovered as the only alternative is full loss. Most of the CN fakes even the coins seem to be mirror finish so restricts the faking type and a bit easier for most to spot but I am sure the Chinese will perfect all fake silver and gold bullion products and packaging in time. Cant help wonder why the manufacturers and wholesalers are allowed to forge and export these fakes in huge numbers with only the on sellers ever being deemed the criminals? Allow the market to be flooded with small counterfeit silver/gold bullion and then all silver/gold bullion becomes useless in a need to trade situation amongst common people. They will be forced to both buy and sell from reportable licenced bullion dealers and government mints. Preppers around the world who have been stacking 1oz bars for a possible SHTF trade scenario will never be able to small trade them for anything with a population who know so many silver bars are fake and worthless! Wealth storage buyers may find themselves being documented and recorded on their sales showing their true wealth which I am sure will work hand in hand with new proposed legitimate or forfeit laws?
Conspiracy theory: this is how our fiat masters prevent us from slipping away - destroy confidence in the alternatives!
I understand the "not worth the hassle", but have you at least advised the dealer so that they knew they had been took? They may be grateful to know that they need to be more watchful or perhaps some less experienced/more trusting staff member let them slip through based on who they purchased them from. If they bought from someone they trusted, they may have skipped testing? I think the dealer deserves a heads up, if nothing else - other duped buyers might be nastier!