Warning $46,000 Fake Auction On Ebay 1810 $5 PCGS MS-64

Tough call.

The seller had a regular record until early 2008, when he dropped off the radar. Then, in early 2012, he reappeared and started selling regularly. Too regularly to fit the pattern of a hijacked account - selling the same sports cards he did before - we both know that hijackers work quickly, for the quick sting.

This guy doesn't fit that pattern. I'm not denying the possibility, I'm just saying that if a hijacker is involved, it's a far more sophisticated hijack than we've previously seen.

With the evidence currently presented, a plausible case can be made that this person is a sports-card seller and (maybe) a coin collector who felt it appropriate to extend himself seriously in the direction of high-end coins, either for personal ownership or short-term profit. Neither of the auctions I considered above speak against the theory, with the exception of the duplicated images.

Not that I'm standing in favor of the auctions. I reported them, I suggested that they handle the thing from the Paypal end, and I know darn well from personal experience that they're not only good at what they do, but they listen to me. It'll get fair consideration under circumstances. Even with hours left in the auction, they have time to intervene.

I'm not worried.

He does have quite a bit of gold coins listed for sale

And every single one has the cert number removed from the picture and is claimed to be a 1 of a kind coin

Verm wondered that myself.

Only three reasons I could think of to cover up the cert number
1. The coin has a bogus cert number
2. Hes selling the coin in more than one listing
3. Hes using the best pictures he can find for that coin in that grade and covering up the cert to hide that the picture isn't of the coin hes actually selling

If you give benefit of doubt, maybe this seller had consigned the coins,
then for whatever reason, pulled them to sell himself. I know it's not
likely, but it is a possible explanation.

Personally, I think they are bogus auctions, but there is no conclusive proof.

That is what is at the top of the original ebay listing with David Lawrence as the seller. The coin never sold for $46,900.00. He does show the entire label with the certification number and the number is also stated in the description.

From what I see, David Lawrence probably learned by some means the coin and slab were fakes and returned the coin to the person he bought it from. That individual is now selling the coin himself or maybe it's someone else.

Ed
ANA LM-3175

Cert from DLRC: http://www.pcgs.com/Cert/25561387/ ... appeared at Heritage Feb 2, 2012 and sold for $29.9K.

Note the fabulous "no returns or exchanges" return policy. The fact that he is using plagiarized images from DLRC is pretty suspect too.. maybe he's planning a bait and switch or something like that. He does not say in the listing that you will receive the exact coin in the image, he just says you are bidding on a one of a kind coin.

Blocking the cert number could just be so that people cant look up the recommended value as easily. I mean its dumb because anyone could still find the price, so it doesn't really make sense, but I can still see someone doing it for that reason anyway.

I'm definitely still confused and perplexed as to what exactly is going on but obviously it would be suicide to bid on it. Yet people still do...

Would you really list a coin of this value at no reserve and 1 day listing .. .. now pulled