Not only from their early years but maybe from last week. It's all part of "the game." Trying to get the most money you can when you are selling and trying to pay the least you can when buying. This often mean misrepresenting on both sides.
These forum trive on stories of look at the deal I got ..translated as - He didn't know what he was selling so I took him for lot of dough.
With every winner there is a loser ..that comes with the territory ..the only way to survive in this hobby is to arm yourself with knowledge ...learn how to grade and learn what each grade is worth ..then you atleast can hope to level the playing field. To go in deaf, dumb and blind ...just adds fodder to the folklore.
Paying to much and at times getting swindled happens everyday to collectors of all levels.