Fake Auction House, Selling Fake Coins, From A Fake Location :(

As of why this is happening, sometimes I think there needs to be an organization to slam the brakes these kind of people. You have law enforcement with drugs, handbag companies that chase after replicas, food safety authorities that checks if the food aren't adulterated etc. There's always education but once you start putting sellers' name on it - there's the case of absurd lawsuits.

At this point of time, I can only see it getting worse as there is really no real enforceable body to stop it. If there is ever one such organization, I will be certain Numismat will play an active role.

The activity we're seeing here is specifically prohibited under the Hobby Protection Act, 16 CFR 304. HPA is part of the Federal Trade Act, and the FTC has the power to sanction and shut down any venue in violation of it.

Unfortunately, like the rest of Federal Government, the FTC has been decimated. There are now only two Commissioners, no appointments are being made, and they've been rendered essentially helpless as a result.

It's on us, the hobby as a whole, to fight for ourselves.

My call to Auctionzip has apparently gone ignored, so I will continue my complaint with the BBB.
AuctionZip
38 Everett Street Suite 101
Allston, MA 02134

Clearly the auction host does not have a genuine concern beyond acting like they do to appease complaints until the auction is done and disappears from their site.
Sad. Very sad.

Its not all that easy, although it should be.

Around 2003 there were some exciting new colors of a specific type of glass insulator that had been "found" and introduced into that hobby. The fakes were legit enough looking that quite a few people were collectively taken for $100,000.

The National Insulator Association worked with law enforcement towards legally solving the problem. Molds and faked specimens were obtained and a forensic lab analysis/report declared there was no doubt the mold and the insulators were made recently. Pictures included in the following link.

Making a long story short, the authorities who did nothing in the end except top say they could issue a cease and desist order.

http://nia.org/drippoints/archive/DP_fall_2003.pdf

Criminals need not fear the law like they used to.

This is no longer a case of "as long as I don't buy from China - I'm safe".

These crooks learn very fast and it's not very hard for them to set up a proxy location and have a PO box in the US or anywhere else in the world. If anything, this thread should be a wake up call.

Auctionzip describes themselves as being "only a venue" and that they have no responsibility over the auctions listed or their contents. They are not responsible for what is listed or how they are described. ebay operated that way in their early years as well. In other words Caveat Emptor, "Let the buyer beware"



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2.1 Invaluable only a venue. Notwithstanding section 1.7 above, we are not an auction house and are not conducting the live and timed auctions. Our service allows you to participate in live and timed auctions conducted by the AHs. We are solely a passive conduit to facilitate communication between you and the AH. We reserve the right in our sole discretion to change some or all of our services at any time.

2.1.01 Control. We have no control over the quality, safety or legality of the items advertised, the truth or accuracy of the listings, the ability of AHs to sell or the ability of buyers to buy items. We do not ensure that a buyer or seller will actually complete a transaction.