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Post by Steve on Apr 9, 2015 20:38:55 GMT -5
Many of us have been there. We make a purchase online while taking the word of the seller that the product they are selling is legit, and BOOM, it turns out to be a fake. We feel duped, taken advantage of, angry that our hard earned money was STOLEN.
The staff here on the UG is dedicated to flushing out crooks and exposing them for all members to see, but the best defender against people getting scammed is you. You should be vigilant at all times to not only protect yourself but to warn others of potential threats to the community. If you see something that doesn't seem right, tell a staff member right away. Basically, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING! We will do our best to investigate the allegation and determine if the person/person's are committing a dishonest act. If we determine that the alleged offender has done something wrong, we will immediately take the appropriate actions.
There is now a Scammer Alert System in place between the UG, other major forums, and most of the major GPK Groups on Facebook. Once a scammer is identified and confirmed in one group or forum, a warning will be sent to all other groups and forums notifying them of the offender. Each group will then notify their members and go into detail who the scammer is and what they have done. Also, when known scammers attempt to work their way back into the community, a warning will also be sent out with their scamming history.
We all know that when dealing with anyone online, it's not a 100% guarantee that you aren't being setup to have your money taken. Even the most charismatic and highly regarded person can turn out to be dishonest (or even just misinformed). Never fear, there are ways to protect yourself.
1) The first thing you need is knowledge. Know what you are buying. Don't make an impulse buy based on someone saying that the product they have is rare. You see this type of sales tactic all the time in eBay listings. Rare! Hard to find! Limited supply! Won't be selling these after so and so date! Act Now! These phrases should be your first warning sign that someone is really trying to stir up a sense of urgency to buy. Don't do it without knowing what you are getting into.
2) Ask questions. Lots of questions. And if you can't get definitive answers, that's a warning sign. Sellers play dumb so that they remove themselves from liability.
Question - is this product real?
Answer - I'm not sure if this is official or not, I don't have enough info.
Obvious red flag. You need to put in some extra time to figure it out. If it's domestic, you might need to call the production company. If it's foreign, you might need opinions from other foreign collectors.
3) Ask other collectors about the product you are interested in. A lot of members in the GPK community will be more than happy to answer your question or at least direct you to someone who can. Most people in the community are here to have fun and not profit. If you are not sure who to ask, contact an admin or staff member of the group/forum you frequent.
4) Compare the product to other products on eBay or even members collection threads. Sometimes you can see small differences between the items that may raise a red flag. You can even reference some of the GPK websites like Wayne's GPK References, Barron Aarons, GeePeeKay.com, etc. These sites usually have accurate information on official releases, bootlegs, etc.
5) Take EXTRA care with foreign items. The majority of the bootlegs trying to be passed off as real come from this segment. Some foreign items start out as bootlegs from the get go, such as Columbian packs and albums, and tend to be at a higher risk of being faked. Basically they are a bootleg of a bootleg.
Just remember everyone, GPK collecting is a hobby that most of us love to be involved with because it's fun. It's fun to interact with other people with the same passion. It's fun to trade, collect, and just talk GPK. We don't have to let the few crooks that exist in the hobby, for the sole purpose of ripping off hungry collectors, ruin our fun.
Again, nothing is 100% safe but there are actions you can take to reduce your risk of being a victim.
Happy collecting!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2015 18:12:07 GMT -5
I got ripped off years ago on ebay before they protected buyers they way they do now. I bought a Mark McGwire USA team card for $80 in mnt condition and when I got it I could tell immediately that it was a reprint. I was pissed because I specifically asked if it was real. The pics were blurry so it was hard to tell but when I saw it in person the print was horribe quality. The guy never answered my emails so I basically wrote it off as a lose. Not sure why people are so desperate for money that the would sell fake stuff just to make a few bucks.
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Post by Trippy on Apr 11, 2015 8:11:13 GMT -5
Great warning system in place. Just what we needed. peace
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Post by Steve on Jun 30, 2015 10:01:53 GMT -5
Just wanted to bump this thread for all of the new members who are going to start doing some buying/selling/trading.
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cmkay
Cabbage Patch Kid
Posts: 80 
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Post by cmkay on Jan 30, 2018 4:55:05 GMT -5
****WARNING*** 0bisp0 is a known crook .He probably has many fake account names .He was under the names Shawn Graham and Tim Gregson in Facebook and I'm sure many other fake names as he has been trying to rip off people everywhere.His PayPal account was cameronjbishop23@yahoo.com. If anyone else has anything further to add please share.
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Post by LuCypher on Jan 30, 2018 9:11:35 GMT -5
****WARNING*** 0bisp0 is a known crook .He probably has many fake account names .He was under the names Shawn Graham and Tim Gregson in Facebook and I'm sure many other fake names as he has been trying to rip off people everywhere.His PayPal account was cameronjbishop23@yahoo.com. If anyone else has anything further to add please share. Already banned this POS and his alias on the Foreign FB group. More to come i’m sure. Turns out after one person spoke up about 50 more had similar issues on the MP. People need to speak up! |
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cmkay
Cabbage Patch Kid
Posts: 80
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Post by cmkay on Jan 30, 2018 13:20:08 GMT -5
Yes agree. I spoke to Steve a month or so about the shady dealing here in the UG. I didn't realize it was the same guy conning people in the MP until I heard he was after German CL which then I made the connection .Looks like there was a lot of cards worth ballpark $750 he almost got hands on.Edwin van der Swaard spoke up and trader intercepted package.
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Post by creamedkeith on Jan 31, 2018 9:30:47 GMT -5
I think I've dealt with him before and didn't have any problems, under the eBay name og_mach1. But, I sold to him, not the other way around...
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Post by GPKDNA79 on Feb 2, 2018 7:23:53 GMT -5
Shawn T Gregson and portrays as father John T Gregson
The PayPal was listed to John also a second address in Salidas , which is John also , I have his telephone number and more ,
He was sending people pictures at home of packages made out to them with tracking but the pictures were to blurry to make out the actual tracking number.
Also Peter Bastin is another to stay away from. I purchased a chrome rainbow from him which obtained a chrome auto I needed for my set. And it looks like I was possible scammed for $325. He has ripped off a couple others and slipped through the cracks.
I don’t think he is in he UG but precaution.
These guys are pathetic and just disgrace to our hobby
Hope no one here or anyone else has been ripped off
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Post by Steve on Feb 2, 2018 8:59:17 GMT -5
Shawn T Gregson and portrays as father John T Gregson The PayPal was listed to John also a second address in Salidas , which is John also , I have his telephone number and more , He was sending people pictures at home of packages made out to them with tracking but the pictures were to blurry to make out the actual tracking number. Also Peter Bastin is another to stay away from. I purchased a chrome rainbow from him which obtained a chrome auto I needed for my set. And it looks like I was possible scammed for $325. He has ripped off a couple others and slipped through the cracks. I don’t think he is in he UG but precaution. These guys are pathetic and just disgrace to our hobby Hope no one here or anyone else has been ripped off Thanks for the info buddy, please send all the info you have including addresses, phone numbers, etc., to Cory, Jimbo, Russ or me and we will update the blacklist. |
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Post by antiqueman98 on Mar 3, 2018 5:26:16 GMT -5
I’m new and a few of you have been very kind already and I appreciate it. I’ve been collecting GPK for a couple years (again as an adult and not 6-8 years old lol) and believe that I’ve found my life long passion.
Just want to share why I don’t collect certain collectibles anymore. Coins used to be a passion of mine until I bought a fake 1799 dollar from a supposedly reputable coin dealer. It looked so real that another dealer couldn’t tell and had to send it to a grading company. My heart sank and of course the dealer was very far away as I had moved and wouldn’t take my calls. YES I made a few VERY obvious mistakes I know but it ruined that hobby for me not to mention a $1000 loss. Even certified items scare me when talking a lot of money.
I’m extremely interested in knowing if there is possibly OS1 & OS2 fakes in PSA holders out there. If not trust me there will be one day China is faking so many things. But can someone tell me if here is any I should watch out for?
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Post by seymourbarf on Mar 3, 2018 8:53:50 GMT -5
I’m new and a few of you have been very kind already and I appreciate it. I’ve been collecting GPK for a couple years (again as an adult and not 6-8 years old lol) and believe that I’ve found my life long passion. Just want to share why I don’t collect certain collectibles anymore. Coins used to be a passion of mine until I bought a fake 1799 dollar from a supposedly reputable coin dealer. It looked so real that another dealer couldn’t tell and had to send it to a grading company. My heart sank and of course the dealer was very far away as I had moved and wouldn’t take my calls. YES I made a few VERY obvious mistakes I know but it ruined that hobby for me not to mention a $1000 loss. Even certified items scare me when talking a lot of money. I’m extremely interested in knowing if there is possibly OS1 & OS2 fakes in PSA holders out there. If not trust me there will be one day China is faking so many things. But can someone tell me if here is any I should watch out for? Potentially there are PSA fakes in existence. Others on the board who have been in the PSA-collecting game longer than I have might be able to offer anecdotal evidence of this. But PSA's website even warns against it, and gives some tips on how to identify fakes and protect yourself: 1. The plastic case shows signs of tampering Frosting along the edges where the clear plastic starts to exhibit a cloudy appearance. In some cases, you can actually see minor fractures or cracks in the plastic as a result of the violation. This occurs when the sonic weld is broken and can be seen in various degrees. The feel of the plastic itself. The strength of the weld creates a very firm, virtually inflexible bond between the pieces of the holder. On the other hand, once the sonic weld is broken (as a result of tampering) the plastic becomes more flexible again. 2. The label found at the top of the holder If you hold an authentic PSA-certified item up to a light at close range, looking from the back of the label to the front or the front of the label to the back, you should be able to see through the label enough to decipher the text on the other side. You may not be able to read it word for word, but the label on the opposite side will be visible. Since the embedded hologram technology on the current PSA label acts as a deterrent, some forgers will attempt to replicate an older style PSA label without the hologram. 3. Know your seller It is not uncommon for collectibles to be valued at five, six or even seven-figure levels in some cases. If you were buying a watch for $5,000, would you purchase it from a company or someone you didn't recognize or know? If not, the first prudent step would be asking for good references. The same approach should be used in the collectibles market. It is imperative that you find a reputable dealer or auction house to buy from. Remember, it is your money. www.psacard.com/services/psasecurityabuyersguideI certainly wouldn't buy a PSA-graded card if something is wrong with the plastic case. If the hologram is missing from the label, this is more of a yellow warning than a red flag, since the older PSA-graded cards are authentic even though they don't have a hologram. And the "know your seller" bit isn't always fool-proof as you know from past experience. These are all guidelines to be taken together as a whole. There is always the risk that what you have is a fake, I suppose. |
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Post by antiqueman98 on Mar 3, 2018 9:02:51 GMT -5
I’m new and a few of you have been very kind already and I appreciate it. I’ve been collecting GPK for a couple years (again as an adult and not 6-8 years old lol) and believe that I’ve found my life long passion. Just want to share why I don’t collect certain collectibles anymore. Coins used to be a passion of mine until I bought a fake 1799 dollar from a supposedly reputable coin dealer. It looked so real that another dealer couldn’t tell and had to send it to a grading company. My heart sank and of course the dealer was very far away as I had moved and wouldn’t take my calls. YES I made a few VERY obvious mistakes I know but it ruined that hobby for me not to mention a $1000 loss. Even certified items scare me when talking a lot of money. I’m extremely interested in knowing if there is possibly OS1 & OS2 fakes in PSA holders out there. If not trust me there will be one day China is faking so many things. But can someone tell me if here is any I should watch out for? Potentially there are PSA fakes in existence. Others on the board who have been in the PSA-collecting game longer than I have might be able to offer anecdotal evidence of this. But PSA's website even warns against it, and gives some tips on how to identify fakes and protect yourself: 1. The plastic case shows signs of tampering Frosting along the edges where the clear plastic starts to exhibit a cloudy appearance. In some cases, you can actually see minor fractures or cracks in the plastic as a result of the violation. This occurs when the sonic weld is broken and can be seen in various degrees. The feel of the plastic itself. The strength of the weld creates a very firm, virtually inflexible bond between the pieces of the holder. On the other hand, once the sonic weld is broken (as a result of tampering) the plastic becomes more flexible again. 2. The label found at the top of the holder If you hold an authentic PSA-certified item up to a light at close range, looking from the back of the label to the front or the front of the label to the back, you should be able to see through the label enough to decipher the text on the other side. You may not be able to read it word for word, but the label on the opposite side will be visible. Since the embedded hologram technology on the current PSA label acts as a deterrent, some forgers will attempt to replicate an older style PSA label without the hologram. 3. Know your seller It is not uncommon for collectibles to be valued at five, six or even seven-figure levels in some cases. If you were buying a watch for $5,000, would you purchase it from a company or someone you didn't recognize or know? If not, the first prudent step would be asking for good references. The same approach should be used in the collectibles market. It is imperative that you find a reputable dealer or auction house to buy from. Remember, it is your money. www.psacard.com/services/psasecurityabuyersguideI certainly wouldn't buy a PSA-graded card if something is wrong with the plastic case. If the hologram is missing from the label, this is more of a yellow warning than a red flag, since the older PSA-graded cards are authentic even though they don't have a hologram. And the "know your seller" bit isn't always fool-proof as you know from past experience. These are all guidelines to be taken together as a whole. There is always the risk that what you have is a fake, I suppose. Damn that’s so true. Now I’m so careful I drive myself insane but better to be safe than sorry! Of course we have an affection for our treasures but there’s always an investment aspect when spending a lot and that goes out he window when we get screwed... plus it makes you want to 🔫🗡🔨🔪someone! Kidding sort of |
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Post by Jimbo on Mar 25, 2020 9:18:29 GMT -5
****WARNING*** 0bisp0 is a known crook .He probably has many fake account names .He was under the names Shawn Graham and Tim Gregson in Facebook and I'm sure many other fake names as he has been trying to rip off people everywhere.His PayPal account was cameronjbishop23@yahoo.com. If anyone else has anything further to add please share. OK guys. I am happy to announce that (after several years) this has come to a positive conclusion. 0bisp0 has corrected the problem with cmkay and all is good. It seems to have been an honest mistake. cmkay cannot remember how Shawn Graham and Tim Gregson got associated with 0bisp0 but after my research it seems that they are not connected at all. 0bisp0 has been unbanned on GPKUG. Shawn Graham and Tim Gregson are aliases of actual theifs who were banned from many of the FB groups but I don't think they are here and I don't think that 0bisp0 is in any way associated with them. Thanks. Jimbo |
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Really cool box. I wish they had the Nasty Nick box too though 