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Wasted $200 on a fake Egyptian scarab on eBay last month
Honestly I got tricked by some seller claiming it was from a dig near Luxor. They had photos of it next to a ruler and everything. Turned out it was a resin cast with sand glued on to look old. I filed a dispute but eBay sided with them because I didn't get it authenticated within 3 days. Has anyone else gotten burned buying artifacts online? What do you look for to spot fakes?
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danielmason2mo ago
Got burned the same way a couple years back on a supposed Roman coin. The seller had good feedback too. What worked for me was only buying from people who post clear pictures of the item next to something that shows texture up close, like a rough cloth or a fingernail. The fakes always look too smooth or the aging looks painted on. Also started checking if the seller has a return policy longer than a week or sells other stuff that looks like it could be real. If they won't do a proper return or seem to only sell single items, big red flag. Another thing is asking for a video of the item under a bright light. Most scammers won't bother with that. After that mess I only buy from people who are part of artifact collector forums or have been reviewed on those sites.
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benc532mo ago
3 day authentication window is a scam bait tactic.
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Longer windows just give people more time to sit on the item and nitpick every tiny thing. I've sold stuff where the buyer waited until day 2 to claim the patina was wrong, but they'd already posted it in a collector group asking for opinions and got spooked by one guy who wasn't even an expert. Three days is plenty for a real authenticator to check the metal composition or look up the dealer's history. If someone needs a whole week to figure out if a coin is fake, they probably don't know what they're buying in the first place.
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