Update Sellers To Be Concerned About

We have written about this type of scam before, but as fast as prices change in the hobby so does the memory of would be collectors trying to catch the brass ring. This weekend seller jankensells has decided to list a very rare Topps 1952 Mickey Mantle #311 graded PSA Gem Mint 10
Update Items Removed Seller NARUed

In his Q&A about the item he claims that the PSA Certification number is 02006104.

For those unfamiliar with Vintage cards there are two PSA Gem Mint 10's of this card . What the seller has not told us is that the PSA certifcation number on the card he claims to have purchased from a card dealing buddy belongs to the card owned by Marshall Fogel

Is this a coincedence? Or is this guy a close friend of Mr. Fogel? I would think that if this card was really being sold by Mr. Fogel it would make it's way to Soethby's, Mastronet, or one of the other fine and reputable auction houses in this world. Of note the seller claims " I am Not a Card Collector so I don't know much about Cards and this Card in General!" but a quick search of his other items shows that he is also selling these.
1952 Topps 311 Mickey Mantle Misprint
1952 Topps 311 Mickey Mantle Graded TCG
1962 Topps 537 Pete Rose PSA NM 8

The rest of our list includes:

Seller: blueleaf62 Earlier this week sold an 86 Jordan Item# 5249483471 for $599.00. Now comes back with this one and adds the usaual disclaimer "1986 FLEER MICHAEL JORDAN ROOKIE RC MINT POSSIBLE BGS 8.5 PSA 9 NO WORRIES ABOUT GETTING THE REAL DEAL HERE, CHECK THE SCANS AND KNOW YOU ARE GETTING WHAT YOU PAY FOR. ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO SELL AS A REPRINT TO ABIDE BY e-BAY's RULES THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT IT IS. JUDGE FOR YOURSELF !!!"
Update Item Removed
1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Item# 5108330116

Seller: bbanks45 From their From their item description "I bought this card (as well as many others) as part of an estate buyout and am selling it as is. I can tell you that it does not say reprint anywhere on the item
Update Item Removed
1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Item# 5275773414

Seller: stretch19820 Says " THIS IS A RARE 1986 FLEER MICHAEL JORDAN ROOKIE CARD # 57. THIS CARD HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GRADED CASE SINCE I GOT IT FROM MY DAD." Graded by who?
Update Item Removed
1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Item# 5264738152

Seller: mushin42 Says to us " You are bidding on a 1952 topps mantle card.it is not it the best of condition about a good to very good.it has off centering and rounded corners.Also a one inch crease .Still an attractive card.will be sold as is.this card will be sold as a reprint even though it does not mention this anywhere.this card was purchased with a lot of of life magazines from an eastern ontario collection.it was and still is in a srew holder." I think what he means is that the holder of this card will get screwed.
Update Item Removed
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Item# 5117904778

Seller: garies1 This seller buys and sells all kinds of cards but doesn't know if his Goudey's are real or not. He says" FOR SALE 1933 BABE RUTH GOUDEY GUM # 53. I THINK ITS A REPRINT. IF IT WAS REAL IT WOULD BE WORTH 6,000.00 DOLLARS. " Yeah okay I think? What does that mean?
Update Items Removed
Babe Ruth 1933 Goudey Item# 5124242283
Babe Ruth 1933 Goudey Item# 5124219944
Babe Ruth 1933 Sports Kings Item# 5124436893

Seller: timetoliquidate This is a seller who knows better, he buys and sells some very good merchandise. He item description reads " I am selling this card for a friend. I always guarantee my cards, but cannot guarantee this one because I don't know it's orgin and that's the only reason. I do know that this card is very old, very thick, and does not say reprint anywhere whatsoever. "

Update Item Removed
1933 Babe Ruth Goudey Item# 5118048187

A special thanks goes out this week to texillini for the report on the fake Fogel PSA Mantle. We will update as we find questionable cardboard. Until then remember our "Motto"

Before You Bid Arm Yourself With Knowledge!!

Update Sellers To Be Concerned About

Protection from scammers on the internet is a concern shared by many collectors who purchase high dollar vintage cards. Even when purchasing a card which is graded by a reputable grading service a buyer is never sure until they have the item in their hands. Many types of scams can ouccur with graded cards, the most popular tpyes are the pirated scan scam and the empty box scam.

The first scam is simple and is generally tried by sellers with little or no feedback rating. In this scam the seller simply steals the scan of a completed auction an uses it as their own to represent that they are selling that particular card. The second is a little more involved but also simple. Here the seller will send out an empty package with delivery confirmation to the buyer. Since most buyers will use Paypal to make purchases in order to protect themselves, when they receive the empty package they file a complaint. What the purchaser doesn't realize is that when you file a complaint with Paypal for not receiving the item, in most cases Paypal will accept the delivery confirmation from the seller as proof of the buyer receiving the item and it's case closed.

The way to protect yourself against this type of fraud is simple, use the services of an escrow agent. There are many out there and although this will add about 3-4% to your final cost I think that spending the extra money to protect yourself against a scam is well worth it. Make sure that before you place a bid you contact the seller and make them aware that you intend to complete your transaction in this manner if you win the item, so that there are no misunderstandings. If they tell you they will not accept those terms our advice is not to bid, there will always be another card. Escrow.com is one of the companies Ebay recomends for use in transactions over $500.00.

Now for this weeks "Sellers To Be Concerned About"
Seller: poker_crazy This seller has been purchasing reprint 86' Fleer Jordan's for the past several months specifically items# 5214017001, and 5216566741 . I guess it is time for him to dump them on unsuspecting buyers since he now brings us:
86 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Item #5243909223
Please notice the the similarity to item number 5214017001 which was purchased on 7/4/05 from dollar_enterprises both cards are off center to the right. Is this a coincedence?
Special thanks to member timzcardz for this report

Seller: executive17 The private feedback should be enough to make you hit the back button on your brower. The seller has purchased cards in the past from bad sellers such as dearchicago. In his description he tells us this "1952 TOPPS MICKEY MANTLE IT HAS NOT BEEN AUTHENTICATED BY A THIRD PARTY SO I MUST LIST THIS AS A REPRINT NO WHERE ON THE CARD DOES IT SAY REPRINT THIS IS VERY NICE I HAVE HAD THIS FOR MANY YEARS"
ITEMS REMOVED
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 Item# 5243791053
1951 Mickey Mantle 253 Bowman Item # 5243749951
T206 Honus Wagner Item # 5243745221
1953 Mickey Mantle 83 Topps Item # 5243792596
1963 Pete Rose #537 Topps Item# 5244163191

Seller: lube992003 Has a history of bidding on bad Mantle's if they have purchased one or several in the past it wouldn't surpirse us. He tells us this " This card is not graded, but does not look like a reprint. It is in decent condition considering the age of the card. You can see the condition of the front and back of the card in the pictures below. Sorry, the scan isn't very good. As per ebay policy, since it is not graded it is being sold as a reprint, but like I said, it doesn't look like one. "
Update Item Removed
1952 Topps Mantle Item # 5243457515
Relisted Card/Card Removed Seller NARU ed
1952-MICKEY-MANTLE-311-TOPPS Item#5259727602

Seller: mps45 This person has sold 2 Mantle's in the last month as well as other questionable vintage cards and continues to list more. Item description reads " I know that this card has been in the hands of a friend since the 1970's but, unfortuneatly, do not know the full history of this card, so I am listing it at a low price with no reserve. This card causes nothing but grief when it is listed, so I am listing it on a very short term basis."
Update Item Removed
1952 Topps NY Yankees Mickey Mantle Item# 5244937797

Seller: kelley3 The typical item descripition " I don't know much about baseball cards, but I think this is a reprint. There is a picture of the front and the back. You be the judge. I bought a box of cards at an estate sale."
ITEMS REMOVED
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Item # 5243136101
8 Tobacco Cards from 1900-1930? Item# 5242691373
6 Tobacco Cards from 1900-1930? Item #5242695257

Seller: nandone A powerseller dedicated to shafting people. Has sold 10 of these bad Mantle's in the last 30 days that we know of. Has this to say in his description " .THIS CARD LOOKS TOO GOOD, IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY WHERE IN THE CARD THE WORLD *REPRINT* OR *REPLICA* OR *FAKE* BUT I THINK IT IS A REPRINT OF SOME KIND, NONETHELESS IS STILL A NICE LOOKING CARD"
Update Item Removed
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Item# 5243480839

Well that's it for this week till next time ask questions and remember our motto:

Before You Bid Arm Yourself With Knowledge!!

Update Seller To Be Concerned About

A few additional postings that have been bought to our attention. We will add to these as we get them.

Seller: jvc1886 Update Item Removed Our seller claims to sell at the National and Sportsfest yet has this to say about one of the most sought after yet counterfeited cards around. " Now here's the bottom line: I cannot guarantee the authenticity of this card due to the fact that I purchased it as is and am selling it as is. I am almost certain that it is authentic but can make no guarantees. "
86-86 Fleer Michael Jordan RC Item#5239781761

Seller: lillybear001 Update Item RemovedThe usual disclaimer "As the card is not encapsulated or graded I can not guarantee the authenticity of the card" Won't get it graded because she says" I don't personally have time trust or patience". Will not accept paypal on bid-pay money orders.
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle RC 311 Item# 5239836616

Seller: shizzle17 Relisted Correct Card Item Then Removed Using the recent catastrophe caused by Hurricane Katrina to try and move his junk and says to us " I am not a professional card grader, this card does not say reprint as some of the more recent cards do. Does this make it authentic no. All I can tell you for sure is that the card looks old." You know what and so is this scam ! The card shown is not even the correct card, he is showing us a 1953 Topps #82. Before you try to rip people off at least get your cards right!
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 Item# 5239555940

Seller: oldschool4498 FB rating 1 but guarantees the card to be authentic or your money back. Gives you 3 days to have it overnighted to your favorite grading service for authentication. 3 days too many for you to hide after the sale is more like it.
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle 311 Item# 5239507932

Seller: lsdtpt Update Item RemovedNot the first itme this seller has made this list. What gets me is they know better. This person is a buyer and seller of graded cards. Yet chooses not to have this card graded and says "This card is being offered as is with no returns" In all their other auctions they do not use the private ID feature. Now who is trying to fool who?
1933 Goudey Babe Ruth Item# 5239199122

Always remember our motto

Before You Bid Arm Yourself With Knowledge!

Update Sellers To Be Concerned About

The "One Day Auction" is the way many fraudulent sellers evade detecton from watch groups and eBay Trust and Safety. This hit and run technique is becoming more popular among the sellers of bad card board. The first question you need to ask yourself is, why are these sellers choosing not to have the maximum amount of exposure for their rare vintage offerings? The reason is very simple. They are trying to make as much as they can as quickly as they can and avoid being reported. Here is a a great example of just such a person.

The seller diamondkings over the past 5 days has listed 30 vintage cards for sale all under one day auctions. He has managed to sell well over $2000 in merchandise that is at best questionable. Most notable are:
1909 T206 Honus Wagner item# 5237973473 fp $650.00
1915 Cracker Jack #15 Ty Cobb item#5237976054 fp $147.51
1933 Babe Ruth #149 Goudey item# 5237977791 fp $152.50

Every auction was private and has no refund policy, and a disclaimer stating that since the card has not been graded it is being sold as a reprint. Why would anyone bid on any of these items?

Here is another one which ended recently. Why would anyone sell a card that is worth well over $3000 for $81 common sense has to tell you something is fishy here but people still bid on this.
Seller: mps45 offered this item this last weekend.
Mickey Mantle Topps item# 5238375486 Here the seller states "All I can tell you about this Topps 1952 # 311 Mantle card is that it is old, the paper stock has been dated pre 1960, I was told by the person I received it from. I am only listing this for 1 day, because I do not want to put up with all the grief that goes with this listing. I can not tell you the card is authentic" Note that he does not mention in the Title that it is a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, this is done to not draw the attention of people who will report these types of cards. Yet they turn around and list this for 7 days.
1952 Bowman #218 WILLIE MAYS item# 5238108591
Now why does he mention the manufacturer and the year in the Mays and not the Mantle? Again reasons to be leary. Anyone who will let a card that potentially can be worth $2500 to well in the 5 figure range, if graded has got to have a reason, and as far as I know card sellers are not charitable organizations. Questions, questions, questions, that is the key to making sure you are protecting yourself as much as possible from fraud.
1. Question yourself , look over the listing and ask yourself why is this listed this way
2. Question the seller see what they have to say
3. Question other collectors, as mentioned in earlier posts there are plenty of places on the net where you can ask opinions.

Okay this weeks list of questonable cardboard includes:

Seller: michael55779 Update Seller Removed Item Our seller says "THIS CARD HAS BEEN IN A HARD PLASTIC DISPLAY PLACQUE FOR A LONG TIME AND SEEMS TO BE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION FOR A CARD THIS OLD. I HAVE INHERITED A COLLECTION FROM MY DAD AND HAVE ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT MANTLE CARDS TO SELL FROM IT. THIS CARD IS NOT GRADED BUT IF IT GETS GRADED WOULD BE WORTH A LOT. IM NO EXPERT OR EVEN A COLLECTOR SO I CANT AUTHENTICATE ANY OF THE CARDS"
1952 TOPPS MANTLE CARD item# 5238420649

I guess his dad sold it to him on eBay with this transaction from seller dearchicago53 on 8/21/05
1952 Topps Mantle item# 5232259958

Seller: mikestephanii Update Item Removed FB of 1 for buying a recipe, this is enough for me to walk away, but pepole insist on bidding. Our sellers says " I recieved it from my grandpa and am in desperate need of money from a car accident. Im sellin almost everything I own. Ive had it for nearly 3 years saved in a shoe box with some more 51 bowmans n 52 topps. The corners slightly tore but decent centering and good edges. As per ebay guidleines it hasnt been graded so i list online as authentic must list as a possible reprint, but if you look at the pictures it doesnt say reprint on it and i have held it to the light before like some other fakes and cannot see through." Now isn't it 2005? The seller keeps 52 Topps and 51 Bowmans in a shoebox? Not only this but in the title header they say BV is 10K, so this indicates they are not unaware of the value?
1952 topps Mickey Mantle item# 5238127014

Seller: rb33mk Update Item Removed Item description states" I bought this card with many other cards at a garage sale, and do not know if it is authentic." Now unless the person running that garage sale has been in a cave for the last 25 years I find it hard to believe they don't know who MJ is.
MICHAEL JORDAN 1986-87 FLEER item#5236838865

Seller: hedged_bet Update Seller NARUed Previously NARUed for selling bad Mantle rookies and is back for a return engagement.
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 item#5237786720

Seller: world*of*trinkets Okay we can trust this one because the seller says " I bought this little gem at an Estate Sale some years back.The condition is poor but a card shop owner told me it is authentic."
1933 Goudey BABE RUTH #144 item# 5237270651

Well that's it for this week till next time ask questions and remember our motto:

Before You Bid Arm Yourself With Knowledge!!

To anyone wanting to leave comments, you are welocme to do so but please refrain from leaving links with any offers. Any comments containing links will be removed Thank You.