The eBay marketplace has become increasingly infested with this carp over the past few years. Much of it mimicks standard US Mint issues. The forgers will change a minor thing or two (mostly with the inscriptions rather than the devices) in order to evade counterfeiting laws by making it appear convincing. However, as US legal authorities have done so in the recent past and will likely do in the future, go after those minters making this type of deceptive junque when the confusion can be interpreted as being too close to a US Mint product. This goes as far as both the item itself and/or the packaging.
The most significant problem US numismatic marketplaces face with this stuff is that it is nearly all of it is manufactured overseas (China, India, Eastern Europe, etc.). With this, there are legal and international/diplomatic issues with intercepting this stuff from entering our country. Tighter borders and better customs enforcement will help, but it won't stop the inflow as importers will resort to deceptive mis-labelling and unconventional shipping methods. Putting those overseas minters out of business will cause a diplomatic rift unless legal issues related to monetary flows show irregularity from treaty signed and agreed norms.
Each year, the quality of the fakes gets better - so good in fact, that it can visually deceive seasoned numismatic professionals as well.
The best precaution a potential buyer can do is to not buy any of these items on eBay. Doing so is especially risky because most sellers are anonymous and the unscrupulous know how to game the system to their advantage (eBay return process, paypal, etc.).
Whereas, on the other hand, at least buying a bullion item at a brick and mortar store can be compared with a known authentic example in hand, weighed and measured before purchasing. A receipt for its sale can be obtained. All of these can go a long way in preventing one from being defrauded and make it easy to go after a fraud (local police, state's attorney general, etc.) for recourse.
Thanks for resurrecting this topic. I'm happy things worked out well with the seller accepting your return of a damaged, but fake, item. Many unscrupulous sellers will complain over receiving a damaged item - even an alleged or proven fake. Furthermore, eBay will put the buyer through hoops in obtaining a legal document from a numismatic professional that states the item is a forgery.
