Is It Me Or Is There So Much Fake Stuff Out There?

[Mattalic]

I love browsing Ebay to look at what people are finding - and the beautiful images.

But it seems like there is A LOT (a metric spank load I think is the scientific term) of fake material that is either NOT mentioned to be fake (or modified) in the description, or merely hinted at such as "Could be repaired" or "carefully repaired and placed inside a natural matrix".

It looks like a HUGE portion of the mosasaur teeth, and trilobites coming out of Morocco are very questionable... am I seeing things?

[Auspex]

Some sellers don't know any better, some do...

Caveat Emptor, always.

[JohnJ]

...Always.

[Mattalic]

Some sellers don't know any better, some do...

Caveat Emptor, always.

I understand... but people that are new to fossils, that are relatively older, that really want to start building a collection, are going to be over burdened with trying to sift through what is fake and what is not. It's really a shame.

[JohnJ]

I understand... but people that are new to fossils, that are relatively older, that really want to start building a collection, are going to be over burdened with trying to sift through what is fake and what is not. It's really a shame.

Sad at times for sure; but probably no more so than in many other subjects of collection sold on the web.

[Auspex]

I have not yet come to terms with my outrage over the flood of fake, spurious, and misidentified "fossils" being sold (on ebay and elsewhere); it is frustrating that there is nothing I can do about it directly, so presenting knowledge and good examples here on the Forum is my only consolation.

[Mattalic]

I have not yet come to terms with my outrage over the flood of fake, spurious, and misidentified "fossils" being sold (on ebay and elsewhere); it is frustrating that there is nothing I can do about it directly, so presenting knowledge and good examples here on the Forum is my only consolation.

I too am getting very frustrated the more I browse. The sheer amount of Mosasaur "Jaws" from Morocco is bordering on obscene (and the prices they ask for them - given that they are just sand, glue and some teeth frags).

[Harry Pristis]

Caveat emptor implies that you have an obligation to educate yourself if you want to participate in the fossils market. Generalized complaining might as well be directed at the weather . . . it sounds like whinery.

[siteseer]

That's how I think of it too. One of my friends collects coins and he says fakes seem like they are everywhere now. On the other hand people have been trimming baseball cards and forging signatures for decades.

Sad at times for sure; but probably no more so than in many other subjects of collection sold on the web.

[Wrangellian]

Glad I'm an invert collector!

[RyanNREMTP]

I don't think there is much of an increase as it is that you are noticing the difference now. Most people don't educate themselves on fakes in any collectible. My wife bought me a whole bunch of fossils a few years ago and she didn't think anything about it. I was a lot dumber then than I am now but the first thing that crossed my mind on one of the trilobites was if it was a fake. The other stuff I wasn't concerned about but that one I was. But who knows, I don't browse Ebay at all so I don't know what all they have.

[jpevahouse]

I too have been concerned about the frequency of either fake or misidentified fossils offered on online auctions. I think misidentified fossils are a more common problem than faked fossils. Buying a bone or tooth being sold as a fossil which the seller may assume incorrectly to be fossil is as misleading as a fake because in the end the buyer does not get what they hope to purchase. It also puts a lot of worthless stuff into collections which will be improperly identified, sold and resold for decades to come.

[ukll]

IMO buying off ebay is asking for trouble, no doubt there are some reputable sellers on there but I suspect there's a lot of dodgy dealers too. I don't really like buying fossils that I can't see/hold myself so I tend to stick to a handful of sellers that attend the shows I go to or sellers that have actual shops I can visit.

Misidentified fossils are always going to be a problem no matter who you buy from, a dealer might purchase fossils in good faith but when some sub species can only be identified based on where they were found and what they were found with then he's equally in the dark especially when fossils can change hanged multiple times before he gets hold of them.

[Missourian]

No fossils in the outcrop are fake. Just sayin'

Well.... Not entirely: http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/47962-salting-sites-accidental-or-on-purpose/

[Stocksdale]

If you steer away from the big-ticket, picture-perfect popular items, you'll find most things are real. I've bought a few lower end items and all were real.

[Stocksdale]

One of my better eBay purchases was a large section of stigmaria root that I got really cheap. The guy had mislabeled it as a fossilized cactus. He would have gotten more bids if he'd correctly labeled it.

Edited July 18, 2014 by Stocksdale

[Fossildude19]

Easiest ways to avoid fake fossils:

1.) Collect your own.

2.) Stay away from Moroccan and Chinese fossils.

3.) Research any fossils you wish to purchase,(research means just that, not 10 minutes asking someone online.)

4.) Find a reputable dealer. Research them, too.

5.) If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. DON'T BUY IT.

6.) Never spend more on a fossil than you would be willing to spend on a piece of artwork. Essentially, that is what fake fossils are. Someone's artistic work.

This has served me well for over 20 years.

Regards,

Edited July 18, 2014 by Fossildude19

[Troodon]

I echo what others have said in spades. I see lots of honest reputable dealers on the web selling misidentified material since they were mislead by what others have sold them. This is especially true of dinosaur material and I urge everyone to become educated, its your best defense.

[Dragonmiser]

Check out just how bad this fake looks....

[jpevahouse]

The problem is generally eBay. I suspect fakes sold on eBay will filter into collections and be recycled at mineral and fossil shows. My rule is think long and hard, do my research before buying anything costly, try to know what I'm buying and consider the fake or misidentification factor. Otherwise, if it doesn't cost much not much lost and experience gained.

Edited July 25, 2014 by jpevahouse

[ReeseF]

Check out just how bad this fake looks....

While that piece isn't quite a work of art, I enjoy the nicer Manchurochelys turtles for display; I've seen a few go for $50-100 with shipping, and a nice picture for the wall would cost about the same

Reese

[Herb]

Glad I'm an invert collector!

Trilobites and eurypterids

[Mattalic]

Easiest ways to avoid fake fossils:

1.) Collect your own.

2.) Stay away from Moroccan and Chinese fossils.

3.) Research any fossils you wish to purchase,(research means just that, not 10 minutes asking someone online.)

4.) Find a reputable dealer. Research them, too.

5.) If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. DON'T BUY IT.

6.) Never spend more on a fossil than you would be willing to spend on a piece of artwork. Essentially, that is what fake fossils are. Someone's artistic work.

This has served me well for over 20 years.

Regards,

This is very good advice. And I am definitely doing #2.

Check out just how bad this fake looks....

That looks pretty darn bad! And it sold. Shame.

The problem is generally eBay. I suspect fakes sold on eBay will filter into collections and be recycled at mineral and fossil shows.

Agreed - and that's a concern. Nothing really anyone can do about it though.

[Stocksdale]

I've been buying stuff on eBay for 15 years. There has always been junk to stay clear of. Just got to do your research for any purchase whether it is a fossil or something else.