[meteorite-list] Terrestrial Breccia Being Offered Up As Lunar// Fake KREEP

From: Adam Hupe <raremeteorites_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2017 18:50:29 -0800
Message-ID: <e00e0af3-e9cf-834f-321e-57bee926d532_at_centurylink.net>

It is unfortunate that fraudulent sales on eBay has consequences on the
rest of market. These days, most collectors, new to the market, start
on eBay where they acquire their first stone. Advanced collectors have
learned that one fake piece can jeopardize the standing of the rest of
their collections so demand proper documentation and provenance.
Unfortunately, these standards don't exist on eBay which has become a
clearing house for fakes.

I have filed a couple of NOCI forms with eBay and they did follow up
since plagiarizing copyrighted material like Meteoritical Bulletin
entries for an official meteorite to describe an unclassified stone is
not tolerable.

It makes me sad to see some IMCA members, who are also acting as
dealers, not upholding the strict standards put in place to protect
collectors. Code of Ethics rule number six is not being followed by
many who promised to uphold these standards as a part of becoming a member:

*******************************************************************
6. I agree that unclassified 'meteorites' that have not been verified
as meteorites might not be meteorites. I will not sell or trade any
meteorites or any questionable meteoritic material unless I first obtain
verification. I agree to specify verified but unclassified material as
such in connection with any sale, trade, or other transaction related to
the same. Meteoritical Society guidelines will prevail in the
circumstance of meteorite naming and pairing. I understand and agree
that, as a member, I may be required to provide further evidence to the
Board (or other relevant I.M.C.A. Committee), including but not limited
to: the verification process utilized for unclassified meteorites,
and/or documentation from an approved testing institution or approved
individual of the Board's choosing.
******************************************************************


Adam

On 11/26/2017 6:18 PM, Michael Farmer wrote:
> Adam I agree with you fully. But haven?t you learned after decades that eBay doesn?t give a rat?s ass about fraud? They make money on sales. All sales, even scams. They will never police the site.
>
> Michael Farmer
>
>> On Nov 27, 2017, at 9:55 AM, Adam Hupe via Meteorite-list <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com> wrote:
>>
>> Yes, counterfeits and fakes are hardly anything new. Some counterfeit Chinese made medications sold in the U.S. market through national chain stores put my mother-in-law in the hospital for several weeks and could have resulted in her death. How about counterfeit batteries that blow up in your face while talking on a cell phone? How about sawdust in your baby formula or rat turds ground into your dog's food?
>>
>> I remember having to write checks to acquire meteorites from a handful of dealers a few decades ago. I had no concerns whatsoever about about them being fake until around 1998 when a dealer was substituting a DAG Howardite for Kapoeta. This was my first encounter with fraud in meteorites and now it is so common place that some just take it for granted. It is a pretty sad situation.
>>
>> Just because it is common place doesn't excuse anybody from engaging in the unsavory practice.
>>
>> Adam
>>
>>
>>
>>> On 11/26/2017 5:18 PM, Michael Farmer wrote:
>>> Fake things being sold for money. Wow color me shocked. Hardly anything new. What?s next? Knock-off Rolex and Prada shoes?
>>> Come on Adam. Yes it?s terrible but hardly news. Let them get scammed. Perhaps they should buy from real dealers.
>>> Michael Farmer
>>>> On Nov 27, 2017, at 8:28 AM, Adam Hupe via Meteorite-list <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> This same seller fleeced $400.00 out of some poor collector last week:
>>>>
>>>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lunar-Meteorite-from-KREEP-Basalt-to-Lunar-Granite-0-4g-Moon-Breccia-Granite/222713435793?hash=item33dac15691:g:-EMAAOSwv~RZ04Hn
>>>>
>>>> It is a bad sign when undocumented stones are starting to outnumber official material.
>>>>
>>>> I have seen the same thing happen in other collectable markets.
>>>>
>>>> What next, witnessed falls again?
>>>>
>>>> Adam
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On 11/26/2017 4:17 PM, drtanuki wrote:
>>>>> Adam and List,
>>>>> There is also a seller from Taiwan selling fake Lunar KREEP. Buyer beware!Help this guy by "liking" his post! Thanks!
>>>>> jacwon_7
>>>>> https://www.ebay.com/sch/jacwon_7/m.html?item=222713434677&hash=item33dac15235%3Ag%3AReUAAOSw2oJZ04cE&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562
>>>>> Best Regards,
>>>>> Dirk Ross...Tokyo
>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>> From: Adam Hupe via Meteorite-list <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>>>>> To: metlist <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>>>>> Sent: Monday, November 27, 2017 9:04 AM
>>>>> Subject: [meteorite-list] Terrestrial Breccia Being Offered Up As Lunar
>>>>> Some more terrestrial breccia lacking any kind of fusion crust or
>>>>> flight-markings being added to the huge pile being sold as lunar:
>>>>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lunar-Meteorite-Breccia-37g/263346210852?hash=item3d50a84824:g:zzwAAOSwEEBaGyPN
>>>>> This demonstrates the need to have every piece tested and made official.
>>>>> To me it is obvious this is not a lunar specimen but it is close enough
>>>>> to fool many. Remember, a COA is worthless without official scientific
>>>>> data to back it up. A recent national auction demonstrated that there
>>>>> is simply no secondary market for undocumented, untested and unofficial
>>>>> material.
>>>>> Material like this only undermines collector confidence which is at an
>>>>> all time low right now because of the amount of undocumented crap being
>>>>> dumped onto the market. Fake Martian material is making a comeback as well.
>>>>> Adam
>>>>> ______________________________________________
>>>>> Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com
>>>>> Meteorite-list mailing list
>>>>> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>>>>> https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>>>> ______________________________________________
>>>>
>>>> Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com
>>>> Meteorite-list mailing list
>>>> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>>>> https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>> ______________________________________________
>>
>> Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com
>> Meteorite-list mailing list
>> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>> https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>
>
Received on Sun 26 Nov 2017 09:50:29 PM PST