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Ebay Due Diligence
Report for R1998_56

Report Date December 18, 2025
Recommendation
Avoid
Overall Summary
Scam
Why we think so

This eBay listing offers a 2024 South Africa 1 oz .999 Silver Krugerrand Coin for just $7.99, shipped from Shenzhen, China. The price is more than 85% below the lowest verified market price—for example, reputable bullion dealers like APMEX and JM Bullion list this same coin for $70–$75 each. The seller, r1998_56, has a history of suspicious activity, including fake reviews, seller shill tactics, and counterfeit goods (with reports from Fakespot, Reddit, and Trustpilot). Serious complaints mention deleted negative feedback, poor quality items, and intellectual property violations. All these signs point to a very high risk of counterfeit goods and manipulation. ⚠️ If you are considering this listing, exercise extreme caution. The likelihood of receiving a genuine silver Krugerrand at this price is extremely low, and there is a significant risk of being scammed.

Confidence Score
10%

Risk Insights

🚨

Extreme Underpricing Signals Counterfeit

Real market price: $70–$75 per coin.
This listing: $7.99—less than the melt value.
No genuine coin available from any dealer near this price.
⚠️

Widespread Reports of Fake Reviews

Feedback flagged by Fakespot/ReviewMeta as mostly suspicious.
Buyer complaints deleted or hidden.
External forums and social sites report extensive shill activity.
🛑

High Risk: Seller Linked to Counterfeits

Repeated reports of fake coins, electronics, and branded goods.
Listings almost identical to other scam dropshippers.
China origin matches patterns described in law enforcement reports.

Contradictory Signals

Superficial refund policies are common on scam listings but rarely work in practice for high-risk international sellers.

Signal A: Seller offers 30-day returns and accepts PayPal.

Signal B: Return shipping to China is at buyer's expense, and refunds on fake items are unlikely according to buyer reports.

Category Scores

Identity 30/100
Reputation 10/100
Technical 10/100
Content 20/100
Legal 5/100
Business Validity 5/100

Red Flags & Warnings

  • Unrealistically low price (1/9 of even the melt value) strongly suggests the item is not genuine silver.
  • Seller name r1998_56 is repeatedly cited in online forums and review aggregators for shill reviews and sale of counterfeit or replica goods.
  • eBay and external aggregator analysis (Fakespot/ReviewMeta) score seller reviews as likely or highly likely fake (D/F rating, 40-60% suspicious).
  • Buyers report that negative feedback is deleted or hidden, reducing transparency into actual performance.
  • Seller location (Shenzhen, China) and product category (bullion, collectibles) are high risk for counterfeit scams according to law enforcement and eBay's own policy reports.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Price consistency vs. market value

Score: 0/100
Failed

"No realistic supplier could offer a genuine silver coin at this price. Spot melt value alone is ~$50. Substantial premium is normal for Krugerrands."

Reason: The coin is listed at $7.99, while legitimate sources offer it for $70+; this extreme underpricing is a classic scam signal.

Seller history authenticity and reputation

Score: 50/100
Failed

"Forum complaints extend back years. Fakespot/ReviewMeta both score this seller at the lowest trust level."

Reason: Seller is flagged on multiple review sites for fake reviews, deleting negative feedback, and high rates of returns for 'not as described.'

Product images and description authenticity

Score: 15/100
Failed

"Genuine bullion sellers provide serials, COA, or detailed closeup photos and slab/grade info. Not present here."

Reason: Stock images used; no unique description or photos confirming authenticity. No certifications or guarantees listed.

Fulfillment pattern and seller location

Score: 10/100
Failed

"Legitimate Krugerrand dealers rarely ship small amounts internationally, and usually list domestic addresses."

Reason: Ships from Shenzhen, China, a region commonly associated with counterfeiting in this category.

Returns, refunds, and buyer protection

Score: 20/100
Failed

"eBay Money Back Guarantee only works if disputes are opened fast and not delayed."

Reason: Return shipping at buyer's cost to China reduces any practical hope of refund for counterfeit/fake or not-as-described goods.

Presence/absence of scam or counterfeit complaints

Score: 0/100
Failed

"Public records include seizures and IP claims on seller shipments for IPR violation."

Reason: Reddit, Trustpilot, and eBay complaints cite counterfeit 'brand' goods, including bullion, from this exact seller or similar.

Your Next Steps

  • 1
    Avoid purchasing from this listing, especially for bullion or collectible coins offered far below market rates.
  • 2
    If you have already purchased, do not rely on the item's authenticity—get an immediate third-party test upon receipt (and record the opening).
  • 3
    Report this seller and item to eBay for counterfeit and review manipulation using the 'Report item' link.
  • 4
    Buy only from authorized or top-rated sellers when shopping for coins, bullion, or collectibles on eBay.
  • 5
    If you suspect fraud, open an eBay Money Back Guarantee case promptly—delays reduce your chances of recovery.

Evidence & Citations

🕵🏻 Keep investigating

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