Newsgroups: rec.games.trading-cards.marketplace.magic.sales
From: [removed] (Chritian Pantages)
Date: 1998/08/18
Subject: WARNING! COUNTERFEIT CARDS! Don't get ripped off --->

  *** ATTENTION *** ATTENTION *** ATTENTION *** ATTENTION *** ATTENTION ***
        -->Though I'm free of all the cards I purchased as authentic
cards in December, and for all my best efforts, have not been able to
find the person whose sold me these cards, I have come across a number of
people who have also purchased these as real cards, as well as an
individual who was supposed to put me in contact with the perpetrator
(it's a long story), but ended up losing contact with him and had a lot of
stock in fake cards that he handed over to me for nothing.

        In early December 1997, I had the misfortune of purchasing a number
of counterfeit cards that I believed to be genuine. The cards I purchased
are the most sophisticated fakes I have ever seen. The purpose of this
message is to point out the differences in the 'fake' cards from genuine
ones, and hopefully make more people aware that these cards exist. I am
probably not the only person to have purchased these, and I'd like to help
you to make sure others are not taken in by these counterfeits. I've had
many people tell me that these are the best counterfeit cards they have ever
seen. One customer, who works in the printing industry, estimates that they
were printed on a printing press, similar to those that 'real'
Magic: the Gathering cards are printed on. Some of the differences are:

        *Outside the text box, the lettering is a bit fuzzy.  The card name,
        card type, and artists name are slightly out of focus.  Inside the
        text box, the lettering is as sharp as an actual card.  This is
        the easiest way to spot them from real cards.

        *The color of the whole card is very slightly different (alternately
        darker or lighter depending on the card).  There are greater
        variations in actual cards, both from Beta, UL and Arabian Nights.

        *The printing dots seem to be a bit more coarse than an actual
        magic card.

        *The back side of the card seems a little out of focus, and color
        sometimes varies from genuine cards.

        *On some cards, especially the UL cards, the 'bevel' on the face
        of the card is missing ' there's no thin black line at the edge of
        the card picture, separating it from the white border.

        *Held very closely to a bright light, these cards appear to be
        slightly more transparent than genuine magic cards.

        I know that's not the most information to go on.  These cards pass
the 'bend' test, and are almost un-deniably real. The easiest way to tell
is to look at the back of the card, which, if it is examined very closely,
will seem a bit fuzzier than a normal magic card back.
        These are nigh-unmistakable from real cards.  I've sustained heavy
losses, into the thousands of dollars, from the individual I purchased these
from. The cards I have now are available FOR REVIEW AND REFERENCE
PURPOSES ONLY at no cost, but I am asking a $5 handling charge for each card
requested. Because I have nothing invested into the cards I have currently,
I can offer discounts on a case-by-case basis based on quantity ordered.
        By requesting cards from this sale, you certify two things:
First, you promise not to present these as the genuine article either for
sale or in sanctioned tournament play. Second, you indemnify the seller
from any wrongdoing associated with these cards from the point these cards
are transferred to your control forward.

        Many of the cards I have more than one of.  Please notify me if
you would like more than one of a certain card. Thank you very much for
your time. My goal through this posting and sale is to hopefully make
more people aware and informed about these cards.

Beta Badlands
Beta Scrubland
Beta Taiga
Beta Tropical Island
Beta Underground Sea
Beta Black Lotus
Beta Mox Ruby
Beta Mox Pearl
Beta Mox Emerald
Beta Ancestral Recall
Beta Time Walk
Beta Time Twister
Beta Demonic Tutor
Beta Armageddon
Beta Swords to Plowshares
UL Black Lotus
UL Mox Pearl
UL Mox Saphire
UL Mox Emerald
UL Mox Ruby
UL Time Walk
UL Time Twister
UL Psionic Blast
UL Sinkhole
AN Juzam Dijin
AN Library of Alexandrai
AN Ali from Cairo
AN Ehrnam Dijin
AN Diamond Valley
LG Mana Drain
LG Mirror Universe
LG Moat

Thanks for your attention! Please e-mail me at [removed]
with any inquiries.                                Christian Pantages

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