Facebook Advertising: Understand Who You Are Buying From

The ad appearing on Facebook
(click image to see a larger version)

A series of ads for US coins have been appearing on Facebook that has some legitimacy. Still, you will be disappointed if you order from them. Several people reported they felt deceived by the product they received.

A site called cointraderonline.com (I purposely did not make it a link; please do not visit the site) began advertising heavily on Facebook. The ad, whose image appears here, says that the purchaser will buy a “US Vault Bag” that is “Packed With Unsearched US Coins.” The ad and the site say that there is a 60-Day Return policy.

I have been advising people not to purchase from this site. Unfortunately, some did not seek advice before purchasing. When they received their bag, the results were less than satisfying.

Buyers of the Vault Bags report that they received bags that contain at least 50-percent copper coins with the rest common silver coins. Buyers describe the coins as being heavily circulated, some with scratches and dings, along with very worn and dateless Buffalo Nickels. Although the owner of this site may not have searched the hoard they used to fill the bags, the product appears to lack key or semi-key dates and higher-grade material based on reports from several people.

One person tried to return the coins on their 60-day return policy. The buyer mailed the coins to a Las Vegas address with tracking from the US Postal Service. The package was delivered, but the person did not receive a refund.

Refund policy page containing the address to a Las Vegas-area apartment.

The Investigation

Finding information about the company from their website was difficult. The “About Us” page contains very little useful information about the company. Still, the page uses a few images from elsewhere on the Internet. A random sample of images found several duplicates on other sites using a Google Image search. Many are stock images that the web designer could have purchased from legitimate sources. However, the number of images used to make the website pretty without being functional is an area I find concerning.

Facebook’s Page Transparency section
(click image to see a larger version)

In previous posts, I make it clear that if you cannot find information about the company or the people behind the words suggests that you should not trust the site. The same is true in this case because you cannot find any information about this company. When I found the address to send returns and checked the address on Google, the “Suite” is an apartment complex northwest of the tourist and business areas.

One tool Facebook provides is a “Page Transparency” section. You must go to the company’s main page to find the information. According to the information on the page, Facebook reports that “ASW ENTERPRISES, LLC” was verified as responsible for the page. ASW Enterprises is in Wildwood, Missouri, with a telephone number that has a 703 area code. The 703 area code maps the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC.

Hotfrog, a collector of business information, has the phone number listed on Facebook on record but also a St. Louis-area telephone number.

The information found at Hotfrog

Using the St. Louis-area telephone number, a reverse search found a listing at hub.biz for an address in Baldwin, Missouri. The address is for a 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 2880 square foot home that Zillow says is worth $576,300 with what looks like it has a three-car garage. I wish I had a three-car garage!

A reverse lookup of the address and telephone number finds information about ASW Enterprises on Buzzfile. This information provides a person’s name that, when plugged into the ANA Dealers” directory, does not find a record. Although the site says that this person/business is a member of the ANA, he is not listed as a registered dealer in the ANA database they use for the Find a Dealer page.

Buzzfile provides addresses and telephone number.

The website on the Buzzfile page is for a company selling preparation materials for a Texas-based spelling competition. There is every indication that the website has nothing to do with the cointraderonline.com business.

The About page also says they are a National Silver Dollar Round Table member. Neither the company name nor the name of the person listed as the principal of ASW Enterprises is listed on the NSDRT membership page. I did not consult with the Certified Collectors Group (NCG/PCGS) to verify the membership claim.

Finally, a reverse search of the person’s name suggests that this is not his only business venture. A Better Business Bureau entry suggests he is also involved with real estate. The finding was supported by a posting to a public message board looking for fellow investors in the St. Louis area.

The Better Business Bureau has a listing that includes a bogus website name.,

There appears to be no connection between the owner listed on the Facebook Page Transparency page and the operation in Las Vegas.

I tried to send a message to the site owner via the chat option on the website. After receiving a response via email, I asked several follow-up questions that have been unanswered at this point. If they answer my questions, I will add the information here and in a new post.

I received an automated message from their system. It was formatted as a reply and included the name of the person that replied to my chat request. When I looked up the name in the email, I found public interactions of someone from the Philippines.

The email telling me who my correspondence is with.

Having a support contract with someone offshore should not raise a concern. Still, when the return address is Las Vegas, and the company’s background information leads to the St. Louis area, it creates concern.

Should You Buy From this Site

My investigation suggests that the person behind the site may be an inexperienced young adult. The diverse information indicates that he is trying to find a way to earn a living. However, he must understand that online sellers have cheated too many coin collectors and that he should opt for transparency rather than pretty pictures on a website.

If you want to support someone trying to start a business, you may want to buy from this company. However, reports suggest that you will not receive value for your money.

Why Publish The Investigation Detail

An old proverb says, “Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime.” Rather than providing my opinion, showing you how to investigate sites you are unsure about will help you fight online fraud.

Scams with online shopping are a problem beyond numismatics. Although legitimate small businesses are selling online, there are many scammers. The above processes can help you investigate someone before spending your money.

Suggestions for Small E-Commerce Businesses

For small businesses, I would highly recommend that you be as transparent as possible. You should publish contact information and respond as quickly as possible. Let your buyers know a little about you. Who are you, and why are you in the business? Do you have a passion for what you are selling? Do you have a compelling story about why you are in business? I understand you are communicating with customers, but customers also want to have a connection with the people they do business with.

You have to generate a sense of trust with the customer, which gives you an advantage over a large online retailer. Give me a reason to trust you over the next-day shipping behemoth, and I could become a regular customer. Let the customers know they will deal with another person, not a big corporation riding down a South American river.

Finally, pretty websites are nice but if you are going to use stock photographs, use them sparingly. Stock photographs of coins, people supposedly looking the part they playing on your page might look good, but they come off as fake and as valuable as a cleaned coin. Do not fill up a page with images. Clear, concise, and accurate information is better than pictures.

“Let’s be careful out there.”

WWII Memorial Commemorative Coin Bill Passes Senate

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial from the Washington Monument

Welcome to today’s edition of Congress Did Something Non-Partisan?

Without noticeable prompting or any other reason, the Senate Banking Committee discharged the Greatest Generation Memorial Act (S. 1596) and was passed by unanimous consent by the Senate.

If passed, the bill will require the minting of up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 clad half-dollar coins in commemoration of the National World War II Memorial in Washington.

At the end of the sale, the Treasury will pay all surcharges ($35 per gold coin, $10 per silver dollar, and $5 per clad half-dollar) to the Friends of the National World War II Memorial to help maintain the memorial.

The Senate sent the bill to the House of Representatives, where it is being held at the desk because it was a bill not introduced by the majority party.

S. 1596: Greatest Generation Memorial Act
Sponsor: Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)
Introduced: May 12, 2021
Summary: This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of the National World War II Memorial in the District of Columbia. The design of the coins shall be emblematic of the memorial and the service and sacrifice of American soldiers and civilians during World War II. All surcharges received from the sale of such coins shall be paid to the Friends of the National World War II Memorial to support the National Park Service in maintaining and repairing the memorial, and for educational and commemorative programs.
Introduced in Senate — May 12, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. — May 12, 2021
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. — May 16, 2022
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2515-2516) — May 16, 2022
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. — May 16, 2022
Message on Senate action sent to the House. — May 17, 2022
This bill can be tracked at http://bit.ly/117-S1596.

Weekly World Numismatic News for May 22, 2022

Sorry… we are one day late for many reasons including just being tired. More to come.

One of the cans found as part of the Saddle Ridge Gold Coin Hoard

As the weather warms up in the United Kingdom, so are the stories about metal detector finds. It is fascinating reading about metal detector finds from the fields in the UK because the coins are older and hold more history.

Of course, the metal detectorists are looking for treasures. Few save any of the coins they find. They will consign the coins to an auction and collect the payment. The coins will end up in the hands of collectors and museums that will enjoy them for years to come.

I have never been interested in exploring with a metal detector. In the United States, most finds are limited to the 200-300 years. Detectorists find belt buckles, watches, rings, some coins, and other items dropped along the way. But nothing compares to finding coins from over 1,000 years ago or medieval coins from 500 years ago.

These unburied coins are sometimes the only record of history. Recently, a hoard revealed a problem with inflation during the Roman Empire that taught historians about ancient economics.

I am not saying that there are no exciting finds in the United States. The Saddle Ridge Gold Hoard is a recent example, but the finds in England and the rest of Europe can change our knowledge of history.

I do not know if I will be able to go to Europe to see if I can find a treasure, but it is interesting to watch from afar.

And now the news…

 May 13, 2022
One of only three known gold examples of the “Eid Mar” aureus A small but potent piece of history is up for sale in Zurich this month, when Numismatica Ars Classica offers one of only three known examples of the “Eid Mar” aureus, celebrating the “liberation” of Rome after the bloody assassination of the dictator Julius Caesar on the Ides of March in 44BC.  → Read more at ft.com

 May 18, 2022
Britain’s Royal Mint unveiled a special new commemorative rainbow-colored 50 pence coin on Wednesday as a tribute to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pride UK movement. The coin, designed by east London artist and LGBTQ activist Dominique Holmes, uses state-of-the-art printing technology to emboss it with the colors of the Pride progress flag.  → Read more at nbcnews.com

 May 20, 2022
When it comes to buying silver , coins are one of the most popular places to start. A coin collector or investor who is used to buying gold may like the idea of taking that same investment strategy and applying it to silver.  → Read more at menafn.com

 May 20, 2022
About 1,800 antique coins, jewellery and stamps, pottery plates with inscriptions, and an ancient bronze figurine were seized this week at the home of a resident of the city of Modi’in in the centre of the country, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Thursday.  → Read more at jwire.com.au
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Weekly World Numismatic News for May 15, 2022

It has been an interesting week. I tried to keep up with the news and the collecting world, but a health issue sidelined me. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with COVID. I am feeling better, but it does affect my breathing. I am glad I am fully vaccinated.

I was not completely sidelined. While trying to breathe, I was able to go online and find some interesting items online. The purchase taught me something about an area of numismatics that I did not know existed. It will be something I write about when I receive the new purchase.

During the week, the U.S. Mint mailed a package that arrived in my mailbox containing the Negro Leagues Baseball Commemorative Proof Set. The coins look better in hand than the U.S. Mint’s website images.

As the Paxlovid works to get me back in the game, it will take a few days to get everything back together, and I will be ready to get back to collecting.

Life is short. Have fun collecting.

And now the news…

 May 10, 2022
On May 9, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Trans-National Serious and Organized Crime Section (TSOC) charged an Ontario resident with uttering counterfeit money and possession of counterfeit money after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) identified and seized approximately 10,000 counterfeit toonies.  → Read more at cottagelife.com

 May 14, 2022
Remember when no one wants to touch the bills or coins for fear of getting caught COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection)Would you like to replace what was considered contaminated cash with a credit card?  → Read more at worldakkam.com
Coin Collectors News
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 Wayde Milas Named PNG President (May 10, 2022)

 

POLL: What do you use to find information?

I am getting ready to open the next chapter of my life, and I was thinking about how I can leverage my knowledge and experience to enhance the collecting community. As an experienced collector of all types and a dealer in areas other than numismatics, I learned a lot about collectors and their habits that could benefit a general audience.

As I was thinking about sharing my experiences, I wondered where most people learned about their collectibles. But the resources I had are different than those available today. Even the way we take in and understand knowledge is different. I thought it would be interesting to ask the numismatic community how they learn about collecting.

So let’s ask the question:

What resources do you use for numismatic information?









View Results

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Weekly World Numismatic News for May 8, 2022

Reverse of the Royal Canadian Mint 2015 Superman $20 for $20 coin featuring “The Man of Steel”

One of my readers is a comics dealer who has a collection of comic-themed coins. This dealer discovered coins with comics themes when I posted about my purchase of the Canada $20 for $20 Superman coin. This dealer is on the mailing list for the mints that produce these coins.

After reading yesterday’s blog post, the comics dealer asked me how to become a coin dealer to sell comics-themed coins.

My reader knows that the comics industry is exploding and that the publishers are dabbling in non-fungible tokens (NFT) to see if they can extend the market. Those skeptical of the NFT market are looking for alternatives. A comics dealer that expanded to other publications, toys, and other collectibles understands that extending his market with coins will be profitable.

Walk into any hobby shop and see how every hobby has evolved. Comics, sports, and antiques have seen a rise in collecting, and all have seen the benefit of cross-collecting. A sports dealer is also selling comics and other collectibles with sports themes. Comics dealers are collectible cards and souvenirs from the ComicCons, the same as the sports dealers are selling game tickets.

Coin dealers extend their business into metals and jewelry, and their stores look the same as they did 10 years ago. The dealers may be making a living, but it is not expanding the hobby. But is it their job to expand the hobby or make a living? Unfortunately, this attitude is typical with the dealers trying to set ANA policy and is not helping the hobby’s growth.

And now the news…

 May 4, 2022
The most successful artistic design of the Croatian national side of the €1 coin has been selected, the Croatian National Bank (HNB) said in a press release.  → Read more at croatiaweek.com

 May 5, 2022
Found in Switzerland, some of the buried Roman coins were minted during a time of relative political stability, between 332 and 335 C.E.  → Read more at smithsonianmag.com
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