How to spot fake 2nd class stamps ?

deanos

Ive had something delivered to off Ebay, im pretty sure the 2 , 2nd class large letter stamps are fake.

The stamps had selotape on them to stick to the item, the back is not sticky at all i thought they were self adhesive ?

When i add a bit of moisture its still not sticky so they are not the ones you have to lick.

All the perforations are there around the edges.

maninthestreet

can you upload some pictures of the stamps?

fluffnutter

Hmm, there's got to be a point to producing fakes and generally the item has to be of significant value to make it worthwhile. Producing anything, even a fake, costs something, after all. Not sure if any criminal gang of fraudsters would bother producing fake 2nd stamps. It would take some time to become a millionaire at 32p a pop.

deanos

Here you go, i managed to get the sticky tape off one of them

dacouch

Sounds like they reused the stamps

deanos

dacouch wrote: »

Sounds like they reused the stamps

But surely the back would still be sticky, i thought they are self adhesive ?

The backs of the stamp show no sign of being used or trace of another envelope

bubblegum26

Very surprised that the item went through, at the post office we are told not to except any items that have stamps stuck on them with sellotape they have been cracking down on it since stamps don't always get franked....

deanos

fluffnutter wrote: »

Hmm, there's got to be a point to producing fakes and generally the item has to be of significant value to make it worthwhile. Producing anything, even a fake, costs something, after all. Not sure if any criminal gang of fraudsters would bother producing fake 2nd stamps. It would take some time to become a millionaire at 32p a pop.

£32 a sheet seems worthwhile, if they knock them out at half that

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/shop;jsessionid=ZBMTYGF4SMB0SFB2IGFEPLQUHRAYWQ2K?catId=9300091&pageType=Others&pageId=shp_prddetails&product=prod46530101&productType=1&parentCategoryId=cat45940009&categoryId=cat45940035

marleyboy

I am not sure if these are fake or not. But pay particular attention to the perforation flaw direct behind the Queens shoulder, on both stamps there appears a slight groove on either side, this is not generally produced during print, it could be a faulty batch, but no doubt both stamps are from the same batch, as the coincidence would be too big for both stamps to be torn in identical places. Its possible they were a rejected batch that did not even get as far as the gumming machine.

deanos

you must have good eyesight i cant see a flaw,

dacouch

deanos wrote: »

But surely the back would still be sticky, i thought they are self adhesive ?

The backs of the stamp show no sign of being used or trace of another envelope

When they are removed from the envelope often by soaking it can remove the adhesive. They well also be using a solvent to remove any evidence of the frank.

You can buy used stamps in batches on ebay