Are These Stamps Genuine?

NBLondon

What spoonie and justwhat said...

If they are selling multiple sheets of 50 which today have a face value of over £50 and asking £15 for them - they are probably fake.  If they are selling one business sheet of 50 and asking £45 then maybe a small business getting rid.

If they are said to be "off-paper" then they have probably been already used,

If it's a mixed lot like https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275770832111  and the seller history is similar then they are a collector or small dealer clearing out.  I'm sort of tempted by that lot -  over 40 usable first class commemoratives and over 50 swappable first class Machins, currently at under £15 with postage. If you actually use stamps - that's a great deal

Spelunthus

Since the issue of the barcoded stamps, I am seeing more occurences of "fake stamps" being rejected by Royal Mail.  I'm guessing that the barcode allows a more positive identificatin of the fake (as each stamp now has a unique code).    There was probably just as much fakery with older stamps, but they were not picked up so much.   Of  course, Royal Mail say the barcode is ".. so that you can send a cartoon video..." - but I think we always knew better.

Money_Grabber13579

Spelunthus said:

Since the issue of the barcoded stamps, I am seeing more occurences of "fake stamps" being rejected by Royal Mail.  I'm guessing that the barcode allows a more positive identificatin of the fake (as each stamp now has a unique code).    There was probably just as much fakery with older stamps, but they were not picked up so much.   Of  course, Royal Mail say the barcode is ".. so that you can send a cartoon video..." - but I think we always knew better.

No, the whole purpose of the barcode was always to defeat fraud and the addition of the video was only ever a gimmick on the side. Royal Mail openly admit that is the case.