Spotting fakes, checking sellers, and protecting your money
In Mexico, collectors run informal watchdog groups (sometimes called the "Policía Numismática," or numismatic police) where members warn each other about fraudulent sellers: counterfeit coins, broken deals, and profiles that vanish with the money. These groups exist because most coin buying and selling happens between strangers, often in Facebook groups, and that is where people get burned. This guide explains how these warning networks work, and the concrete signals that keep you from getting scammed: how to ask for references, how to spot a fake coin, and what to do if you already lost money.
Counterfeits cluster around the precious-metal pieces. Learn to tell them apart before you buy: fake Onza Libertad silver ounces, genuine Centenario gold coins versus later restrikes, and Mexico's most-faked banknotes (all covered below, in related articles).
It is a network of collectors that shares reports about scammers in the Mexican coin scene: who sold fakes, who broke a deal, which profiles disappeared with payment. Its role is informational, not legal. The admins give no legal advice and prosecute nothing; they log warnings so buyers can check a seller's track record before paying. For a formal complaint, you go to the authorities.
Buy where reputation is on the line: the Banxico store and the Mexican Mint (Casa de Moneda) for current issues, verified dealers in the Pesoteca directory, and the buy-and-sell forum. On open marketplaces, demand photos and references and verify before you pay. Never rush a deal because a seller is pressuring you.
When you sell, document your coin (photos, weight, catalog details) and compare offers. Remember: a serious buyer pays around 70 to 80 percent of the coin's market value; a flipper offers 10 to 25 percent. Sell where there is a reputable audience: the Pesoteca forum or established dealers. If you are suspicious of whoever contacts you, ask for references before sharing your details.
It is a network of Mexican collectors that shares reports about scammers in the coin world: sales of counterfeit pieces, broken deals, fraudulent profiles. It started on Facebook years ago and works as a prevention archive. Its role is informational: it logs warnings so others can ask for references before buying. It is not an authority and gives no legal advice.
Ask for references in numismatic groups before you buy: check whether anyone has dealt with that person. Be wary of newly created profiles, prices that are too good to be true, and anyone pushing you to close fast. Demand real photos of the obverse, reverse, and edge, and for pricey pieces, ask that they accept verification by a certified appraiser.
Every piece has tells. For silver, check weight and dimensions: fakes usually fail there. We have dedicated guides to the most-faked pieces: fake Onza Libertad, genuine Centenario versus restrikes, and Mexico's most-faked banknotes. When in doubt, do not buy.
A useful signal: a real buyer offers roughly 70 to 80 percent of the coin's market value. A flipper or middleman gives you barely 10 to 25 percent. If the offer is far below that, you are dealing with someone who wants to resell at a huge margin, not a fair price. Compare against catalog ranges before you accept.
Save everything: screenshots of the conversation, the seller's profile, the payment receipt. Report it in the prevention groups to warn others. For a formal complaint in Mexico, go to the Policía Cibernética (cyber police) if it happened online, the FGR (federal prosecutor) for larger fraud, or CONDUSEF if a financial service was involved. The groups prevent; the authorities are what act legally.
Favor channels with reputation on the line: the official Banxico store and the Mexican Mint for current issues, verified coin dealers, and the Pesoteca forum with sellers who have a track record. On open marketplaces, demand photos and references. Middlemen and brand-new profiles with no references are where most people lose money.
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Conecta con coleccionistas mexicanos que compran, venden e intercambian piezas como las de esta página. Reputación visible, comunidad verificada.
