TOPIC: Counterfeit Token Concerns

We have intercepted another counterfeit token, and we believe there are at least two parties now making counterfeits. I wanted to let everyone know (most especially the counterfeiters) that we will be taking extra precautions moving forward -- especially with the Charms of Avarice and other high level tokens. Special actions are now in place during the transmuting process, serial numbers will be added to new high-level tokens, and we will be adding in a verification process at Gen Con.

I strongly urge everyone to record whom you buy any tokens from (maybe write their name or unique mark on the token back) to discourage the crooks.

Also, I have been in contact with an old friend who is a Special Agent with the FBI, and there is interest in pursuing this case. We are now deciding whether or not to proceed. I will do my utmost to protect the amazing token collector community.

Wow - thanks for the transparency and planned countermeasures!

It would be nice if there were a process by which we could get our Charm of Avarice verified, and swapped for a new version that's numbered and has a different-colored back.

Seems like they were looking at the CoAs closely at GenCon. That was the first tokens they asked for and they were scrutinized closely when we did our first run on Thursday.

Jeff321 wrote: It would be nice if there were a process by which we could get our Charm of Avarice verified, and swapped for a new version that's numbered and has a different-colored back.

+1

Donald Rients wrote: Seems like they were looking at the CoAs closely at GenCon. That was the first tokens they asked for and they were scrutinized closely when we did our first run on Thursday.

It was a point of emphasis in coaches training this year

I know this isn't a democracy, but my vote is "proceed."

Matthew Hayward wrote: Wow - thanks for the transparency and planned countermeasures!

^^^ What he said


It would be cool if read-only NFC tags become cost effective for high-end tokens, and can be worked in under the stickers. It would be cool to verify a token using a smartphone.

Jeff321 wrote: It would be nice if there were a process by which we could get our Charm of Avarice verified, and swapped for a new version that's numbered and has a different-colored back.

That is the plan. More info to come.

Kind of makes me glad/worried I haven't made my averice yet. Still guess I'm can't be that surprised when you consider some of the horror stories the vintage mtg guys tell. Kind of makes you pine for the good old days.

Dang it, now I'm wondering what color the new chip will be. Kind of hoping for green XD

Graven wrote: It would be cool if read-only NFC tags become cost effective for high-end tokens, and can be worked in under the stickers. It would be cool to verify a token using a smartphone.

I was just thinking about that as I read this

If you had passive RFID chips in the token, you could even have a reader mat that could quickly ID what is placed on it, wouldn't take much to read the chips, and access a DB to verify them etc.

A little software magic and printing out party cards would be a breeze.

That, make my magnetic arm bracers dangerous, and make a whole lot of folks hold their breath every time they go through TSA.

Maybe its not such a good idea

Jeff Martin wrote:

Jeff321 wrote: It would be nice if there were a process by which we could get our Charm of Avarice verified, and swapped for a new version that's numbered and has a different-colored back.

That is the plan. More info to come.

That's cool. I hope this hasn't gotten down to the level of Relics and UR's, or gods forbid into trade goods. The ramifications of counterfeit trade goods... ugh....

How are we supposed to be able to tell if a token is counterfeit?