Fell For a Sophisticated Scam (Fake Chanel Bag) - Help!

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M

Mimiloves10

Member
Dec 27, 2019
8
7
#1
Hi Guys,

Really need some help.

1) I purchased a Chanel Medium Classic Flap bag (black) off Gumtree (an Australian website) and paid via PayPal G&S.
2) I was convinced because the seller uploaded a copy of the receipt (personal details blanked out) which clearly started the serial number of the bag (matched inside hologram sticker), and provided a certificate of authenticity from an online authentication service called Luxury Authentication Australia (https://www.luxuryauthentication.com.au/). However I can tell from their online website that they authenticate via photos only and haven't seen the bag in real life.
3) She said she lost the authenticity card but provided a photo of it. This wasn't an immediate issue for me since I know it can happen (and fakes can come with authenticity cards) and the price was adjusted accordingly. I didn't plan to resell the bag so I didn't mind.
4) I received the bag and it looked great. A COPY of the receipt was sent (not the original). Receipt copy/format looks genuine and same as an authentic receipt from the store that I have. No obvious issues however I did my due diligence and sent the bag out to be authenticated by Royal Bag Spa which is the only Australian authentication service that I can find that uses Entrupy. As far as I know Eticincler does not accept authentication from overseas, et.c
5) Royal Bag Spa's Entrupy Check says the bag is COUNTEREFEIT!! Specifically they pointed out that the interior material is not consistent with authentic Chanel interior material and images from the hardware logo are inconsistent with authentic Chanel hardware logo. (But interestingly, nothing about the caviar leather...)

So my question is... how is this even possible??? Could Entrupy be wrong? I have read somewhere on the Purse Forum that they have been wrong with Coach, but I'm assuming that Hermes/Chanel which are two brands they advertise themselves as being able to authenticate shouldn't be wrong right?

My best guess is.... The seller had a genuine bag/genuine receipt then made a batch of super fake bags matching the serial number on the receipt then sold them with copies of the original receipt.... if that's the case then this is a super sophisticated scam!

And second question is... what should I do?

1) Contact seller and ask them to refund my money? What if they deny its fake? What if they close their PayPal account after being warned and run away? They are an individual seller, not a store.
2) Raise dispute with PayPal (SNAD?). But what if the seller uses the copy of the receipt as proof of authenticity, or the authentication from Luxury Authentication Australia? Will PayPal understand that superfake bags cannot be authenticated via photos only?
3) Should I send the bag back to them or not (if they or PayPal ask me to)...
4) Could Entrupy be wrong?? I'm so confused here.

I haven't done anything yet. Waiting to hear back from your advice before doing anything.
I'm a lurker on this forum and never had to post anything until now... wish this wasn't my first post. Thank you!
 
Last edited:
#2
I'm not an expert but see this

https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/entrupy-is-not-dependable.1006960/
Also - my friend who's running a luxury marketplace had just sent extremely bad Gucci Soho fake (I have one so i knew straight away it's fake) but Entrupy identified it as genuine (the friend is now in dispute with them to refund her cost of authentication as per their guarantee).
Can you try another service that authenticates from pictures eg. authenticate4u?
 
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#3
Thanks Nikka007. I did see that thread but it seems to be that it’s for Coach which I assume is a label that they’re not too familiar with. All the other examples are examples where they authenticated as real whereas seller thinks it’s fake and not the other way around.

Is Authenticate4u reliable? I had read that Chanel CFs (the newer models) cannot be authenticated via photos since the super fakes are so well done.
 
#4
Tiabai1308 said:
Thanks Nikka007. I did see that thread but it seems to be that it’s for Coach which I assume is a label that they’re not too familiar with. All the other examples are examples where they authenticated as real whereas seller thinks it’s fake and not the other way around.

Is Authenticate4u reliable? I had read that Chanel CFs (the newer models) cannot be authenticated via photos since the super fakes are so well done.
Click to expand...

I used them once and also was referred in the forum to them. The best one from what I heard is Etinceler but they don't authenticate from photos and are based in the US.
My understanding of how Entrupy works is that there has to be a database that contains all variants of the product. So maybe yours was, maybe wasn't.
 
#6
nikka007 said:
I'm not an expert but see this

https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/entrupy-is-not-dependable.1006960/
Also - my friend who's running a luxury marketplace had just sent extremely bad Gucci Soho fake (I have one so i knew straight away it's fake) but Entrupy identified it as genuine (the friend is now in dispute with them to refund her cost of authentication as per their guarantee).
Can you try another service that authenticates from pictures eg. authenticate4u?
Click to expand...
^^^^^ This!! I wouldn't trust Entrupy at all!

They have a 50-50 chance of getting it right when blindfolded and from what I see, that's about right for their record.
 
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#7
Tiabai1308 said:
Thanks Nikka007. I did see that thread but it seems to be that it’s for Coach which I assume is a label that they’re not too familiar with. All the other examples are examples where they authenticated as real whereas seller thinks it’s fake and not the other way around.

Is Authenticate4u reliable? I had read that Chanel CFs (the newer models) cannot be authenticated via photos since the super fakes are so well done.
Click to expand...
I started that thread because it was in the Coach subforum where I "hang out" and we see their mistakes frequently. But also, from what I've seen, they've made mistakes across all brands and their mistakes go in both directions: finding fakes as being authentic and calling authentic items fake.
 
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#11
So just a small update. I sent the photos to Authenticate4U and they have come back with an assessment of fake as well :-s

This is the first time I’ve ever purchased anything fake so I’m quite bummed by the experience.

I’m still waiting for the A4U formal written assessment (she just got back to me with a preliminary assessment via FB messenger) so I’m not sure what to do next.

I guess will be filing a PayPal claim and returning the bag to the seller. My hubby said next time will just buy from the boutique and save ourselves the headache (he has been listening to me complain about this and is annoyed haha).

I'm still confused as to how this could have happened, how the hell was she able to come up with a receipt that matches the serial number inside the bag??

Also I'm shocked at the superfake (I have an authentic flap in beige clair purchased from the store and although I guess if I scrutinize carefully there are some minor differences), it's nothing that is a call out. Then again I'm not an expert. Very impressed with A4U and curious to see what is written on their report when I get it.
 
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#12
I'm glad you got your answer.

As to how this could happen, the counterfeiters are really "good" (and not in a good way) at doing what they do. Receipts can be and are faked, holograms are faked, paperwork, props, etc - all can be faked. And sometimes, they use genuine props to prove authenticity of a fake.

I don't know what was done in this case but at least you got your answer.
 
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