Sale of exposed fake properties
Most property sales are handled by reputable people who are on the rise and would not dream of defrauding an unsuspecting buyer. Unfortunately, there is a small percentage of tag sales that are unreliable.
There are many stories of events being announced to the public promising all sorts of items like Baccarat crystal or Mont Blank pens for sale, and then when unsuspecting people arrive looking for these collectible trinkets, they are either not there or are said to be sold. . These bait and switch events are trying to draw crowds to try and make a sale of mediocre products that don’t really exist.
In other cases, the label sales are advertised in the newspaper as the property of a 90-year-old grandmother with a lifetime of goodies in the attic. When you get there, you realize that it is no such thing and they are selling junk products.
Another disappointment in terms of fake property sales are sellers trying to pass fake items for the real deal. If you see a price that is too good to be true on a purported Tiffany lamp, you can be sure it is a fake. Antique furniture is another place where scams are big because most buyers don’t know what they are looking for to guarantee its authenticity. You can be sure that the old furniture was not assembled with glue, staples, particle board or shiny screws. It is important to educate yourself on furniture construction over time so that you can try to determine the true value.
Designer items such as handbags, wristwatches, and jewelry are sadly something that is commonly counterfeited in real estate sales, so be careful. Many times the seller is unprepared and does not realize it for himself. Be sure to ask for a certificate of authenticity or a possible receipt to confirm that a designer item is authentic.
Art is also something that can be conspicuously forged, so use caution when buying it at a real estate sale. Unless the claim is supported by some authoritative evidence that the painting really is Jackson Pollack’s painting of Great Uncle Frank, you better be ready to take a professional with you to validate the piece for you. In some cases, you can buy the part with the possibility of returning it if you find that it is not what has been advertised.
If you want to avoid being scammed, go to property sales run by highly regarded property sales liquidators who have insurance and are bonded to protect your business. You can check the Better Business Bureau or references to make sure the sales company is improving. When you attend a family-run real estate sale, things certainly get more complicated and you open yourself up a bit more to the opportunity to commit fraud. Remember, if your gut tells you something doesn’t feel exactly right, then it’s probably a good time to step back before spending your hard-earned money.
If you are a collector of a particular item, such as glass, jewelry, or vintage art, then make it your business to educate yourself so that you can spot fakes quickly or bring in an experienced friend to help you. Don’t buy a real estate sale without carefully verifying that the item is really what it is!