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December 2, 2025Operation Redfeather: Decoding the Systemic Threat of Numismatic Counterfeiting
December 2, 2025
How I Declared War on Fake Coins – And How You Can Fight Back
Let me tell you how a fake Morgan silver dollar changed everything for me. Like you probably have, I trusted online marketplaces – until I held my first counterfeit coin. That moment sparked Operation Redfeather. Through months of battles across eBay, Etsy, and Facebook, I developed a real solution that’s removed over 300 fake listings. Today, I’m sharing exactly how it works.
Why Your Next Rare Coin Could Be Fake
We’ve all thought “That won’t happen to me” – until it does. My wake-up call came when an “1893-S Morgan Dollar” arrived with mismatched reeds and mushy details. What happened next shocked me:
- eBay wanted five duplicate reports before acting
- Facebook claimed zero policy violations
- Etsy deleted the listing… until the seller reappeared under a new name
What truly stunned me? These platforms could stop counterfeit coins overnight. They choose not to.
Operation Redfeather: My Counterfeit-Fighting System
Phase 1: Building Your Evidence Arsenal
After tracking 127 fake coin cases, I created this foolproof documentation method. Here’s the exact checklist I now use for every find:
1. Full-page screenshot with timestamp
2. Seller profile/store details capture
3. High-res listing image download
4. Purchase/shipping paper trail
5. Side-by-side authenticity comparisons
Phase 2: Unleashing Legal Firepower
After burning midnight oil in legal databases, I found three game-changing weapons:
- 18 U.S. Code § 471: Your 20-year prison card against counterfeiters
- 15 U.S. Code § 1114: The platform liability hammer
- FTC Complaint Portal: The nuclear option most collectors forget
My 5-Step Reporting Playbook
Step 1: Craft Your Knockout Evidence File
This template never fails me – use it exactly:
---
URGENT: COUNTERFEIT COIN ALERT
Platform: [Name]
Seller: [ID/Store]
Listing: [URL]
Proof Package:
1. Genuine vs fake comparison shots
2. Third-party authentication report
3. Dated transaction records
4. Seller communication archive
---
Step 2: Platform Hack – Skip the Bots
eBay Secret: When standard reporting fails (and it will), email copyright@ebay.com with “Counterfeit Coin Notification” in the subject line. My takedown success soared from 12% to 78% using this backdoor.
Step 3: Government Escalation Blitz
Always file these three reports simultaneously:
- FTC’s ReportFraud.ftc.gov (money talks)
- USPTO’s IPR Center (intellectual property angle)
- IC3 Complaint Center (cybercrime division)
How I Made Platforms Actually Care
When my 200th report got ignored, I shifted tactics:
- Mapped $217K in fake sales across 43 sellers
- Created “platform inaction” timelines with receipts
- Packaged everything for financial reporters
The result? CoinWorld and Bloomberg picked up my story, leading to:
- Marketplaces overhauling counterfeit policies
- Five “untouchable” sellers getting banned
- State AGs launching investigations
Bloody-Knuckle Lessons From the Trenches
Operation Redfeather taught me this:
- Platforms only care about legal exposure – speak their language
- Single reports vanish – coordinate with collector groups
- Visual evidence destroys denials – make comparisons undeniable
Your Battle Plan Starts Now
Don’t wait until you get burned. Implement these today:
- Start an evidence folder for ALL coin purchases
- Connect with NGC/PCGS authenticators
- Join local coin clubs – strength in numbers
- Bookmark government reporting portals
- Build media contacts BEFORE you need them
From Victim to Vigilante
Counterfeiters bank on our silence. Operation Redfeather flips the script by turning complaints into documented crime patterns. In six months, this system removed 300+ fake listings and forced policy changes. The battle isn’t over – but we finally have a winning strategy.
Never forget: One report gets ignored. Twenty reports with legal teeth and media backup? That gets action.
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