Another Counterfeit Seller

beware of seller Astronsales
They are offering quantities of many of the better forever booklets at below market prices and one feedback was

"These stamps are not genuine. I sent seller multiple pictures comparing to one purchased at the Post Office. The color of the purple cars was different, the detail of the license plates were different and most importantly, the UV Tagging was significantly different. Tagging is everywhere on the fake sheet while on the real sheet, there is no tagging in the gap between the stamps. These are fake stamps. Seller did receive them back and give a full refund. Pictures are attached."

Their response was
"Thank you for your professional analysis. The supplier told me that all of these can be used, and I personally tested them and confirmed their usability."

Well, the reply was accurate if not skirting the contefeitness of the issue.

New ads on Yahoo news as well, just saw them in the past few days:



At least they only have 100 rolls to sell!!!

Has anyone here ever heard of postagebay.com or stampchest.com? Are they counterfeit stamp sellers?

Yes both counterfeit.

Thank you! So frustrating… I'm sure if and when they get shut down, more will pop up under other names. I'm new to all this. What should I look for in the future besides just bargain prices? And are there safer places to shop? I've seen a site called hipstamps that looks legitimate. ebay seems like a gamble too.

Try the USPS.com? Are you looking for specific stamps, or just postage?

Yes HipStamps itself is legitimate, but like ebay each listing is from an independent seller, and some sellers are better than others.

Selling sheets of Forever stamps at half of face value is a good sign they are fake.

Legitimate stamp dealers will sometimes sell discount postage (but probably closer to 80-90% of face value), and if you look at their other listings they are also selling older collectible stamps (used and unused) plus maybe stamp albums or supplies, they are not a brand new seller offering nothing but discount postage.

You say that you are a member of the Poway Stamp Club; other members should be able to point you to local dealers or stamp shows where you may find what you are looking for.

Thanks for the tips! I just joined the stamp club, and haven't met a lot of them yet. Hoping to do so soon. I have A LOT of questions after decades of putting this down, and now picking it up again. I have been doing a lot of googling trying to go through a big box of old stamps, and kind of using ebay among other stamp websites as a casual gauge for value. (Will check Scott as soon as I can get a chance to go to the library) So I've probably stumbled across more counterfeit sellers than I know. Some are selling fairly new stamps below face value. I knew forgeries exist for very valuable stamps but had no idea there are this many counterfeits of everyday run of the mill cheap stamps.

how about tell Postal Inspectors not just get a refund?

Good idea! I just found USPIS.gov on Google. And I guess to report counterfeiters, you have to email ***Removed email - Mod***. I will do that soon but I don't have any "proof". I mean we're just speculating these two websites are scams. So hopefully USPIS has better ways of confirming. Thanks!

The FRAUD division of USPSIS will back track the IP address and determine if it has previously been identified or is a new 'vendor' If the seller is using the USPS logo & pricing is not full face value it is fraud & copyright infringement. They need all the information on sites making these less than face offerings to determine if it's a dealer selling off excess stock or fake. USPS does not sell less than face. They DESTROY 'taken off sale' items (with some minimal <very minimal> for special presentations to VIPs)

Would using the following image as a masthead constitute use of the USPS logo?


The website is: https://creative-stamp.shop/

They claim:



Contact information includes:

Email: ***removed email-Mod****

Address: 421 S Brookhurst St, Anaheim, CA 92804

Google street view of this address:


If the USPS doesn't go after outfits like this, does that not lend credibility to their claim to be selling genuine stamps?

Paypal, Visa, Am Ex, etc will all refund your money with little fuss.

If these companies really wanted to be out of the loop on counterfeits, they would stop processing orders from these accounts.

The use of the USPS logo requires a license from the local Postal authority. They must sell postage purchased from the USPS (@ a standard discount) at face value. (their profit is the difference ) I do not believe there is a prohibition from selling @cost. The display of the USPS logo is included in the license to provide public confidence that the materials are legit. These were provided to card shops, pharmacies, grocery stores etc. as a convenience to customers. Some office supply outlets or MAIL BOX ETC., also provided services such as mailing of packages & mailing supplies (but they also provided Fedex & UPS services as well, customer choice. In order to display the logo they were required to obtain a license (& set up a pick-up schedule) Use of the logo WITHOUT a license in any manner is a copy right infraction. There is a process to set up legitimate USPS POS opportunities outside a formal USPS facility, but in all cases postage items are sold at face, not discounted, (unless operator determines to lose $$). With few (very few) exception, vendors selling or offering to sell current USPS postage at 75% or greater discounts are fraudulently deceiving the public, as the product is counterfeit. (caveat: there are many entity types that purchase & resell US Postage to the general public. Depending on the mode & extent of services provided determines the regulations & license-contract required. Today 99% of under face offering are frauds, and a platform for scammers to obtain private information for other economic gain. All actions have consequences especially those where buyer beware is ignored.)

"Paypal, Visa, Am Ex, etc will all refund your money with little fuss.

If these companies really wanted to be out of the loop on counterfeits, they would stop processing orders from these accounts."

The banking industry has happily facilitated money laundering, so don't expect them to be proactive on this.

This is so far out there, it's well beyond shocking!!!