A woman who paid £250 for a 'rare' 50p that turned out to be fake is warning others about scammers on eBay. Jane Fallon, 62, from Greater Manchester, bought the Aquatics 50p in 2017, believing it was a rare version worth up to £1,000. However, when she tried to resell it, collectors alerted her that it was counterfeit.
The fake coin showed signs such as the positioning of the 'C' in 'pence' and the thickness of wave lines. After contacting the seller, she was told he was on holiday and never heard back; the seller's eBay account was later deleted. 'I knew for sure I'd been done,' she said.
Change Checker, a coin experts group, warned that over 45,000 fake 50p listings exist online. They noted that the original Aquatics 50p, with waves over the swimmer's face, is highly sought after and can sell for nearly £1,000, making it a target for counterfeiters.
An eBay spokesperson said the platform does not tolerate fake coins and takes action against sellers, including suspending accounts. Customers are protected by the eBay Money Back Guarantee. Jane urged others to be cautious, saying, 'There's too many people being ripped off.'
