Those who are looking to purchase gold bars should always beware of counterfeits. Reports have surfaced of the existence of bars filled with tungsten, one of which was discovered in the United Kingdom. Here are some tips that can help you identify fakes and protect your hard earned money.

How Counterfeit Bars Are Made

On the outside, fake bars will often resemble those which are authentic. The serial number and brand will often be present, as well as the certificate of authenticity. When viewed from a distance or over the web the bars will often look indistinguishable from those that are real, but the thing that gives them away is their weight. Fake bars will often weigh more or less than real bars, but since many of these counterfeits are peddled over the web the con man is betting you won’t notice until after you’ve purchased them.

In the case of the counterfeit bars discovered in the UK, the only way the dealer was able to determine their lack of authenticity was by cutting them open. Only then was the tungsten discovered. This is likely one of many tungsten filled bars that is circulating around the world and few owners will take the time to cut them open for verification.

How To Identify And Avoid Counterfeit Bars

Aside from cutting open a bar, there are a number of other ways in which a counterfeit can be detected without damaging it. The most popular tool for this is the XRF analyzer, which is usually handheld. These devices are used to scan shipments containing bars and work quickly, scanning them in little more than 15 seconds without causing any damage.

As a customer, avoiding counterfeit bars is straightforward if you exercise common sense. Be careful when purchasing these products over the web or from strangers, friends or acquaintances. Given the fact that fakes are sometimes made from the outer coating of real bars you cannot always trust the assay card and serial number. To avoid fakes it is best to only purchase bars from established gold dealers that have been in business for many years and are well respected and highly rated.

Unless you have the knowledge and or equipment to detect fakes yourself, it is best to avoid purchasing bars on auction sites such as eBay or classified ad sites like Back page. Counterfeiters are known to operate heavily on such sites and any sales made are final with no recourse if it turns out the product you purchased isn’t genuine. Traditional coin shops are highly recommended because the products contained within have already been tested and evaluated to determine their authenticity. If you do decide to purchase a bar from a friend or acquaintance ask them if they would be willing to meet you at the shop of a gold dealer in your area so the product can be evaluated by a professional. If they shy away from doing so, this should be a cause for concern.