The counterfeits thread (post warnings about widely-distributed counterfeit pressings)

The purpose of this thread is to make people aware of counterfeits, particularly counterfeit CDs. In recent years, there has been a flood of counterfeits out of (especially) China and Russia. These are typically good enough looking to fool someone without any background but are also typically easy to distinguish from the real thing if you have the real thing to compare to.

Ideally, if you post something, you will post an example of the real thing, plua an example of the counterfeit for comparison.

This thread is not to post one-off counterfeits (e.g. fake signature in a specific eBay listing)--although those are assuredly evil as well.

 

I'll start.

The Don Harrison band, first album on CD. Originally issued on Collectors Choice, and that's the only legit issue. It has recently been counterfeited in Russia:

 

Samhain : Final Descent
The Plan 9 original CD issue of this has been counterfeited like crazy from Russia:

The legit issue of this was pressed by Nimbus, and carries the Mastered By Nimbus indication in the inner ring:



The fakes do not have the Mastered by Nimbus designation:



Note that this CD was reissued as a legit, licensed reissue by e-Magine. That version (which has 5 different tracks than the Plan 9 issue) has not (yet) been counterfeited.

 

Any LP from Scorpio in New Jersey. For decades.

 

Thank you for this post. It has helped me understand the differences, but I still had a question. I recently acquired a Russian fake of Final Descent based on this. I was hoping you could perhaps help me. MisfitsCentral.com shows a 1994 version (scroll down to check it out) 2nd pressing of Final Descent with the same information on the ring of the CD as the fake I have ("PL900010 01# 04-07-94"). I assume the information on there is older and they would know their stuff. Was there a legit repress without "Mastered by Nimbus" on it? And if so, how do you tell the Russian fakes from the legitimate repress?

I have a November Coming Fire with "PL900007 01# 04-07-94" on the ring as well. MisfitsCentral also lists that one. However, my version of NCF has an IFPI code (1643) on the ring. My recent Final Descent acqusition has no IFPI code. Maybe that's the only difference between real and fake? Amazing how close they get! Thanks for any help.

 

W

While many of their offerings are not licensed, the bulk of them are. The Warner titles with Rhino stickers on back covers certainly are legit.

 

Three Dog Night Hard Labor

The real deal with the, I believe JVC pressing, matrix.



The Russian fake...



This CD is as rare as Hen's teeth and the Russian fakes used to be sold en-masse on Discogs years back. Typical blurry artwork and colour pigmentation differences. Of course the matrix differences stick out like a soar thumb.

 

If you think WMG is going to let Scorpio sell their catalog, I got 12,000 acres in Laos. They'd never deal with counterfeiters. I've seen those tiny Warner-Rhino stickers and I just have to laugh. The problem is the majors don't care about a few thousand vinyl records being sold as it would cost them in lawyer and business fees more than the loss. They had every James Brown and Blue Note album known in their catalogs. The funny thing was back in day Morris Levy was afraid of them in the cut-out market. Imagine being backed by Chin Gigante and being afraid. Woah!

 

Saw a counterfeit US RCA Bowie 'Starman' 45 in our local for $10. Blurry picture sleeve and dark orange (barely readable) label.

 

Working in a record store and coming across counterfeits so frequently it has really grown my appreciation for them in some regards. Of course if someone is ripped off it is never right. But old counterfeits from the 60s-80s have a real charm to them that I think is oftentimes undervalued

 

Runt. A John LaMonte monster in the 70's.