Fakes are getting too good

[OtotheD63]

Just wanted to throw this out there. I had a local friend in Los Angeles who asked if I could check out a few boxes he got for authentication. He was telling me that there is a local guy who has an insane collection and is selling to a bunch to locals in LA. im always skeptical when I hear that someone had hundreds and hundreds of boxes of cubans for sale in a market where its nearly impossible to get cubans into the US. I inspected 10 boxes and to the naked eye, they all looked perfect. The boxes themselves are real, bands are real, stamps are real. Seal passed the black light test. I felt good about them till I looked deeper at the serial. The font was off on all of them. Compared them to several of my boxes and sure enough, the only tell was the serial. the 0 in particular were too tall. Nonetheless he took all of the boys back to the seller and got a refund. Told the seller what was noticed and he said nothing and refunded. I'm sure he already had other buyers for them that aren't as savvy. needless to say, these were the best fakes I've ever seen. Cigars smelled cuban as well.

Putting my tinfoil hat on, I suspect that they all came from Cuba. Wondering if the government finally decided to own the fake market too. Who knows.

Be extra careful out there.

[alloy]

Hopefully not being sold on here!

[JL Miller]

[quote author=alloy link=topic=61186.msg228190#msg228190 date=1756471155]
Hopefully not being sold on here!
[/quote]

Easy to find out, ask D63 who the guy was (his friend may know).

[Dmex]

Everything looked good, smelled good, checked out through authentication, but the font was the one thing that nailed it for you?  Did you smoke any?  Why the high level of suspicion if everything seemed right? Was he selling boxes of Cohibas for $350?  I'm just curious...

Seems like a very minor detail, if these guys are spending that level of details with holograms and real stamps and boxes bands etc, you think they could make sure they get the right font lol.  Maybe 2.0 versions will pass the font test.

[mbflash80]

the so cal cigar scene is LOADED with guys pushing high quality fakes...its been rampant for years...the ones I know of are in Newport/OC...sounds like greater LA now has their share as well

[Dmex]

You're right about that MB.  A buddy of mine from LA recently sent me a Cohiba 55 EL. The bands were flawless.  He's a good dude but I don't think he new they were fakes.  And one of his buddies I met had bundles of Behikes "for sale" so I became very suspicious obviously after seeing that.  

Once I lit it I knew immediately.  

[OtotheD63]

[quote author=Dmex link=topic=61186.msg228193#msg228193 date=1756486230]
Everything looked good, smelled good, checked out through authentication, but the font was the one thing that nailed it for you?  Did you smoke any?  Why the high level of suspicion if everything seemed right? Was he selling boxes of Cohibas for $350?  I'm just curious...

Seems like a very minor detail, if these guys are spending that level of details with holograms and real stamps and boxes bands etc, you think they could make sure they get the right font lol.  Maybe 2.0 versions will pass the font test.
[/quote]

Honestly I was shocked how good they were. Selling for just under secondary which was suspicious to me as well. Usually these private sellers charge way above secondary to local rich guys who don't know better. When he comes to me with rare and HTF boxes and not a single tax stamp, or warning sticker I knew something was up. Just had to find what it was. Then boom, stuck out like a sore thumb. But that's why I think they are fakes from Cuba. Obviously the boxes and bands were stolen from factories. Cuban tobacco. Just fakes.

[Dmex]

Oto check out this article.  Seems like your hunch is right on.

https://tobaccoreporter.com/2025/09/16/cuba-customs-scores-second-major-bust-in-a-month/

Also, have any of you guys ever seen up close and personally cigars and/or boxes from Swiss Cuban Cigars website?  I haven't, but  a friend of mine bought some even after I warned him and when he got them he was happy as a clam saying the boxes passed barcode verification etc etc.... And I was like yeah I heard the level of authenticity is really good but they are fakes bro.... Anyways seems like somebody is cashing in on all this.

Cheers
D

[OtotheD63]

[quote author=Dmex link=topic=61186.msg228342#msg228342 date=1758225252]
Oto check out this article.  Seems like your hunch is right on.

https://tobaccoreporter.com/2025/09/16/cuba-customs-scores-second-major-bust-in-a-month/

Also, have any of you guys ever seen up close and personally cigars and/or boxes from Swiss Cuban Cigars website?  I haven't, but  a friend of mine bought some even after I warned him and when he got them he was happy as a clam saying the boxes passed barcode verification etc etc.... And I was like yeah I heard the level of authenticity is really good but they are fakes bro.... Anyways seems like somebody is cashing in on all this.

Cheers
D
[/quote]

This makes perfect sense to me. I'm sure your friend bought the same fakes that I saw. It's a whole racket.

[canadianbeaver]

Listing five vintage boxes on BR today. The new steps past questions, photos and black light on the customs bands kept my listings from going up until I comply.

When you say you got the cigars from a private source, not a store or online dealer, they say this:

Can you please clarify the source of this product. Please include the name of the individual if it was a private transaction. This information won’t be shared outside of our staff who review listings.

At first I was really shocked. I get cigars from guys I know here for years and the hell I am divulging info. But then again, many sell there and we are terrific with no worries. So I am going for it others can say my name.


CB.