Counterfeit Perth Mint gold bars have been circulating for over a year, including bars packaged in counterfeit green assay cards matching the previous generation of Perth Mint products.  Now a new version matching current-production black tamper-evident cases is available from Chinese sellers, and they are difficult to detect, even with specialized equipment.

The counterfeits are being produced in at least four sizes (5 gram, 10 gram, 20 gram, and 1 ounce).  In preliminary testing, the Precious Metal Verifier easily detected the fake 1 ounce bars through the assay package using the large wand or bullion wand attachment.  However, the copper alloy used to make these bars, coupled with testing the bars through the plastic package, is resulting in false positive readings when testing some of the fractional bars.  We experienced the same phenomenon with the newest iteration of counterfeit Pamp Suisse gold bars in very convincing fake blue assay cards, as well as Perth Mint bars in fake green assay cards.  If the counterfeit bars are removed from the assay cards they will fail weight and measurement testing.  Stay tuned to FakeBullion.com as we conduct further testing, and exercise extreme caution purchasing these products from unknown sellers on sites like Craigslist and eBay.