Free: Counterfeit Leupold Mark 4 LRT -ebay

[303British]

I was doom scrolling on eBay yesterday and came across a scope described as Leupold Mark 4 LRT 3.5-10.
It looked spotless on the photo, now I do have have a soft spot for LRT's, bought a nice used one on SD not long ago for a reasonable price, can't have enough though can you? It looked good, allegedly un-used, but not with original box or paperwork, spider senses start tingling.
The auction had a load of bids and a lot watching so I looked a bit closer and something was not right, serial number looked a bit weird and rung a bell with me, sad I know, quick Google and it was the same as the one on a Leupold counterfeit warning I had seen when researching the one I mentioned buying above.
I messaged the buyer who had good feedback and eBay reporting the item it was not far off ending, within a day.
The buyer replied during the night and I picked up the messages this morning asking why I thought it was counterfeit , I did not pick that up at the time and then again he messaged half an hour after the first one saying I was right and he was pulling the auction.
He must have done a quick Google?
eBay replied "we looked into your report and did not find listing to be in violation of our policy"...............!
I had a close call with a Spuhr mount a while ago, asked for a picture of the box, it was new allegedly and all contact ended.
Please be aware, lots and lots of dodgy gear out there, I think though too many educated eyes on SD to get away with it on here.

 

[SimpleSimon]

I remember when eBay was a great source of genuine, affordable second hand stuff.

Unfortunately these days I won't touch it with a bargepole. Don't trust the second hand stuff to be legitimate and don't trust the new stuff not to be either counterfeit or just junk.

 

[Razzdogg]

See it all the time sadly, i was eyeing up a Aim point red dot for £680 on ebay did a little digging and the serial number was the same as the ones on the clones for £60

I imagine its 50/50 on sellers knowing its fake vs they thought they bought a genuine one, got disappointed with the performance and tried to sell it on

 

[rocketdogbert]

A lot of sellers aim their fakes at the airsoft market, they’re good enough for that usually, as l9mg as they’re cheap. Makes if difficult to sell legitimate kit.
I’m trying to shift a genuine Sig Sauer Romeo4T red dot, lovely bit of kit, knowing a bit about them, and having a couple of fakes in the past, It’s obvious it’s gen once you handle it, but no box and removed serial number mean it’s very, very hard. Can’t blame people

 

[Greenmist]

I report every one I see, and always get the same reply from ebay that they don't see a problem, then I email Leupold to inform them that ebay is actively selling fakes of their products

 

[Koenig]

A lot of sellers aim their fakes at the airsoft market, they’re good enough for that usually, as l9mg as they’re cheap. Makes if difficult to sell legitimate kit.
I’m trying to shift a genuine Sig Sauer Romeo4T red dot, lovely bit of kit, knowing a bit about them, and having a couple of fakes in the past, It’s obvious it’s gen once you handle it, but no box and removed serial number mean it’s very, very hard. Can’t blame people

Removed serial number? As in ground out? Why on earth would anyone do that? I can see why you’d struggle selling it on.

 

[rocketdogbert]

Removed serial number? As in ground out? Why on earth would anyone do that? I can see why you’d struggle selling it on.

I can only guess

 

[Donkey Basher]

Removed serial number? As in ground out? Why on earth would anyone do that? I can see why you’d struggle selling it on.

Black kit - non-issue stuff that can’t be traced.

 

[rocketdogbert]

Black kit - non-issue stuff that can’t be traced.

All I know about it is I bought it from a guy in Hereford

 

[Scotty99]

I seem to remember that the Chinese had been cloning the Mark 4 for many years. They used to be easily identified by having no Leupold gold band on the objective lens surround, among other things. Pretty obvious omissions back in the day. I assume that they have moved on since then and make more difficult to spot fakes.

 

[rocketdogbert]

I seem to remember that the Chinese had been cloning the Mark 4 for many years. They used to be easily identified by having no Leupold gold band on the objective lens surround, among other things. Pretty obvious omissions back in the day. I assume that they have moved on since then and make more difficult to spot fakes.

The worst (best) are the copies of brand name scopes that are made in China anyway.
Have a look on aliexpress and you will find things that look like they’re made in the same factory as the originals (they probably are) and are literally identical except for invalid serial numbers

 

[Scotty99]

Here’s how to spot Leupold fakes….

Visual & Physical Checks

• The Engravings: Genuine Mark 4 scopes feature distinct black-on-black engravings. If you see silver-etched white text that simply says "Leupold Mark 4" without the brand name on the black objective ring, it is a counterfeit. [1, 2, 3]
• The Medallion: All authentic Leupold scopes bear a gold ring and a distinct medallion; fakes frequently omit the medallion entirely. [1, 2]
• The Serial Number: Check the serial number against the scope. Many Chinese knock-offs use the exact same serial number across thousands of counterfeit scopes, or the number will not conform to Leupold's numbering convention. [1, 2]
• QR Codes: Modern Leupold optics feature quick-response (QR) codes near the serial number; on many fakes, the QR code is placed on the incorrect side of the scope body. [1]

Mechanical & Performance Checks

• Magnification Ring: Magnification on authentic Leupold scopes increases as you turn the dial clockwise. On many counterfeit models, it increases by turning the dial counter-clockwise. [1]
• Glass Quality & Adjustments: While the optical clarity of counterfeits has improved, they generally suffer under low-light conditions and lack the crisp, tactile "click" of genuine windage and elevation adjustments. [1, 2, 3]
• Turret Feel: Mushy, inconsistent adjustments or a scope that fails to track and hold zero are dead giveaways. [1, 2, 3]

 

[Greenmist]

All I know about it is I bought it from a guy in Hereford

Sounds like a gizzit

 

[rocketdogbert]

Sounds like a gizzit

I have no idea what that is

 

[Greenmist]

I have no idea what that is

You see something you like in the stores and say "gizzet" ("give me it" for the more well spoken) you then have a new shiny item.

 

[rocketdogbert]

You see something you like in the stores and say "gizzet" ("give me it" for the more well spoken) you then have a new shiny item.

Thank you. At this rate I’ll be giving it away

 

[Scotty99]

You see something you like in the stores and say "gizzet" ("give me it" for the more well spoken) you then have a new shiny item.

Or as Yosser Hughes used to say “Gizz a job”. You have to be of a certain age.

 

[rocketdogbert]

Or as Yosser Hughes used to say “Gizz a job”. You have to be of a certain age.

I am. Just never heard gizzit before in that context

 

[Richard308]

See it all the time sadly, i was eyeing up a Aim point red dot for £680 on ebay did a little digging and the serial number was the same as the ones on the clones for £60

I imagine its 50/50 on sellers knowing its fake vs they thought they bought a genuine one, got disappointed with the performance and tried to sell it on

As for people selling on when they’re caught with counterfeit goods. No excuse to pass on your loss, no matter how much you’re down. It’s at least unethical probably criminal. I got conned with a Spuhr counterfeit mount. Paid market value, I wrestled with putting it on eBay or other sites.

Then just remembered how I felt when I realised, messaged seller, basically told me f**k off. Sitting on a shelf I look at it often and remind myself you can’t be too careful, plenty Good enough I’d imagine for a 22 plinker. But stomach turns when I see it.

 

[rocketdogbert]

As for people selling on when they’re caught with counterfeit goods. No excuse to pass on your loss, no matter how much you’re down. It’s at least unethical probably criminal. I got conned with a Spuhr counterfeit mount. Paid market value, I wrestled with putting it on eBay or other sites.

Then just remembered how I felt when I realised, messaged seller, basically told me f**k off. Sitting on a shelf I look at it often and remind myself you can’t be too careful, plenty Good enough I’d imagine for a 22 plinker. But stomach turns when I see it.

Yup, that’s hard. Fortunately I e haven’t been caught out yet.
What model is it? Loads of people selling them on as replicas, typically about £40-50 ish