For years, I have witnessed a particular scam executed with alarming success, leading to significant financial gains for the perpetrators. This deceptive scheme, which I call the “Chinese Porcelain Patsy Scam,” involves a mix of genuine and counterfeit Chinese porcelain pieces sold as a single lot.
The scam typically unfolds with a dishonest auction house (believe me, there are many) or a private individual who purposely puts together a collection of genuine Chinese porcelains, often from the 18th or 19th centuries. The condition of these pieces—chipped or cracked—does not matter as long as they are recognizably old. These pieces, chosen as the patsies, are 100% authentic old Chinese porcelains and easily identifiable as old by the majority of potential bidders. Then, the scammer slips in a high-quality fake piece of Chinese porcelain with the genuine items, giving the counterfeit piece a much better chance of being accepted as real due to its association with the authentic collection.
The collection of patsy porcelains along with the fake is then photographed, listed online, and offered for sale as a single lot. The mixed lot of porcelains is described minimally and vaguely, usually as “a collection of blue and white Chinese porcelain,” with no mention of age or historical significance. This vague description ensures that the auctioneer or vendor can legally keep the buyer’s money when the fake is eventually discovered. By not specifying the age, the auctioneer or vendor creates a scenario where the buyer has no recourse, as the lot was never explicitly described as antique.
The auction houses or vendors know that the buyer will most likely be Chinese and viewing the lot from a computer in China, making it difficult for potential buyers to judge the fake piece solely from photographs. I have also witnessed this scam fooling people at auctions who handled and inspected the pieces personally, as the fake piece hiding among the genuine patsies is usually a top-quality fake.
These mixed lots often sell for tens of thousands of pounds, with the genuine pieces lending credibility to the collection. They usually attract buyers to these scam lots with low estimates and no reserves.
The Chinese Porcelain Patsy Scam is a sophisticated and lucrative deception that exploits the naivety and trust of collectors. By staying informed and cautious, buyers can protect themselves from falling prey to this costly trick. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is. Buyer beware.
