There's a rising wave of online fraud in Keralam that's got antique collectors on edge. The culprits? Fraudsters who are cashing in on the booming online market by selling replicas and refurbished items as genuine antiques. They're crafty, using real photographs of rare pieces to attract unsuspecting buyers with tempting low prices. Collectors are now urging everyone to be wary of unverified online deals.
The scams often start with authentic images and videos of prized antiques. According to P. Radhakrishnan, a collector from Kuzhalmannam in Palakkad, these fraudsters swipe images from genuine collectors and post them on platforms they control. The bait is a low price, and once a buyer bites and contacts the seller, an advance payment is demanded to secure the item. But after the money changes hands, the seller vanishes, leaving the buyer duped.
Badayakandy Basheer, a 70-year-old collector from Kozhikode, knows this all too well. He fell for an online offer of an old carpet, paid up, and ended up with just a scrap of what he expected. He points out that these incidents are becoming all too common, stressing the need for caution.
The online marketplace isn't just a haven for fraudsters; it's also teeming with replicas and heavily refurbished items. Basheer warns that manufacturing units churning out replicas of antique objects are a real threat, especially if buyers don't consult with seasoned collectors before making costly purchases. R. K. Mohan, who collects vintage music systems in Kannur, stresses caution, especially with bronze utensils and traditional objects. He advises thorough in-person examination and consultation with experts before any expensive purchase.
Buyers are also complaining about fraudulent sales of items that have been extensively repaired or had parts replaced. Restoration in itself isn't the problem; it's whether the extent of restoration, provenance, and previous ownership are honestly disclosed. Many collectors feel that the police haven't done enough to tackle the deceit rampant in the sector, although the police counter these allegations.
Even though the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act of 1972 is supposed to regulate the sale of antiquities in India, collectors argue that enforcement falls short. The police, however, point to the 2021 case of Monson Mavunkal, who faced charges for selling fake historical artifacts, as an instance of action taken. A senior officer from the Crime Branch notes that the vigilance that followed that case has waned in Keralam.
For those in the collecting world, the safest bet is to treat claims of rarity, age, and provenance as assertions needing verification. This cautious approach is crucial to navigate the increasingly deceptive online antique market.
