I purchased some cheap pure Platinum on eBay! How can I test and What's the catch here?

[kawho]

Recently I found an eBay Australia listing of bulk/loose pure platinum %99.99. I figured if it turned out to be fake or a scam, I can raise a dispute and get my money from PayPal. so I go ahead and purchase 1 gram to see if they will anything at all. funny thing I don't have anything to test them anyway. after 2 weeks the envelope with a small piece of white metal arrived and to my surprise, it was almost 2 grams!!! I was thinking sure it has to be fake so I took it to a gold and jewellery buying shop and ask them if they buy it and if yes how much! I thought this way they test it for me for free!!!, they used a handheld x-ray tool and confirm it was 99.999 platinum and they would pay $30 per gram!!!  So it wasn't fake or low percentage. my question is how possible they can sell platinum under market price and be profitable? I think they accept my offer ( 10$ under market price and the shipping was free! I could buy from them and sell at market price and pocket the profit? I don't get it! is the market price is something arbitrary and the real price is lower or they try to build their profile and willing to sell under the price? I don't understand! what is the catch here? I like to do some more accurate test to see if it is really 99.99 pure platinum. how can I do the test accurately myself at home? I attached the photo as well.

link to item: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/333711985827
thanks 

[trozau]

Never seen bullion platinum with purity declared on the metal higher than 9995. 9999 and 99999 sounds too good to be true. JMO

edited to add: not clicking the link

Edited May 18, 2021 by trozau

[Rll1288]

Yeah platinum normally 999.5

[Midasfrog]

Maybe refined from stolen car catalytic  converters 

[27carrots]

Quote

Please contact me and I will adjust the price as the market price changes, also I could send a sample for a lower price if someone needs for test and assay.

Maybe they are hoping you will order a kilo...

[NewCoins]

7 minutes ago, 27carrots said:

Maybe they are hoping you will order a kilo...

Nice! The mind of a scammer

[GoldDiggerDave]

Agree with @NewCoins a cute way to drag you in and part with serious  money.  
 

Try doing the same from another account for another 1g   Scam the scammer!!! 

 

Edited May 19, 2021 by GoldDiggerDave
Typo

[kawho]

@GoldDiggerDavebut whatever they do, you are supported by eBay and Paypal! I mean if you don't get your purchases you just need to open a dispute or you can buy 100 individual items and pay for the next one when the 1st one arrived tested and okay. that way your maximum risk is always 1! am I right?

[Midasfrog]

Never worth the risk for a few dollars ? " Police cut down front door in early morning raid to recover stolen goods purchased on ebay "😂

[Silverlocks]

.9999 fine platinum could be refined as an analytical reagent, most likely for use as a catalyst - platinum group metals are used as catalysts for a wide variety of reactions from manufacturing pharma through to monopropellant thrusters.  If it really was scrap (and it looks like offcuts) they may just be flogging it for what they can shift it quickly for.

Edited October 25, 2022 by Silverlocks