Be careful when mailing slabs with new-ish Embedded NFC Security Chip

[Petespockets55]

"Be careful when mailing slabs with new-ish Embedded NFC Security Chip"

Here is an article about the NFC chips as an anti-counterfeiting measure. They are a help but other risks can occur during shipping.

https://www.pcgs.com/news/security-chip-slabs

Anyone with the app can scan the chip in transit, see it is a valuable coin, and then "Poof!" it might be gone.

A member of our local coin club told us how to mail them safely. If I remember correctly he said to wrap the NFC items in tin foil before going into the box.

Just want sellers and collectors to be aware and maybe ask the seller to do this before sending them on their way.

These suggestions aren't just for "tin foil hat" collectors.

For those that aren't overly concerned. I get it.

But it isn't a problem until it is and then it's too late.
The information/warning came from a professional numismatist that is "in the know".

Packages go through a lot of hands. Some are not so honest. With this technology, they can "see" what is in the packages they are handling.
At least collectors can be aware and take precautions if they want.

[Rollem]

Thanks for the caution. Good info.

[willbrooks]

I'm moving more and more toward the aluminum foil hat every day. But thanks for scaring the out of me after I shipped 3k in coins today.

[BadThad]

Oh great, now the scum of earth has a new way screen and steal packages. Thanks for the headsup!

[makecents]

Good info, Cliff, thanks! I immediately thought of Will when you said tin foil. What ever works....

[Petespockets55]

Glad to help folks. Not trying to be an alarmist, but proactive about protecting our "babies".

I'm guessing PCGS may have had items come up missing or maybe they are being preemptive by carefully letting people know. Although the more people that know about it, the higher the chance that scum with sticky fingers will find out and try it.

Here's a thought. Did anyone get a PCGS submission back lately that was wrapped in aluminum foil?

(And I know it's a good post whenever Will uses the "Dirty Turdy" icon!)

[willbrooks]

Lol, just got a notification that the package I mailed arrived at the Harrisburg distribution center after 2 full business days. It's only 45 minutes from my house. Lol. Should have driven it there myself!

[jfines69]

All the chip does is to verify the coin in the slab is a PCGS coin
"Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is excited to announce its partnership with HID Global to begin embedding high-security Near Field Communication (NFC) chip technology in PCGS coin slabs. PCGS slabs embedded with NFC technology allow any collector or dealer with a modern smartphone to easily verify that the coin encapsulated within was indeed certified, graded, and slabbed by PCGS."

They must have had lots of counter fit slabs getting passed around!!!

[Petespockets55]

All the chip does is to verify the coin in the slab is a PCGS coin...

That is partially correct going by what he said. It not only verifies it is a pcgs coin, it tells you what the coin is.
So the ne'er-do-well only has to pick and choose better coins if they are so inclined.

I posted this on another forum (Say What!) and a reply came back that said they knew someone that lost coins and it was attributed to an NFC chip.

[willbrooks]

so, are they doing that now automatically? I have a shipment heading to them right now. I see the article is from 3 years ago. I wonder if the coins I had slabbed there a couple years ago have it? I have the app on my phone.
Edit. I checked and these coins were slabbed in March 2020. One month after the article says they started it. Lo and behold, it worked! I had no freaking idea they did that. Never knew. But, as you say, before they would have to scan the barcode or look at the number. Now they can scan it from inside a sealed box without seeing it. More safe?

[Rollem]

Just like the chip feature in credit card, hit it with small RF power and it starts broadcasting info. We did it for 55 years on Rail Road as cars passed at 60 mph and got what was in cars, who sent it, where it is going. Not hard to do in this age of electronics. Cell phone apps that read chips. Use the foil rap or like Will just drive it over to Harrisburg distribution.

[willbrooks]

And I just thought of something else. When you do a cert search, does it tell you the date it was holdered? I don't think it does. If it doesn't, then it does you no good if it doesn't activate your phone. You still won't know if the slab is counterfeit or not.

[Petespockets55]

And I just thought of something else. When you do a cert search, does it tell you the date it was holdered? I don't think it does. If it doesn't, then it does you no good if it doesn't activate your phone. You still won't know if the slab is counterfeit or not.

I don't really know what information it gives but I doubt it gives the date it was holdered.

Are you saying the NFC chip only works if you know whether the slab was created before or after the chips were added?
(I don't know if the chips are visible on the surface of the slab.)

EDIT: From the link above- “This will allow collectors to tap their coins with their phones and the certificate verification will pop right up. On some of the most modern smart phones this data will appear on the screen without even having to download an app.”

[jfines69]

How from from the slab will the fone pick up the chip???

[willbrooks]

When I tried it, I had to put my phone right up against it.