I have taken this post directly from the investigation group rather than retype it out but it demonstrates the timescale incorrect baggies have been coming from this source.
I have had to omit/edit a small section of the response I recieved as it was of a personal nature and would be wrong of me to publish that although nothing with regards to the item or it's sourcing.
Right guys, I had a moment of embarrassment earlier this year when I sold a Han Pin Head SW-a baggie to our very own Andrew Neo. It was the first interaction I had had with him and he asked me to send the item to Frank so he could send it to UKG for grading.Frank popped around and collected it on his weekend excersion to Leicester and UKG then was planning to collect it two weeks later.
Frank met Steve 2 weeks later and Steve told Frank that he had failed the item for grading due to several reasons. There was a little tape slip on the baggie but millimeters and nothing to out of the ordinary for a near fourty year old baggie. He also mentioned that he thought the figure had a spot of paint rub on one arm although I cannot see this with my bare eye. The most notable thing for failing the baggie for grading was that the figure was packed with a black blaster and that Han came with a blue one. Frank and I first thought that a mispacked / weapons error baggie must be worth more until Steve clarified that the only figure to come with a black blater was Han Tranch, a Jedi figure not available until 1983 so therfore the baggie must be fake.
This obviously left me embarased and I felt my repetation had been jepordised although Andrew Neo has been the most understanding and honourable gentleman and has been patient whilst I delayed paying him back as I had used the cash.
Anyway, I've been two busy to go back to the buyer (who is a reputable trader mainly on Facebook especially in Tatooine) and challenge him until now with this investigation prompting me and asked him wher he got it from and this was his reply. Surprise surprise where this goes back to.
"Laurence not ignoring you, Star Wars is off my radar at the moment. I'm gonna check my graded one later. This came from Geoff glandville over 4 years ago."
Now the surprising thing with this responce is the timescale, over 4 years ago. How many of these things have been put out into the market that are good enough to fool the likes of this guy ( long time collector and trader), Frank and I. I'm wondering if this goes a lot deeper than just Jeff and if there is a global ring of scammer creating these. People each side of the pond.