I have now had many e.mail's from Japanese collectors, swords in the main. What has come over in the communications is the fear of fraud and the item being miss described.

Their is no way to be 100% sure but below are a few hints that if you are not aware of, may help.

{1} No matter where in the world an item is located you need to be cautious. Ask the seller as many questions as you need, Check out there feedback and mail buyers to check out if they were 'Realy' Happy.  I say really as many buyers are cautious about placing Negative feedback for fear of retaliation by the seller,Feedback is a good idea but flawed. I have just looked at a Japanese site for a friend, 50 negative and 37 neutral in twelve months,,,,,,,,,more interestingly many of the Positive's were not exactly that when read they were brief even terse and applied I suspect just to gain a return positive.

{2} If you have a concern a good ploy is to mail the seller and say that you have a collector friend who live near enough to come and view the item. I have had this as the sale of my collection over 6 years and 500 items both on ebay and from my web site, has on a number of occasions brought a cautious buyer to my door. If the seller refuse's, walk away.    Personally I would avoid "Private Sales" and certainly those who offer only Western Union or Cash as payment, I know a number of people who have lost money with fraudulent sales where these are the payment only systems.

{3} If you are an under bidder and get a second chance offer,contact the seller from the original sale page and check that it is from him, many offers that appear 100% genuine are not. I will never send out a 2nd chance offer and many more sellers are going in this direction.

{4} Ask the seller for his telephone number, oddly the crooks will not reply to this. One classic was an email to a friend from a man in Poland, he offered two rather nice Tanto, the mail also contained copies of letters from UK government  groups offering support on WW2 matter and addressed to the man.  He stated that he had no interest in the swords and had taken them as part payment on his research work.    He was then asked to supply a contact number as my friend has two Polish Neighbors, also his location as perhaps a visit could be made to pay for and collect the swords..........No reply.

{5}Ask for more and better photographs. It is not unknown for items being offered to exist only in catalogues.......Any seller who actually has the item should be able with modern digital camera's to take and send others within a few hours.

{6}Ebay/Web site's. Ebay sellers that also have web sites are always a more secure bet. If the site has had thousands of hits and been their for many years, in theory it will not benefit  the seller & site owner to try for a short term profit against a long term relationship.

{7}Country of origin. Apply the same rules to all sellers and country's. Just because an Item is being sold by say a Japanese dealer {Most are dealers on ebay} try not to fall into the trap of thinking that because it is described as japanese and Antique,that is what it is.  I know of situations with major UK auction houses where items come in from Japan only to be found that they are fakes made today in the far east.       When buying for a friend from a dealer in Japan I asked if I could visit as we would be on Holiday, they replied in the positive and offered lunch. Another replied that although his items were described as "Edo" period some wher not and he did not welcome visitors.......

{8}    NOT ALL NEGATIVE.      I have purchased around 50 items for other collectors, mainly as they are not too sure and appreciate a second opinion. Only on one occasion has this not worked well, the one was a dealer in Tokyo who sold a Matchlock powder flask described as Early Edo but when it arrived it was made of plastic!!!.  At this point and having used Paypal (Damned expensive method for the seller) eight e.mail later he refunded...........no Christmas cards though.

So my friends, ask questions, propose a visit, request a contact number & address, mail other buyers, never buy from sellers who want cash or WU payments,ask other collectors their opinion.    Simple stuff and simple rules will for most part protect you.

HAPPY COLLECTING