Jeff Garrett: Why Rare Coin Security Is So Important

The rare coin business produces billions of dollars in revenue each year. In fact, a few companies can boast of billion dollars-plus revenues individually. With this much money floating around, we are all targets of theft. This includes dealers, investors and collectors. In the past year or two, there have been several high-value thefts at coin shows. Not a day goes by that we are not made aware of a missing package that was sent by FedEx or UPS. Most security experts who specialize in the coin business are convinced organized crime has identified our hobby as a rich target.

The point of this article is making readers aware of the problem and to give a few tips on how to protect yourself. Many of the above-mentioned thefts were the result of neglectful oversight and could have been prevented. At every show I tell my staff that thieves are there to steal something and their job is to find someone not paying attention.

Coin shows

The days of leaving your table unattended with hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise is over. If you have that much value, you need to have enough staff to make sure someone is watching your material. For decades, dealers stacked their cases up and covered them with a cloth, followed by a stack of chairs. The days of this antiquated method of security are long gone. Valuable merchandise should be locked up securely.

One of the biggest mistakes I see my fellow dealers making is leaving their bank bag (with sales invoices) in open sight. This is an invitation to theft. Thieves would rather steal a bag of cash than a group of coins that are hard to fence.

Collectors are not immune from theft of coins. Over the years countless numbers of collectors have been followed from a show only to have their cars robbed when they stop for food or restroom breaks. Never leave your coins unattended in a vehicle when traveling. It only takes minutes for your valuables to disappear.

Whenever you attend a coin show, you should always be vigilant and never let your guard down. Don’t be that person who the bad guys are looking for that isn't paying attention.

Shipping merchandise

One of the consequences of the explosion in e-commerce over the last several years has been the greatly increased volume of rare coins and bullion that is shipped around the country. Nearly every collector has sent or received coins in the mail in some fashion. Many rare coin dealers would be out of business if they could not ship coins safely and with insurance. This privilege should not be taken for granted.

Companies who issue insurance for shipping have suffered heavy losses in the last few years. Insurance rates have been rising and could become unsustainable if losses increase further. It is similar to what is happening to flood insurance in Florida.

When sending a package, never address the package so that its contents can be identified. For instance, you should address packages to my company as Mid-American RCG, not Mid-American Rare Coin Gallery. Also, be sure to package coins securely so they don't rattle around in the box. This seems obvious, but believe me, a lot of people make this mistake.

Plus, make sure you have purchased additional insurance when sending a high-value package. Murphy's Law of "if something can go wrong, it will" applies here. My only FedEx loss was for an $85,000 coin that was only covered for $50,000 when I failed to buy extra insurance for $200.

Learn more about how NGC played a vital role in a $400,000 coin theft investigation that resulted in the arrest and conviction of a Beaumont, Texas woman on charges of theft of mail by a postal employee.

Cyber theft

One of the worst episodes of my career happened in the fall of 2020. My bank called to confirm multiple bank wires for hundreds of thousands of dollars. They were only calling for the last wire, as it was overdrawing my account. The previous wires had been sent. My business checking account had been depleted entirely without my permission.

It's hard to describe the shock and sickening feeling that ensued. My optimism and hope that the bank would take responsibility for the theft was soon dashed. My decades-long banking relationship instantly became adversarial. My loan officer was no longer allowed to even communicate with me after litigation was mentioned.

After weeks of agonizing delays upon the advice of my very capable attorney, we were able to settle the litigation. The expense and trauma had a lasting impact on my views of cyber security. After the incident, we hired a cyber security firm to review our company and tighten our exposure.

These are a few of the tips they provided:

Make sure to install and monitor the latest online security software. My knowledge is limited on this subject, but it will pay to have an outside expert provide this service. Ransom attacks are rampant and can shut down a company if you have not protected yourself. Be much more cautious of opening any email file from an unknown source. Several rare coin companies have been attacked in the last several years and the damage can sometimes be staggering in cost and delays of lost business.

Never keep sensitive files on a computer that has exposure online. There are so many tricks to infiltrate your computer that the only safe option is to not have anything you want to keep confidential accessible. Keep important files and information on a flash drive and only use when not online. I'm pretty sure this was how the thieves were able to steal my identity with enough information so they could dupe my bank.

Consider using a local bank who will know your account and understand your concerns for security. Many large banks are now run with minimal staff and the use of call centers. Wires from my account can now only happen when I visit my local bank and give the instructions in person. The extra trouble is worth the peace of mind.

Coin dealers checking accounts are a big target for crooks. Our Florida operation has been attacked with counterfeit checks more than once. The best protection is a service called Positive Pay that most banks offer. With Positive Pay, you have until 11 a.m. each day to approve or disapprove a charge against your checking account. It is the only way to be sure a fraudulent charge has not been posted to your checking account. If you have not heard of this service, call your bank today!

Always verbally verify whenever sending or receiving a bank wire. Cyber thieves can easily monitor your email and wait for a transaction to occur. They then insert themselves in the transaction and provide false wire info. One of my close friends lost six figures to this sort of attack. Once a bank wire has been sent, it is nearly impossible to retrieve the money.

It's impossible to cover all of the ways that dealers and collectors are vulnerable when it comes to security. One thing is for sure though: The stakes have never been higher, and we should all do a better job protecting ourselves. Consider your risks and explore ways to improve your security and lessen the chances of becoming a victim.

You should also consider financial support for the Numismatic Crime Information Center. Its founder, Doug Davis, does a wonderful job spreading the word about numismatic crimes. He regularly posts lists of stolen coins and bullion and his efforts have led to substantial recoveries for robbery victims.

The importance of insurance

Despite all of the precautions you can take, losses will still occur on occasion for some dealers or collectors. Purchasing theft insurance is one way to ensure peace of mind when shipping coins or attending events. I reached out to numismatic and precious metals insurance specialist Jolene Daniello, who works for Gallagher Insurance for any words of wisdom she might share with readers. The following are a few more tips on rare coin security:

"The first rule of insurance is to act like a prudent uninsured. Just because your insurance policy may afford coverage for certain acts, it is best to proceed with an abundance of caution to protect your merchandise. The majority of exhibition losses that we see are because the booth was left unattended during the show. Another vulnerable time is setup and breakdown, as thieves can use distraction techniques such as posing as a cleaner or maintenance worker to steal merchandise.

"When unpacking or packing the merchandise, stay focused and vigilant and do not allow anyone to distract you. Some additional useful tips when traveling in your car with merchandise: 1. Keep your car in good condition and use run-flat tires. 2. Create an inventory of what you are transporting (store one copy in a safe place in your office or home and keep one with the inventory). 3. Do not leave merchandise in an unattended vehicle. 4. Always take some U-turns or alternate routes to confirm you are not being followed. If you feel you are being followed, you should drive straight to a police station. 5. Always have a fully charged cellphone. 6. Have adequate insurance and never risk your life if held up at gunpoint; give them what they ask for!

"Our main source of losses is still shipping. Some additional security tips here are to double-box the merchandise and use packaging material to prevent shifting of the inner box. Use three-inch-wide reinforced tape with multiple layers so it is difficult to open in transit. If you are experiencing multiple losses with the same carrier, it is best to switch up the carrier, as you may have been identified as a target with your current carrier.

"When possible, it is best not to ship on a Friday or the last working day before the public holiday, as the longer the package is with the carrier, the more opportunity for theft. If you have a missing package, immediately file a claim with the carrier as this will trigger an internal investigation and can help locate the package. As always, make sure you are fully insured for your shipments so that in the unfortunate event of a loss, you can file a claim with your insurance provider."

Jolene Daniello can be contacted at Jolene_daniello@ajg.com

The Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) has recently identified rare coin security as one of the most important issues facing its membership. Plans are being made to conduct events to better inform dealers about the latest threats and ways to protect themselves. The first event is being organized for the January 2024 FUN Show. Check the FUN Show website for more details.

NGC's High-security hologram with unique QR codes

NGC recently introduced a new high-security hologram with a unique QR code as part of its comprehensive efforts to create a safer marketplace and combat counterfeiting. Scanning the QR code with a smartphone takes the user to that exact collectible in NGC's Certification Verification tool. These new QR codes provide added security and data for virtually every coin, token and medal that has been certitifed since late 2008. (Learn more about the new high-security holograms and QR codes here.)

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